ANOTHER DAY IN WHICH TO EXCEL
by
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A lot of our pilots went down. Scores of men didn’t get out of their aircraft, but of those that did, we recovered many. Others were captured and ended up in the “ Although most of my KC-135 On one early morning mission to the Gulf, we were over-flying But it was now getting dark beneath the dense three-tiered jungle canopy, and the rescue effort had to be called off for the night. Just before leaving the area, the Rescue Commander made one last call to the downed pilot, saying, “Hey ole’ Buddy, you find yourself a nice place to camp out down there tonight, cover up, turn off your radio, and we’ll be back early in the morning.” With that, the radios went silent, the recovery assets departed the area, and darkness fell upon that hostile Vietnamese jungle. I could feel the energy draining from my body, as my mind focused on that frightened American pilot preparing to sleep with the enemy,
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About the Book
The Great Depression, Dust Bowl, and a Kansas tornado had left the Barber family reeling. Then came WW II and three sons were called to service. Army Air Corps planes began flying low level missions over the farm, capturing the imagination of yet a younger son, Paul. In this story of dedication and excellence, Paul Barber follows his dream, becomes an Air Force pilot, commands a flying unit, and with a simple statement, “Another Day in Which to Excel,” challenges himself, his crews, and his family to be their very best. You will see the Cuban Missile Crisis from his vantage point; tag along on high-speed, high-altitude air-refueling missions; learn how the U.S. won the peace during the Cold War with the Soviets; feel the stress on his flight crews in the Vietnam War; and view near tragedies during critical phases of flight.
About the Author
Raised on a farm, Paul Barber learned three things early: the power of a tornado; the definition of work; and the love of Jesus. Although not big enough to harness the horses, at six years of age he could swing a corn knife and chop weeds out of the corn row. When he was old enough to plow the ground, his father cautioned him that his furrow across the field needed to be straight, not crooked; when he milked the cows, he needed to get all the milk from the cow's udder; when he took food to eat, he needed to clean up his plate. From those, and other early lessons, came a life striving to mirror his dad's teachings of excellence. It became the norm to do his best in every situation; it was an attitude. It meant that he cared about the day, what he did, and how he did it. After a life stretching from around the farm to around the world; from the jungles of South East Asia to the nuclear seat of power; from high flight to high visibility; from joy to near tragedy, Barber completed his Air Force career and became a financial advisor, helping thousands with their investment needs. Today, as a poet and author, he holds to his strong faith in God, thanking Him daily for giving life, and another day in which to excel.