The Welcome Desert Dragons
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THE FIREBREATH NO. 13 SPRING 91 WELCOME HOME DESERT DRAGONS TACO SAUCE •••' •-••-•'. ,; -...-.• By Marcy Nighswander, AP I know all the Dragons share my sentiments when I welcome I will be working over the next year to share the load of home those of you who participated in Desert Storm! putting this thing together. Our biggest need right now is Congratulations on a superb job! Like myself, I'm sure every word processing capability. My access is limited since I use one was glued to CNN waiting for word on Dave Eberly and the computer at my guard unit and I'm not there much these anyone else we may have known that was captured or missing. days. What I would like to do is farm out some of the task We all sighed in relief to see Sundance on TV and when he of putting letters and articles into this form. came home we shared the elation Barbara felt that day. Those of you with home computers please play with your I felt the Dragon spirit more in the past three months word processing programs and see if you can come up with a then since Spanky died. It feels good to come together and quality type similar to this. We need bold print that copies support our brothers in difficult times like these. Our well, compressed type to minimize space (and costs) and of 4 entire nation was engulfed in that same spirit. With it we lesser priority a justified right margin to make it look can do anything! good. Look at what we've done with the Dragon Association! Its If you have the capability to come any where close to hard to believe this has been going for three years now... this and would like to volunteer a few hours a month let me three years! Its stronger now than ever too. You are doing know. I would eventually like to have one person assigned to a great job of sending letters and material for the each column of the Firebreather. I would then copy the Firebreather. My problem is not having the time or letters I receive, make editing remarks and send them off to opportunity to work on it as much as I had in the past. I am be typed up by you. Then each column would be sent back to failing you in my lack of ability to get these published on me ready for me to cut and paste and take to the printer. schedule and I apologize. One day I'll have my own computer but until then I need help. We have some great stuff coming at you. As you'll see balanced. For an author, and I might add, a publisher, the from this issue events happen faster than the Firebreather last two items are the most important. can keep up with them. We were trying to organize a list of The wonderful world of publishing is like a crap shoot all the Dragons in the Gulf to send them support but the war and everybody is taking a big chance. The publisher puts up ended so quickly! Since the last issue I've been sent the a hell of a lot of money and could be forced to eat most of names of several other Dragons who participated in Desert the books he prints (the book publishing business is largely Storm. I will try to list all the names here. Sorry if I done on a consignment basis and book sellers can 'return' miss anyone. books). The author has to put his work (not to mention his This issue of the Firebreather is dedicated to you! Shit Hot! ego) on the line and is open to criticism from all comers. Believe me, you should read some of the mail and book reviews Dave Eberly Phil Tritschler Bob George I've received. But if you can't take the heat, get out of Byron Seal Stephen Starks John HcBroom the business. As an author, all I can ask is that a book Jim Whitmore Paul Guzowski Hal Hornburg rev">e«As<- read -VWtUdbW, and y^'d be $urf<-\*>4 How many <W+, prei«h4 Kis cr'rHciSftvs ,a(AC ( r«aeli a. faolanceA jud3e*y£A+ telling why he did or did not like the book. You did all that very well. Thanks. A few words about the writing of "WARBIRDS". It was AGON completed in 1984 and it took me three years to find a publisher. That's when my education as a writer really EATH started. A writer does not write for himself or the public (unless he or she is very famous and his/her name sells the books), but for his editor. "WARBIRDS" was edited to approximately 2/3rds its original length with a deliberate focus on action. You should have to try to explain reality in the Air Force to an editor who cannot even tell the Dear Dragon Family, 10 Feb 91 difference between an F-4 and a B-52. Don't even attempt a detailed discussion on tactics. I had to simplify like you Thank you so much for the beautiful peace lily. How would not believe. And yes, you were right about giving the appropriate and meaningful that particular plant is. F-4G a gun. I screwed up. But I wanted to give C.J. a kill. I have heard from so many of you in the form of calls, I had a much more involved plot that had the Iranians and cards arid flowers. I wish i could write each of y»u to let Iraqis combining and attacking through Kuwait to threaten you know how appreciative I am, but it would require many Saudi Arabia, but that got edited out too. But on the other hours that I'm afraid would be too emotionally draining for hand, I learned a lot about the writing game and got me. established. Please know that each of you have touched my heart with I can't tell you how I laughed at your comment about only your concern. I can never repay you for the uplift your sending a paperback copy and therefore having no mercy. So words of encouragement have given me. I'm so proud to be a please except this with my compliments. (Dick sent me a hard- member of such a fine group of men and women. back copy of his latest book, "FORCE OF EAGLES".) I wish I could update you on David's condition. That I "do not know and will not until the International Red Cross is Check six, allowed in to Iraq to see our American POW's or the war is over - whichever comes first. I continue to pray that the Dick Herman Red Cross will be allowed to see all of the American POW's and perhaps account for the men who continue to be listed as p.s. We'll try to make the convention in Las Vegas and hope MIA who might indeed be POW's. The MIA families are living to meet you there. I really enjoy reading "THE in such anguish. I know because David was listed as MIA 20 FIREBREATHER". Keep up the good work. Oh, tell Mo the GLO's January, but his status was changed to POW 25 January. That name is John Johnson in the Squadron Portrait. was my birthday, and what a present it was to see David alive on TV! Dear Taco, 27 Jan 91 I continue to ask for your prayers for David's strength, safety, and rapid return. I'm a firm believer in the power Thanks for the latest Firebreather. I too, have a copy of prayer. Please don't forget Sundance as the days pass. of your cover picture. Its framed and destined for the wall Thank you and God bless each of you. in by den in my house in Ohio. As I write this I have 4 days left on active duty. As With sincere love, of 1 Feb the rank will be Mr. Hopefully it will be 2nd Barbara Eberly officer in the not too distant future. Wife of Colonel David W. Eberly (Sundance) I have applications in with everybody except for USAF Gulf POW aeroflot. I have an interview with American on the 11th of Feb. I've been told by a friend of mine with Delta that Dear Kelly, Delta will give me an interview. However, the company hasn't told me yet. I enjoyed your review of "THE WARBIRDS" immensely, thought it was humorous and well written, very fair, and well Stan Parks f Kelly, 3 Feb 91 f '• i«v- p-=sf>'~ +-0 or Your Postcard just arrived RE: Dragon runion. I know it recommendations. Just drop a letter or give me a call, I'd was a tough decision to make but a logical one considering be more than happy to help out a fellow Dragon with a new all the circumstances. Your final paragraph sums it up career. beautifully. Glad to hear the news about Eberly... I had no Taco, keep up the good work, and don't worry, the 11 update on him until your note arrived. month board is easier than the 5 month board. Look forward to the next Firebreather. Check essential and check six. Laura Rodm Andy "Brakeshoes" Brakora Dear Kelly, 4 Feb 91 Dear Firebreather, 7 Mar Thanks for the note concerning the Dragon Reunion 91 I was at Eglin AFB the last week of Jan and ran into postponement.