About the Author
Don Rast was born in Brownwood, Texas and is a graduate of Louisiana State University. While attending LSU, he was commander of the Army Bengal Raiders, which emphasized training in counter-guerilla tactics and special warfare techniques. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate and holder of numerous art awards. His seven years in the military resulted in a variety of interesting assignments such as those written about the "Orient Express" in this book. He was a convoy commander in the 534th and 379th Transportation Companies, 7th Transportation Battalion in Vietnam; a battery commander with the 8/17th (SP155) Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; project officer for "Operation Red Hat," (the removal of toxic chemical/nerve munitions from Okinawa to Johnson Island). Created and implemented a fifty-man Bureau of customs contraband detachment while stationed at Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan; and served as a company commander of a transportation unit at Fort Eust! is, Virginia. His military decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm. Mr. Rast resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and owns a home improvement company, while continuing to write. His sequel book to this one is "Ghosts In The Wire," about his, and other Vietnam veterans feelings when they returned home from the war. A third book, "Bayou Samurai," is his current writing project, regarding his additional experiences in Asia with the military and Bureau of Customs. His hobbies are painting, studying Oriental religion and customs, and gardening. Married to Delia Berras of the Philippines, he has two sons from a previous marriage, who now reside in Japan, and two step-sons. His equivocal approach to ontology is, to say the least-esoterically and portentously that of a Universalist. Professor Gilda M. Agacer, Monmouth University, New Jersey
