Agruff voice startled me and I saw the shine of the Negro brakeman's facelooking up at me from the ground."Hey,whut you doin' there, whiteboy?" "I'mgoing to ride this train as far away as I can." Thatwas the night I hopped a train, left Mississippi, the cotton fields, and the heavy hand of mystepfather. ¿I'd had enough of that backbreaking life of poverty and abuse. June1917, war had been declared with Germany. ¿It's November1918 and I am a soldier, a man, and I am heading for the front lines. Now,27 years later, I was again going into battle. I was in a flying fortresswatching our airborne army envelope the German side of the Rhine.Flying at 700 feet loaded only with camera equipment our B-17 was an easytarget. Suddenly, a motor burst into flames, we're hit! A career soldier's story of "both" world wars, hismarriage to the voluptuous unfaithful Beau, his affair with Elenora,a secret, and a big decision.
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About the Author
Colonel Joel Gaelord O'Neal was born in Greencastle Indiana November 3, 1899. He entered the military in June of 1917 after running away from home in Okalona Mississippi where his family barely survived on a 40 acre cotton farm. The 1st World War had begun and he fought as an infantry soldier. After surviving the war he left the service for a short time and re-enlisted and became an aviator. During the Second World War he was Deputy Chief of Staff of the U S Carrier Forces. In 1947 Col. O'Neal retired from the Air Force. In 1948 he was called back to attend a special staff school. When the Korean War came he was contacted to act as a consultant although he did not officially return to active duty.In the early 1950's he attended the University of Mexico, Mexico City during the winter months and studied English, Spanish, French and Journalism to prepare for a career in writing. His first book was his autobiography A Bucket of Prop Wash. Col. O'Neal attempted to publish his story at that time but was turned down due to the timing of the actual events. After retirement he settled in the Texas hill country town of Kerrville. Years later he remarried and moved to Marble City, Oklahoma where he served as the town Mayor. Eventually they moved back to San Antonio to live out their lives. Col. O'Neal went to meet the lord August 27, 1983. His children still reside in Texas.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow factor,
By
This review is from: A Bucket of Prop Wash: Memoirs of the Author (Paperback)
Me, not being a "history" fanatic, was throughly suprised by this book. It kept me turning the pages even from the very beginning. It isn't written as most other books, but more as a very well written account of what someone serving in the Army Air Corps most turbulent time, in the face of the holocoust with a family waiting for him had gone through. He writes the story to make you feel as though you are there with him facing each obstacle as if it were your own. The stories he gives growing up in poverty with accounts of racism and cotton farms are so vivid that before this book, I could only imagine what it must have been like. I will read this book again and again and share with family and friends. Without books like this, these times will be lost forever.
5.0 out of 5 stars
There needs to be a sequel!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Bucket of Prop Wash: Memoirs of the Author (Paperback)
Wonderfully written controversial story of one man's experiences during his 30 year career beginning in 1917 during ww1 and continuing through ww2. The untold stories and ones you'd never expect to hear told as the writer saw it.
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signal platoon, saddle sores, benzine board, headquarters flight, prop wash, orderly tent, depot group, flying cadets, flying line, pyramidal tents Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Col Joel Gaelord O'Neal, San Antonio, Air Corps, Air Service, United States, Joe Dalyrimple, Canal Zone, Kelly Field, Randolph Field, West Point, First Mississippi Infantry, Robin Gael, Indigo Station, Langley Field, Carlstrom Field, Erin Michael, Tinker Field, Major Pagett, New York, Saint Florent, Chanute Field, Corporal Cloud, Captain Flanders, Dauphine Field, Dodd Field Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
signal platoon, saddle sores, benzine board, headquarters flight, prop wash, orderly tent, depot group, flying cadets, flying line, pyramidal tents Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Col Joel Gaelord O'Neal, San Antonio, Air Corps, Air Service, United States, Joe Dalyrimple, Canal Zone, Kelly Field, Randolph Field, West Point, First Mississippi Infantry, Robin Gael, Indigo Station, Langley Field, Carlstrom Field, Erin Michael, Tinker Field, Major Pagett, New York, Saint Florent, Chanute Field, Corporal Cloud, Captain Flanders, Dauphine Field, Dodd Field Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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