Life Lessons from Veterans

by Rick Tocquigny

Overview

Lessons from Veterans provides an array of personal stories—from nightmarish fights on the islands of Iwo Jima to the shores of Normandy on D-Day. With unprecedented access to veterans and unpublished memoirs, Life Lessons from Veterans provides a new voice to the bravery and sacrifice of the American soldier defending our freedom through more than thirty stories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781630761356
Publisher:	Taylor Trade Publishing
Publication date:	12/15/2015
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Rick Tocquigny is CEO and cofounder of Artbeat Media and Gracefully Yours Greeting Cards. His time and talents are also spent as the host of the popular BlogTalkRadio shows Life Lessons, Transformed Traveler, and CEO in 10. He resides in Lafayette, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Writing History: The Veterans History Project xv

The Heart of Veterans

Life Lesson 1 Our Squadron Janitor 3

Life Lesson 2 The School Desks 7

Life Lesson 3 Mother Lode 9

Life Lesson 4 Duty, Honor, Loyalty 11

Veterans Day 15

Life Lesson 5 War Pierces the Soul 17

Life Lesson 6 Size of the Heart 19

Life Lesson 7 War and the Textbook Education 21

Heroics

Life Lesson 8 Remembering Bataan 25

Life Lesson 9 Adapt and React 29

Life Lesson 10 You Had the Rice Seeds 31

Life Lesson 11 Code Talker 33

Life Lesson 12 Wings Across America; Heroic WASPs 35

Life Lesson 13 We Grew Up Overnight at the Battle of the Bulge 39

Life Lesson 14 M.A.S.H. Innovation 41

In the Trenches

Life Lesson 15 Far Better to Dare Mighty Things 45

A Fighter's Lament 47

Life Lesson 16 They Won't Shoot Crazy People 49

Life Lesson 17 Semper Fi Leadership 51

Life Lesson 18 True Nods of Recognition 53

Somewhere in the Pacific 57

Life Lesson 19 Fly through Life with Bravado, Regardless of the Conditions 59

Rifleman's Creed 61

Life Lesson 20 The Helmet 63

Life Lesson 21 Too Young 65

Perhaps in Death I'll Understand 67

Life Lesson 22 What's in a Name? 69

Life Lesson 23 Believable Leadership Works 71

After the Battle

Life Lesson 24 Moving On 75

Life Lesson 25 Honoring Selflessness 77

Life Lesson 26 The Darkest Moment 79

Life Lesson 27 Undercurrent of True Leadership 81

Life Lesson 28 Enlightening Afghans Her Way 85

Life Lesson 29 It Was a Way of Life 89

Life Lesson 30 Lean In 93

Life Lesson 31 Dealing with Guilt 97

Life Lesson 32 Speeding Up Your Epiphany 99

Life Lesson 33 Duty and Honor Return Home to Sherman, Texas 103

Life Lesson 34 Twelve Layers of Manhood 107

Life Lesson 35 Bridging the Gap of Misunderstanding 109

Life Lesson 36 Looking for the Legacy 111

Life Lesson 37 Sliver of Humanity 113

Life Lesson 38 Getting a Leg Up 117

Life Lesson 39 Jacob's Ladder 121

Life Lesson 40 VE Day: Solemn Gratitude and Mixed Jubilation 123

Life Lesson 41 Still Playing Taps 125

Epilogue 127

Text Credits 129

Editorial Reviews

Within a few years, our last Veterans from World War II will pass away. Stories from this book will help keep alive the memories of their heroism.

Pat Williams

These brief encounters with veterans cut to the core of what courage is about, and what really counts. Their stories...bring home once more the inspiring lessons Rick Tocquigny shares in his other books, by calling us quietly to rise to our God-given best. In Rick's memorable words, 'Life is a leadership laboratory you can learn outside a classroom.'

Nedda R. Thomas

The stories of Bataan and Battle of the Bulge were gripping. The accomplishments of our young American soldiers was truly astounding.

Ra Kumar

As a son of a Vietnam Veteran, I appreciate every effort to show appreciation to our veterans who have given so much.  This book reminds us of their sacrifice and helps us to honor and appreciate those in uniform who protect us each and every day.

Darren Henry

Perhaps more than any other time in history, we should all heed Life Lessons from Veterans.  They work and live amongst us, and their sacrifice, experience and patriotic commitment reflect values that inform and inspire us.  This book contains profound examples and stories of these heroes.

Marc Pierce

Life Lessons from Veterans reminds us that our freedom isn’t free.  It’s been purchased with the blood, time, talent, and lives of the courageous Men and Woman of our armed forces. Thank you Veterans!

Vic Kennett

Veterans just don’t get enough thanks! Take time to celebrate and honor our Veterans for their courage and extraordinary dedication....Reflect on these true-life experiences and what it has taken to protect our freedom.  Feel gratitude for our Veterans (like my Dad) who have sacrificed and served our country.

Terri Muir

Military service is an honorable and admirable profession, and in many ways serving in uniform builds character and helps create attitudes and aptitudes whether or not one chooses to make the military his or her career. Rick Tocquigny’s Life Lessons from Veterans highlights some of the outstanding men and women who put their lives on the line every day they are in uniform, and illustrates how military service often brings out the best in those who wear the uniform.  Teamwork, loyalty, going above and beyond for their comrades – all of these are documented in the chapters of Rick’s book.  Inspiring to all of us, it is a testament to the men and women who lay their lives on the line to keep us free.

Gordon B. Logan

After reading Life Lessons from Veterans, I suddenly measure fear and stress in a different light in comparison to the mundane heroic acts of our heroes. Whether they are underwater or in the air, the parables of our military heroes bring me hope that regardless what the world may throw our way, we'll be OK, in America.

Karl Frank

Compelling life lessons of overcoming adversity through the voices of veterans will provide powerful insight for all that heed their wisdom!

Roger Staubach