To Sell Your Life: Life as a Mercenary Pilot (ePub)

In 1978, a former pilot and mercenary for Continental Air Service wrote a manuscript for a book based on his experiences in Vientiane, Laos, between 1966 and 1972. It fictionalized what he saw and did there, but he based it on real places and actions. He put it aside, not thinking about submitting it for publication; he considered the time was wrong.

After his passing, his son stumbled upon the manuscript and realized its potential. With today's advancements in self-publishing, he took on the project of presenting his father's work as a published book. He updated and edited it, but the document remained the same as when his father wrote it six years after returning to the States.

This memoir is a unique and insightful glimpse into a fascinating period in history. The places, activities, and events described in the book are real - from the Third Eye to the "United States of America, Government in Exile," from the cruises on the Mekong in a retired gunboat to the infamous "Lu Lu's" with the so-called gobblers, and from Papa Chu's to the flying.

The book is written by a man who was a military pilot for most of his life, and the amount of detail he provides is priceless. He takes you into the cockpit and lets you see what he sees. For aviation enthusiasts, this is a dream come true.

While the book may contain a lot of drinking and women, these men lived like there was no tomorrow but were all business regarding their mission. They got the job done.

Through this memoir, we can gain insight into a world few have experienced. It is a powerful tribute to the experiences of those who