"My Unbelievable Journey" is a powerful autobiography from a flight aircrewman's perspective. During his service, he and his crew were involved in numerous unique and dangerous missions while supporting our country and NATO allies. The flights take the reader on a worldwide journey divulging what our crewmen endure and encounter in their daily lives. It reveals the impact on their families being away from home for weeks while serving and protecting our nation. The story places the reader on the ground, both in hostile and non-hostile environments, many of which are directly in "harm's way." Various humanitarian missions are covered from earthquake relief in Japan and Turkey to joint military exercises in Iran and Sardinia. Several "special missions" are spotlighted like the ill-fated C-5 crash, the prelude to the "Baby-lift" evacuation in Vietnam, the Syrian-Egyptian war support in Israel, and the transportation of cruise missiles in Europe. At a U-2 site in Europe, a real-life spy encounter is detailed, along with a massive Iranian evacuation that led to hostages taken. The book describes, in depth, the survival training which flight crews must complete. The author explains escape and evasion tactics and how to survive a crash at sea. It is a candid narration, guaranteed to leave the reader with that feeling of "Mission Accomplished."
About the Author: Al Monroe's book, "My Unbelievable Journey" is a great read. Al writes in a unique style, telling his audience about his military experience over a 22-year Air Force career. He describes all the unique, intensified, and dangerous flights and missions as a flight aircrewman on three different cargo airplanes, while stationed both state side and abroad. Traveling around the globe supporting our NATO allies, Al gained his unique hands-on experience by being there, on the front line in "Harm's way." This gave him a rare insight, that the average person would never experience. Al was born and raised in Oakland, California. Graduating from McClymond's High, he joined the Air Force in 1963, during the Viet Nam war. As a C-5 Loadmaster, he accrued close to ten thousand flight hours over a long career. For his endeavors, Al was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, and the Air Medal with two Oak leaf clusters. Master Sergeant Monroe was presented a Letter of Commendation, by the European Commander, for planning C-130 aircraft load plans in a joint NATO exercise Al graduated college with his Undergraduate, and master's degree. Retiring, from the Air Force, he worked for Lockheed-Martin, teaching Satellite Operations. After moving to Nevada, Al was a University Professor, and taught Political Science for twelve years. He is now fully retired and live with his wife in Las Vegas.