I Never Said Good-bye

About the Book

Losing a loved one is painful. Yet, never having the opportunity to say good-bye to the only parent that you ever knew as a child can be a life-long journey. The healing process can be long and arduous.

This book invites you into the life of a military officer who experienced the loss of her grandmother while assigned overseas. Since her grandmother was her legal guardian, the loss was devastating.

As a Colonel in the United States Air Force, I have had the privilege of serving in numerous locations. However, when I was a young lieutenant, I lost my grandmother while assigned in Korea. Despite having raised 17 children of her own, my grandmother took in my three siblings and myself and provided us with a stable home. Not having the opportunity to say good-bye prior to her passing left a void that only time and God could heal.

As military men and women, we are often acknowledged as heroes. Yet, my hero was a little grandmother who said no to the impossible, and yes to four little children who needed her love and care. For me, she put the super in hero. This book is my special tribute to my grandmother, and to all of those who never had the chance to say good-bye.  This book is for you! 

About the Author

Colonel Mary M. Gillam is a 28-year veteran of the United States Air Force. An experienced and seasoned leader, she has commanded several organizations and has deployed in support of numerous real-world operations and contingencies. In addition to numerous stateside and overseas assignments, she spent three tours in the Pentagon serving at the Joint Staff Directorate of Intelligence, the Secretary of the Air Force Inspector General staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The colonel is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Montgomery, Alabama, the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Legislative Studies Certificate Program at Georgetown. She holds a PhD in Management Information Systems Technology, three Masters’ degrees, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.