104 ratings | 2 reviews | avg rating:4.56

David Williamson’s Followers (30)

David’s Bookshelves

to-read (0)
currently-reading (7)
read (120)
biography (14)
christian (12)
history (10)
mysteries (15)
writing-and-publishing (6)

David’s Friends (17)

Vicki Gooding

3,270 books | 64 friends

Ruth

713 books | 103 friends

Donna

64,853 books | 1,385 friends

Michael Wagoner

1 book | 9 friends

J. Lennington

137 books | 345 friends

Cara Lynnette

171 books | 43 friends

Megan Varoz

976 books | 18 friends

Heidi

672 books | 48 friends

More friends…

David Williamson

Goodreads Author

Born

in Greeley, Colorado, The United States

Website

http://www.voiceofthanksgiving.com

Genre

History, Biography, Mystery

Member Since

November 2015

edit data

David Williamson is a Vietnam Era veteran and a story teller. The basic events in Williamson’s adventures are similar to the events of many other young men of that period, when they faced college life with the controversy over the Vietnam War and the draft overshadowing their plans. The Vietnam War was a difficult time for America and a challenging time to be a young man with a low draft number. Once he knew his Draft number, he enlisted in the US Air Force and gained a wealth of experience while stationed in Germany.

When he completed his military service he returned to college and graduated with honors in history, from the University of Colorado. He taught history and geography, and coached football and basketball for twenty years in publi David Williamson is a Vietnam Era veteran and a story teller. The basic events in Williamson’s adventures are similar to the events of many other young men of that period, when they faced college life with the controversy over the Vietnam War and the draft overshadowing their plans. The Vietnam War was a difficult time for America and a challenging time to be a young man with a low draft number. Once he knew his Draft number, he enlisted in the US Air Force and gained a wealth of experience while stationed in Germany.

When he completed his military service he returned to college and graduated with honors in history, from the University of Colorado. He taught history and geography, and coached football and basketball for twenty years in public high schools. As a teacher Williamson told students some stories of his adventures. Students convinced they would hate history, loved his class, well at least they loved the stories.

Students became engrossed in the tales of the craziness and fun of college life, but they also hear about the Vietnam War and the draft. As a historian he was able to place the stories in the context of history that shaped the events. Things changed dramatically when he received a low draft number and like many other students he faced difficult decisions. Williamson told students of his dealings with the national draft lottery, Local Draft Board #9, recruiters, and his enlistment options.

Students follow him through his journey, sometimes funny and sometimes difficult, to Basic and Technical training, where he learned to live and work in the military. They then fly with Williamson on the worst crossing of the Atlantic Ocean since the Titanic, to his duty station in Wiesbaden, Germany. He told students stories of military life and work for GIs in Germany in the military during early 1970s. He also shared background information and stories about the US military involvement in Europe. The Cold War was not just a topic in a history class, but was an ever present force that directly affected life in Europe for civilians and military personnel. Life is a little different knowing there are missiles that could destroy your town or military base, aimed at you, and they are only minutes away.

Williamson traveled extensively while he was in Germany. The stories of his travels presented an opportunity to share bits and pieces of European history. Williamson told students stories, ranging from visits to the city gates of Wiesbaden built by the Romans, to the halls of the Houses of Parliament where England decided to send the Red Coat soldiers to fight a little war in America. He told stories of castles on the Rhine River and dropping candy to kids in Berlin during the Berlin Airlift.

His story of a visit to a concentration camp gives students a background for understanding the continued struggles and fighting in the Middle East. Williamson told them of the time he was in Germany when another Arab/Israel war breaks out and how this changed his military duties and life in Europe. He also told them of continuing problems such as terrorist attacks just outside his barracks window and forced changes to his flight plans. He explained the pressure of oil boycotts on Europe, with the story of a most unusual football game which they played on the autobahn during a mandatory no drive day. The threat of a terrorist attack delays his trip to Israel. When he finally get to go, he lands in the dark due to reports of an attack from jets from Egypt.

Williamson missed telling stories, but the last few years of his teaching career he worked as an assistant principal. When he retired it was from the same high school where he graduated nearly forty years before. Williamson now lives with his wife of more than 38 years, and writes books to give a wider audience an opportunity to enjoy his stories.
...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask David Williamson questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
David Williamson’s books

Average rating: 4.14 · 21 ratings · 11 reviews · 5 distinct works

	Dose of Lemonade really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	They're All Dead 3.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Happenings: Cookies and Calico 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	2/2/72: Life in the Draft 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	They Faced the Bear really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by David Williamson…

51 posts
David Williamson's Blog

They’re All Dead

First book in the Grandpa Mystery Series

Police Chief Saunders told students in Jimmy’s class about several old cases. Jimmy was pleased; at least this day he would have something interesting to tell Grandpa. At first, they enjoyed their talk, but when Jimmy mentioned the third case, the fun stopped. Jimmy did not know it, but he had opened the door to Grandpa’s secret past.

Grandpa

David is Currently Reading

David Williamson is currently reading

An Annie Johnson Flint Compendium: He Giveth More Grace/The Making of the Beautiful

by Annie Johnson Flint

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Dec 30, 2019 06:24PM

David Williamson is currently reading

We'll Sleep When We Get Home

by David Williamson

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Dec 14, 2019 01:45PM

David Williamson is currently reading

I AM An Author!: Shift Your Mindset and Become a Successful Author in 90 Days

by Lise Cartwright (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Feb 15, 2018 07:22PM

rss
David’s Recent Updates

David Williamson rated a book really liked it They Faced the Bear by David Williamson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 08, 2025 07:31PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of They Faced the Bear by David Williamson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — They Faced the Bear by David Williamson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of David's books…

David’s Quotes

“I do the very best I know how—the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything.
If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
― Abraham Lincoln

tags: lincoln

1 likes

“The reason people miss opportunities is because they come dressed in overalls, or work clothes, and they look like work.”
― Thomas Edison, Lives of Great American Businessmen: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie

0 likes