Reflections on Life: From Orphanage to Military and Beyond

The experiences that I have had throughout my life are varied, involving contact with everyday people as well as with individuals many would describe as particularly interesting. In this book, it is my intention to reach the reader by sharing how my life has been touched by others and how I, in turn, have affected those I have met along life's journey.The original text focused on my wife, Mary, and my involvement with one of the major social issues of our time. At the suggestion of many friends who have heard some of my stories, the book now includes a much wider range of subject matter: My life in politics, meetings with fascinating world leaders, including several presidents of the United States, and my military service to my country in the Vietnam War.I have also included events from my childhood, such as my early years in an orphanage, to provide context for my growth and the development of the character that shaped my life's work in service to others.As I was writing this book, it was my hope to stimulate readers to recall memories of their own lives, where they, too, have reached out to help others in ways that made those individuals' lives better.