SPRINGFIELD, Mo., July 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- In the course of America's history, many citizens have risen from humble beginnings to achieve great things for themselves and the nation. Nathaniel Gunn reveals the true story of his father, Pappy Gunn (now available through AuthorHouse), whose modest entrance into the Navy led to future military triumph and personal success.
"Part I" follows Paul I. "Pappy" Gunn's time in the Navy and the beginnings of family life. After he finds his niche at a base in Florida, he meets his future wife, Clara Louise Crosby. The two marry, begin a family and eventually relocate to Honolulu, where Paul's extraordinary career path takes flight. Seizing every opportunity to advance, he lands such positions as chief aviation pilot and trainer/member of search and rescue missions. Paul takes his family to Manila, Philippines, after his retirement. There, he helps establish the first airline company in the country. Two years later, Manila and Honolulu are bombed, and the Gunn family is plunged into World War II.
In "Part II," Nathaniel recounts his father's service in the Army Air Forces and how he helped modify fighter planes into even more powerful weapons of war. Pappy may be best known for modifying the North American B25 Mitchell and Douglas A20 aircraft, which helped America turn the tide against the Japanese. Nathaniel also reveals Pappy's penchant to use humor as a stress reliever, even as his family was being held in a Japanese prison camp. All this added to the mystique of a man whose tough exterior belied the heartache he felt for his beloved wife and children. A serious injury removed Pappy from the war, but it also led to a joyous family reunion.
Pappy's civilian life is beautifully recalled in "Part III." With humor and poignancy, Nathaniel describes his father's days back at work in the Philippines and details his final moments on Earth at age 57 in the cockpit of an airplane. As Pappy predicted, "I'll die before I reach 60, with my boots on and the throttles rammed to the firewall!"
Pappy Gunn is packed with historical documents and photographs and brilliantly illustrates how "patriotism and sacrifice are more than catchwords," in a gripping story of love, devotion and courage.
Nathaniel, born in Washington, D.C., was delivered into this world by his father and was later educated in the Philippines. He is also the author of Where the Hell is Indonesia, Anyway? (now available through AuthorHouse) and All That Glitters published by iUniverse.
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