Before Mike was 30, he'd been in everything from an Arctic hurricane to a rum factory in Haiti. He'd gone to sea for a living - truly the second biggest crap game in the world. It was a place where the only chip in the game was your life and it was on the table every time you got underway.
His job history reads like a Doctor Strange comic book from the 1960's. He's sold insurance, encyclopedias, computers and commodity options. Jobs have included scuba diving, retail sales, computerized embroidery, marketing marine navigation software to mega-yachts in Florida, telemarketing and building models of everything from sailing ships to weapons systems. On the docks of Boston, his tires were flattened by an ice pick wielding competitor when he got an order for ship supplies before he did. Helping to bring a sailboat back from the Bahamas, he experienced the copper taste of fear for the first time and there was gray in his hair when he reached shore.
He has been blessed by the Northern Lights, sailed through Prince Christian Sound at the tip of Greenland, a land so old that you expect to see Leif Ericcson pull out from the next fiord, seen the Green Flash as the sun set behind the Leeward Islands and watched dolphins play in a tug's bow wave in the Gulf of Mexico. The words "Boarding Party" and "Prize Crew" evoke images of pirates and bloody cutlasses. Reality for him was a .45 pistol and backed up by M16's and .50 caliber machine guns.
He's known the love of a great woman and how heart wrenching it can be to raise children.
On a more serious note, Mike has written and has published the award winning "Bloodstained Sea" the history of the Coast Guard in the Battle of the Atlantic. As well as the action/adventure novel "Choke Points". Mike has spent more than 45 years collecting stories from veterans from World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, and Iraq as well as those of pilots, merchant seaman, civilian personnel with NATO and EUFOR in the Balkans. His research has included visits to London; Sarajevo; Baska Voda, Croatia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; St. John’s, Newfoundland; and New Orleans.
He has been blessed by the Northern Lights, sailed through Prince Christian Sound at the tip of Greenland, a land so old that you expect to see Leif Ericcson pull out from the next fiord, seen the Green Flash as the sun set behind the Leeward Islands and watched dolphins play in a tug's bow wave in the Gulf of Mexico. The words "Boarding Party" and "Prize Crew" evoke images of pirates and bloody cutlasses. Reality for him was a .45 pistol and backed up by M16's and .50 caliber machine guns.
He's known the love of a great woman and how heart wrenching it can be to raise children.
On a more serious note, Mike has written and has published the award winning "Bloodstained Sea" the history of the Coast Guard in the Battle of the Atlantic. As well as the action/adventure novel "Choke Points". Mike has spent more than 45 years collecting stories from veterans from World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, and Iraq as well as those of pilots, merchant seaman, civilian personnel with NATO and EUFOR in the Balkans. His research has included visits to London; Sarajevo; Baska Voda, Croatia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; St. John’s, Newfoundland; and New Orleans.
Just Released!
"Forgotten Sacrifice: The Arctic Convoys of World War II" is now available.
In Forgotten Sacrifice, historian Michael G. Walling tells the complete story of the Arctic Convoys and the vital role they played in helping Russia repel the Germans. The tale involves torpedo attacks and survival at sea in open boats in the biting cold; Stuka dive bombers, naval guns, and weeks of total darkness in the Arctic winter; ships disappearing into the sea because of the ice and snow that weighed down their decks; and political calculations that needlessly put countless men into harm’s way. There are colorful stories of the female workforce that staffed the Soviet ports and of the meager, frozen conditions that awaited Allied sailors when they finally reached their icy destinations. Life in port was barely more comfortable than life at sea during the Arctic Convoys.
Coming Summer 2014!
"Enduring Freedom, Enduring Voices: US Military Operations in Afghanistan"
Mike's next commissioned book from Osprey Publishing, "Enduring Freedom, Enduring Voices" will chronicle US Military Operations in Afghanistan from 2001-2012. This will be a VERY interesting project for him. Mike will be gone for three months visiting the various Regional Commands in Afghanistan. He will be posting Situational Reports (SITREP) from the Edge to his Facebook page.
Situational Report (SITREP) 24 MAR - Final Week in Afghanistan
I will start by thanking LTC Löwenstern, CPT Schmidt, and Peter at RC North PAO for all they did along with Amy and Johannes, for making my visit memorable.
24 March, Sunday
Regretfully this is the final SITREP of my Afghan trip. I got home a week ago Friday 33 hours after leaving Kabul. Sad as I was to leave, the flight home was made easier by the amazing people I met on the way. Although it’s great to be home, I miss Afghanistan and the comradeship I enjoyed being among people who are working hard to keep us safe. Each of them is a remarkable individual and it was their acceptance of me that warmed my heart.
24 March, Sunday
Regretfully this is the final SITREP of my Afghan trip. I got home a week ago Friday 33 hours after leaving Kabul. Sad as I was to leave, the flight home was made easier by the amazing people I met on the way. Although it’s great to be home, I miss Afghanistan and the comradeship I enjoyed being among people who are working hard to keep us safe. Each of them is a remarkable individual and it was their acceptance of me that warmed my heart.
As for having the trip cut short, everything had been in place for the entire 12 weeks, but within 72 hours both RC Southwest and RC East withdrew their support. No reasons where given so I was stuck having to re-book my flights at the last minute. Losing those 6 weeks threw a significant curve into my research. This week I begin planning a return trip starting in mid-August.
For a good part of May, June, and possibly part of July I'll be visiting various units across the US. These include several of the ones I was with in Afghanistan. I look forward to spending time with the men and women in a more relaxed environment. I prayer is that they and their friends all make it back safely.
Once again, I thank Public Affairs Officers LTJG Amy Forsythe, 1LT James Bonds, and MAJ Michael Tomberlin for their terrific support. They help make the trip an experience I’ll never forget.
I wish was there was more interesting parts of the project in the works right now to hold your attention. Your comments and support have brightened each day for me. It’s always a surprise to see how many people from so many countries have been following my simple trip. I hope you continue to follow the units whose pages are linked to mine.
Please let me know if there are other units you’d like to see linked. This way we can all help “Keep the Faith” with the men and women from the US, NATO, and Allied countries who risk their lives for Freedom so we don’t have to risk our own life.
Stay safe,
Mike
For a good part of May, June, and possibly part of July I'll be visiting various units across the US. These include several of the ones I was with in Afghanistan. I look forward to spending time with the men and women in a more relaxed environment. I prayer is that they and their friends all make it back safely.
Once again, I thank Public Affairs Officers LTJG Amy Forsythe, 1LT James Bonds, and MAJ Michael Tomberlin for their terrific support. They help make the trip an experience I’ll never forget.
I wish was there was more interesting parts of the project in the works right now to hold your attention. Your comments and support have brightened each day for me. It’s always a surprise to see how many people from so many countries have been following my simple trip. I hope you continue to follow the units whose pages are linked to mine.
Please let me know if there are other units you’d like to see linked. This way we can all help “Keep the Faith” with the men and women from the US, NATO, and Allied countries who risk their lives for Freedom so we don’t have to risk our own life.
Stay safe,
Mike