My Son, a Gift from God

I wrote this book to honor my son, Bill. He was truly a unique person and I want the world to know how special he really was. He was an excellent husband, father, and a son we all usually only dream of having. Not flawless, but darn near. Being responsible, doing good work, meeting all of our obligations, while being totally honest about everything, drove him. He said he and I loved each other as father and son and that we were also best friends. We really were. I have strong opinions and so did he, but we were so close we could discuss anything that was happening and enjoy our togetherness. His concern for Lisa, Alexa, and Ben about every aspect of their lives was his first duty as he saw it. He personified the words honesty, fairness and decency. A real mans man, he was. He loved our country so much that he voluntarily returned to the Army for Operation Desert Storm. I thought my son had given enough, losing the lower lobe of the right lung. He told me about convincing the doctor to take him back because he said it was his duty. Fortunately he was sent to Hawaii instead of Kuwait. After diabetes was found he joined the Army National Guard, and later the Army Reserve so he could again have a military connection. After he had to stop flying because of diabetes, and knew he could never fly a Marine Corps Fighter Aircraft it was hard for him to accept. I guess his thinking was that being an Army JAG Corps Officer was about as good as it could be. His brilliant mind, common sense, humble soul and deeply rooted Christian Faith, made him a wonderful man, and me a proud father.