Side by Side

Side by Side is the third of five books that describe an updated version of what Joseph Campbell called a "hero's journey," one man's trip from a small coal mining town in Southwest Virginia to Honolulu, Hawaii. An odyssey extending over the middle of the twentieth century, Side by Side circles from Hawaii to Hawaii with two stopovers in Saigon. Side by Side is a love story that reflects the problems and opportunities of military families. Humor and heartache are woven through the conflict of duty versus family. Raised as a God-fearing son of a coal miner, George is not adequately prepared when he wades into a new world. A strange, positive Hawaiian comes to his rescue through the concept of mei kealoha pauoli, "my love that lasts forever." George serves at the highest command levels of the Air Force and is tapped by a member of the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to lead a team that examines the manpower and organization of Headquarters, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. The secret study causes George to question his commitment to the way the war is being managed. He enters Vietnam a dedicated "hawk" and leaves with serious questions about his dedication. Travel with George from California to Hawaii to California to Nebraska to Washington, D.C., to Hawaii and Vietnam. Laugh, cry, believe.