In composing this bare-faced biography more than five-years faded from the Georgian calendar and my life. When not writing several hours a day, I was researching, recalling events, or at least thinking about the book. (I can’t spell or type very well.)

Everything I should have been doing didn’t get done, or Cheri did it alone. In fact, I let lots of things go. Writing a biography, especially like mine, stirs up a lot of emotion, both pleasant and painful. Painful, as in nightmares returning with their tormenting curse. Cheri blamed them on me reliving the war as I wrote about it, and insisted that I take a break. 

Was reliving all those memories and the pressure of writing a book an excuse for me being an even greater pain in the ass to live with? Yes, just not a good enough one. Overall, my writing proved to be more conducive than consumptive.

Thanks to Tom Kirkham, my friend of many years, for his encouragement with the highest compliment, “I hope I live long enough to read your book.” He did. My wonderful brother Dale, who provided health care for our parents for many years and for his invalid wife for some twenty encouraged me while writing.

Along the way, when I was discouraged, a reader comment raised my morale, kept me churning out words, especially from Marine Mike P.  Friends from high school that I had not seen or spoken to in years self-identified as some of my greatest fans.

As I have never advertised my book, the only publicity was Cheri mentioning it on her diminutive Facebook page and by word of mouth. Still, I have amassed over 5,000 hits in three years (2022-2025).

Thanks to my pets for their unconditional love. Nevertheless, when one landed in my lap, then laptop, and another started chewing on my walker, it was a none too subtle demand for me to take a break and them for a walk.

When my beautiful, wonderful, and understanding wife, Cheri, signed on for this project, she couldn’t have imagined I’d work on this memoir for five years. She was, at times, frustrated and let me know. Nevertheless, she encouraged me, kept me on some semblance of a schedule, and, most importantly, made sure I completed  My Life At The Limit— inspiring me to finally fulfill a promise I made to myself and others more than 50 years ago. 

Finally, my dedicated readers, I leave you with what Elvis was fond of saying:

“Thank You, Thank You Very Much”

Scroll to Book II, Chapter 1 for more great war stories, some more from Vietnam and a couple about WW II.

If you enjoyed my book, appreciated my efforts, would like to see more of my work, and wish to donate or have a comment, contact me at donaldswan@msn.com

Part II of this BOOK follows