Vietnam Ironclads: A Pictorial History Of U.S. Navy River Assault Craft, 1966-1970
John was born a military brat in Fairbanks, Alaska. He joined the U.S. Army and served twenty years as an airborne-infantryman retiring a Sergeant First Class in 2004. He is currently employed as a Department of the Army civilian serving as a JOPES Functional Manager for the Headquarters, United States Forces Command in Atlanta, GA. He earned his Associate of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in 2004 and has written several articles for military modeling magazines. His hobbies include collecting Vietnam War militaria, restoring military vehicles, and building model riverine craft from scratch. His curiosity about the Brown Water Navy began in 1979 when he watched the Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now. This movie sparked a life-long interest in the U.S. Navy's involvement in Vietnam; so much, that he is currently restoring two Mark II, River Patrol Boats (PBR). Once both PBRs are completely restored and sea worthy, he plans to organize a naval reenactment group dedicated to remembering the sacrifices of America's brown water sailors.