Marty Martin aka Warren Martin's Blog, page 9

Highly Recommended - 5 Stars

Forgotten Soldiers: What happened to Jacob WaldenBook Review by Author John Podlask
Although this is a work of fiction, the story could very well have happened and none of us would have been the wiser.
Captain Jacob Walden, 24, had only been in Vietnam for a month when his plane is shot down in 1970.  He ejects safely, only to be captured by farmers loyal to the enemy.  The author chronicles Jacob’s 400-mile trek on foot through the jungles - northward toward Hanoi where he can be turned over to the proper authorities.  Jake's entire world takes a flip upside down when his captors inform him that Vietnam is not at war with the United States, therefore, the Geneva Convention does not apply.  Jake is not a POW, instead, he is judged a criminal and sentenced to prison.
Thus began his daily ritual of torture, starvation, inhumane treatment and isolation.  Thinking his life could not get any worse, Jake soon discovers how wrong he is when a masochistic Russian Major takes over the interrogation and torture.  The author uses real events in his story such as the historic U.S. raid on the Son Tay prison camp to rescue seventy American prisoners – a location only 23 miles west of Hanoi, Jane Fonda’s infamous trip to the Hanoi Hilton Prison in North Vietnam, and the fall of the Russian empire.

Thirty-six years later, Capt Jacob Walden is officially pronounced dead by the United States government.  A reporter and Jacob’s brother do not believe this to be true and set out on their own to find proof to the contrary.  What they find instead is shocking!  To tell anymore would be a spoiler - you’ll have to read this fine story on your own to see how it ends.  Warning:  you’ll stay up late into the night reading because you won’t be able to stop.  Highly recommended!  Five Stars!  Great job Warren!  
 John Podlask author, Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel

Cold War-May 5, 1955

When we read and hear about various plans proposed by military leaders who know and knew what they were talking about concerning the future of Iraq and Afghanistan, it generally results in political comebacks about getting out, the cost and an array of other remarks that in some instances may be of the best intentions, but in reality can be the worst of alternatives. Regardless of the countless history lessons, political gain and detachment from future reality seem to win out, resulting sometimes in an upgraded version of a repeat of history.  If we were to take a poll and ask how long Germany was occupied after the end of WWII, we would likely get either "When the war ended" or "Aren't we still there?"  It is doubtful that most people would know or even believe that it was almost ten years to the day before the Allies ended the occupation, and most people likely would not even understand why occupation is necessary.and a necessity.  The below reprinted article from History.com gives a brief account of the day the Allied ended the occupation of West Germany.   

Allies end occupation of West Germany May 5, 1955 The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) becomes a sovereign state when the United States, France, and Great Britain end their military occupation, which had begun in 1945. With this action, West Germany was given the right to rearm and become a full-fledged member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union.

In 1945, the United States, Great Britain, and France had assumed the occupation of the western portion of Germany (as well as the western half of Berlin, situated in eastern Germany). The Soviet Union occupied eastern Germany, as well as the eastern half of Berlin. As Cold War animosities began to harden between the western powers and Russia, it became increasingly obvious that Germany would not be reunified. By the late-1940s, the United States acted to formalize the split and establish western Germany as an independent republic, and in May 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany was formally announced. In 1954, West Germany joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the mutual defense alliance between the United States and several European nations. All that remained was for the Americans, British, and French to end their nearly 10-year occupation. This was accomplished on May 5, 1955, when those nations issued a proclamation declaring an end to the military occupation of West Germany. Under the terms of an agreement reached earlier, West Germany would now be allowed to establish a military force of up to a half-million men and resume the manufacture of arms, though it was forbidden from producing any chemical or atomic weapons.

West German Flag East German FlagThe end of the Allied occupation of West Germany meant a full recognition of the republic as a member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union. While the Russians were less than thrilled by the prospect of a rearmed West Germany, they were nonetheless pleased that German reunification had officially become a dead issue. Shortly after the May 5 proclamation was issued, the Soviet Union formally recognized the Federal Republic of Germany. The two Germany's remained separated until 1990, when they were formally reunited and once again became a single democratic country.

Link to History.com: Allies end occupation of West Germany


http://warrenmartinbooks.com/index.html

Where was Jacob Walden on May 4, 1970

 Where were You on May 4, 1970 Four students killed at Kent State
This was the type of headlines Jacob Walden and other military service members were seeing 40 years ago today. Jacob was still in the States, but in just eight short weeks he would be in Vietnam and on June 30 would be shot down, and never return home.  Although there was and still is disagreement about the Vietnam War, the disagreement does not change the facts or sacrifice of those who served, nor does it change the sacrifices of those who’ve served during the Cold War Era and who’ve since been Forgotten.
Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden Cold War Mystery about Air Force Captain Jacob Walden shot down over Vietnam in 1970 and the untold story of why he never returned home. Forty years later Journalist Ted Pratt investigates what may be the sudden reappearance of Jacob Walden and follows the trail to find Jacob. Ted encounters Charlie Smith, a secretive and seasoned Operative who may have answers to the question about “What Happened to Jacob Walden,” and why Jake never returned home.

"Although this is a work of fiction, the story could very well have happened and none of us would have been the wiser.

Captain Jacob Walden, 24, had only been in Vietnam for a month when his plane is shot down in 1970... The author uses real events in his story such as the historic U.S. raid on the Son Tay prison camp to rescue seventy American prisoners - a location only 23 miles west of Hanoi, Jane Fonda's infamous trip to the Hanoi Hilton Prison in North Vietnam, and the fall of the Russian empire.

...To tell anymore would be a spoiler - you'll have to read this fine story on your own to see how it ends. Warning: you'll stay up late into the night reading because you won't be able to stop. Highly recommended! "
John Podlaski, Author of Cherries: A Vietnam War Novel

May 4, 1970 Four students killed at Kent State At Kent State University, 100 National Guardsmen fire their rifles into a group of students, killing four and wounding 11. This incident occurred in the aftermath of President Richard Nixon's April 30 announcement that U.S. and South Vietnamese forces had been ordered to execute an "incursion" into Cambodia to destroy North Vietnamese bases there. In protest, a wave of demonstrations and disturbances erupted on college campuses across the country.
At Kent State University in Ohio, student protesters torched the ROTC building on campus and Ohio Governor James Rhodes responded by calling on the National Guard to restore order. Under harassment from the demonstrators, the Guardsmen fired into the crowd, killing four and wounding 11. The Guardsmen were later brought to trial for the shootings, but found not guilty.
Read the rest of this story at the History.com site: 
 History.com/four students killed at kent state

Official Release

“Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden” Hello Everyone, 
While my book has been available a few days now ahead of schedule, May 1st is the official release date and is now officially available in Print, Kindle and Nook.Thanks to all of you who've already taken notice, ordered, liked, shared and passed on the word about the book. The right side bar has the link to my web site where paperback copies can be ordered direct from me.  For each paperback purchase from me on the web site I am also donating $2 to the Green Beret Foundation. 
  
Don't Have a Kindle or Nook? For e-book lovers, you can order the Kindle Edition or Barnes & Noble Nook Edition, and if you don't own a Kindle or Nook, that's ok, you don't need to own one to view e-books on your PC. You can download Kindle for PC or Nook for PC for Free and read e-book purchased from Kindle or Nook on you computer.  

What It's AboutForgotten Soldiers is a fictional account of an Air force Captain who was shot down in Vietnam in 1970 and has never returned home.  I’ve called the story a cross between a Cold War Mystery and Historical War Fiction that spans almost forty years, and as one endorsement has already stated, “…to tell any more would be a spoiler.” 
While the book is fiction and filled with what I hope provides the reader with mystery, suspense, conspiracy and action, it is also a story that I want to use to create awareness of the Forgotten Cold War Era Veterans. It is my intention to help create awareness, educate and keep the POW/MIA memory and pledge “You Are Not Forgotten” alive.   
I cannot express enough my appreciation to the large group of family, friends and professional connections who’ve provided a life full of influences and memories.  In addition to my family, Army, business, educational, Military Writers Society of American (MWSA) and the St. Louis Publishers Association (SLPA), I also want to recognize my younger New York City days at St. Stephens of Hungary Elementary and Power Memorial High School, which I mention on the bio page of my web site.
  Please check out the Book Trailer - if you like it, LIKE IT and share it. Jeff Senour and CTS were kind enough to give me permission to use their song "You Won't Be Forgotten" for the trailer music and are also involved with the "Snowball Express Tribute" program for the children of fallen military. (Don't forget to turn off the music on the top right sidebar before watching the video)

Now Available – Forgotten Soldiers

“Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden”
Hello everyone, I’m proud to announce that my book is now available.  It’s been a long road to get the book published but as they say, patience is a virtue, and it has been worth the wait.
Forgotten Soldiers is a fictional account of an Air force Captain who was shot down in Vietnam in 1970 and has never returned home.  I’ve called the story a cross between a Cold War Mystery and Historical War Fiction that spans almost forty years, and as one endorsement has already stated, “…to tell any more would be a spoiler.” 
While the book is fiction and filled with what I hope provides the reader with mystery, suspense, conspiracy and action, it is also a story that I want to use to create awareness of the Forgotten Cold War Era Veterans, including the ones who never returned home. It is my intention to help create awareness, educate and keep the POW/MIA memory and pledge “You Are Not Forgotten” alive.   
I would like to also take this opportunity to express my appreciation to a large group of friends and professional connections who’ve provided a great deal of guidance and education during my trek towards publishing, many of whom are members of the Military Writers Society of American (MWSA) and the St. Louis Publishers Association (SLPA).


The book is now available direct from me through my links on this blog on the right side bar and also through my website, which I just finished creating and getting online today…any comments, thoughts or if you notice any typos or misttakes, please let me know.  Paperback and Kindle is also available at Amazon and Nook version from Barns and Noble.  
I'm also testing the idea of a Book Trailer, so if you like it, LIKE IT when you're on YouTube. Jeff Senour and CTS were kind enough to give me permission to use their song "You Won't Be Forgotten" for the trailer music and are also involved with the "Snowball Express Tribute" program for the children of fallen military. (Don't forget to turn off the music on the top right sidebar before watching the video)
 

Book Cover Final Version

Hello Everyone,
The anticipated first of May release of "Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden" looks like its on schedule.  The final version of the Book Cover has been completed as well as the interior, and all submitted for print and e-book options. 
Orders for paperback print copies can now be made for May delivery and the Kindle and Nook e-book formats should be available by the beginning of May.

Book Review

5 Stars for Black Eagle Force: Sacred Mountain

When you pick up the second book in the Black Eagle Force Series, Sacred Mountain, be prepared to not take a break. From the get go and within the first few pages Authors Buck Stienke and Ken Farmer takes the reader on a journey filled with explosions, action and adventure. Filled with an ensemble of fascinating characters, technology and an array of aircraft and weaponry, the almost 500 pages of Sacred Mountain embodies what those of us who served in the Special Ops Community endearingly called "High Speed Low Drag" and takes the term to a new level of expectation.

Sacred Mountain is a powerful and magnificent blending of arms dealers, terrorist, drug cartels and a combination of high speed low drag old fashioned patriotic blood and guts kick ass good guys...the Men, Women and War Dog of The Black Eagle Force. This is a book you'll definitely want for your collection as well as the rest of the series.

Available at Black Eagle Force.com
& 
Available at Amazon

Facebook Timeline Cover

Create You Own & Self-Promotion
I was recently inspired by a friend’s new cover image he did for his Facebook page.  Bob Baker of the St. Louis Publishers Association (SLPA) created a cover image that promotes himself while not violating any of the Facebook rules.
Following Bob’s lead I sat down and after about an hour had created a collage type image that reflected a timeline of sorts of my life, and of course part of my life happens to be a book I had written and so an image of the book cover was in the final product.  I was a little surprised by the large numbers of responses I received after posting the new cover image on my Facebook Timeline and can tell you it can get attention.
How do you make your Timeline Cover Image? I used PowerPoint to create the image.  I found the dimension for the page on Google. First thing is to create a new file and then before anything else set up the page size. When you go into page setup, set the width to 8.85 inches and the height to 3.28 inches. You will need to keep a 1 inch high and 1.7 inch wide space on the bottom left of the worksheet so that when you’re finished the profile picture will not overlap anything you put on your image collage.  I made a blank square where the profile picture overlaps and then took it out later.
There are probably hundreds of variations of a collage you  can make, but you will need to know a little about PowerPoint, so if you already know PowerPoint or some other software, that’s great, but if you don’t, you can learn it,  just might take a little while but you can figure it out and there are plenty of people that can probably assist you. When you’re done, save the worksheet as a JPEG file, then you can upload it to Facebook and there you have it, the image should fit perfectly and visitors to your page can see a snapshot or timeline of you, your interest, or whatever theme you chose to make.
The collage type of image for your Facebook Timeline Cover is a great way to let friends and visitors know something about you, and if one of the something’s about you is your occupation or hobby such as writing, that’s great too.
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Forgotten Soldiers –  What Happened to Jacob Walden The Epic Cold War saga about Jacob Walden, a United States Air Force Captain shot down over Vietnam in 1970 and the ensuing untold story of why he never returned home. Forty years later Journalist Ted Pratt investigates what may be the sudden reappearance of Jacob Walden.  Ted Pratt follows the trail to find Jacob and encounters Charlie Smith, a secretive and seasoned Operative who may have answers to the question about “What Happened to Jacob Walden,” and why Jake never returned home. http://warrenmartinbooks.blogspot.com/

 

Forgotten Soldiers Receives First Endorsement

Hello Everyone,Some great news,  I received the first endorsement for my upcoming book, “Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to JacobWalden” from Author and friend Steve Newman.  Steve and a few others were provided advanced copies of the book and gracious enough to read it.  It is an honor to receive an endorsement from Steve, author of “The Night Eagles Soared” and “BurntYellow and Red”    Forgotten Soldiers will be available in early May 2012 and you can now place your advance order direct from me at my blog site http://warrenmartinbooks.blogspot.com/
Endorsement: Forgotten Soldiers by Warren Martin pulls the reader into an intriguing Cold War saga filled with mystery.  What ever happened to Jacob Walden, an Air Force Captain who was shot down over North Vietnam during the height of the war?  The answers are revealed in this pulse racing mystery that takes the reader on a fantastic journey around the world!  A quick and enjoyable read; be prepared for adventure!  S. B. Newman author, “The Night Eagles Soared” and “Burnt Yellow and Red”    

First Vietnam POW’s Released 39 Years Ago

February 12, 1973 marked the beginning of Operation Homecoming
This article is a re-post from an Original Post on 4/28/2009 in the National Museum of the US Air force  http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=14412  OPERATION HOMECOMINGThe Paris Peace Accords of 1973 included provisions for exchanging prisoners of war. The plan to bring American prisoners home was called OPERATION HOMECOMING. Prisoners were to be returned to U.S. control during February and March 1973, with the longest-held generally returning first.

The North Vietnamese assembled the POWs and told them the war was over. As the POWs prepared to leave, the North Vietnamese tried to issue them brightly-colored sweaters and suits with ties--another of their endless propaganda attempts. The POWs did not want to look well-treated or like civilians, but they compromised to keep from jeopardizing their release. They accepted low-key outfits of dark pants, shirts, and windbreakers. Many of the items in this exhibit were carried home in tote bags issued to POWs.

At Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport, the men were thrilled to see USAF C-141A Starlifter aircraft landing to pick them up. The happiest moment came when the aircraft left the ground--and POWs knew for certain that they were free.

Free Again
Ex-POWs first stopped at Clark Air Base in the Philippines for medical exams, good meals and new uniforms. After stops in Hawaii and California, they finally returned to their families and their lives as free Americans.

OPERATION HOMECOMING returned 591 POWs: 325 Air Force personnel, 77 Army, 138 Navy, 26 Marines and 25 civilians. Those who were not freed at Hanoi--POWs held in South Vietnam by the Viet Cong, mostly Army and civilians--left from Loc Ninh, the scene of the North Vietnam-South Vietnam prisoner exchange. A total of 660 American military POWs survived the war.

About eighty percent of the military POWs who survived the war continued their military careers. Most of the 500 returning airmen retrained and resumed their aviation careers. These ex-POW airmen adopted the motto "Three's in," signifying an aircraft, number three in a four-ship group, rejoining a "missing man" formation.

A Flying Memorial
The first group of POWs to leave Hanoi on Feb. 12, 1973, flew on a C-141 later dubbed the Hanoi Taxi. This historic aircraft is part of the National Museum of the USAF's collection. The Hanoi Taxi, though modified over the years, was also maintained as a flying memorial to Vietnam-era POWs and MIAs. In 2002, during the aircraft's last PDM (Periodic Depot Maintenance), it was repainted in its 1970s gray and white scheme, and it ended its flying career with the USAF Reserve's 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB in 2006.

Recalling his own journey out of North Vietnam on Feb. 18, 1973, Maj. Gen. Ed Mechenbier, the last Vietnam POW to serve in the USAF, said, "When we got airborne and the frailty of being a POW turned into the reality of freedom, we yelled, cried and cheered."