Book Review by Combat Veteran, "The Flea Flicker" (article) by Valerie M Boggess on AuthorsDen

June 10, 2006 The Marine Corps Sniper,"The Flea Flicker" a combat veteran has so gratiously reviewed the writings of Paeans. Hello fellow Christians and those who soon will be. By way of introduction my name is "The Flea Flicker," or at least it was in Nam, from the beginning of 1964-end of 1965. I was a Marine Corps Sniper and I voluntarily extended my tour of duty for special operations with the C.I.A. Some political genius in Washington had decided it would be beneficial in slowing the movement of the NVA to the South if certain NVA Generals were taken out. After mission accomplished I ran south to a prearranged L.Z. where a chopper was to pick me up. I was forced to keep moving due to the NVA hot on my heels. With very little time for food and water, I sustained myself on a constant intake of amphetamines. On the last night before meeting the chopper I could go no longer. I constructed a hammock made from two rain slickers suspened high in a tree. As I was about to slip into a deep sleep I heard laughter from the ground below. Peering over the edge of the hammock I was not laughing when I saw four enemy NVA standing below me with AK47's painted in my direction. That was the moment I met Christ-facing certain death; I pulled my Walther.380 boot gun and placed it under my chin. (I would never be taken alive by the enemy do to their practice of inflicking sever torture before death.); at that moment an Army gunship arrived above me with both cal.50's on full stream and cleared the area of any threat to my life. I climbed aboard the chopper in a state of psychosis; due to sleep deprivation, but I was clearly aware that I had been touched by the hand of God. I offer this testimony to put you self-assured tough-guys on ALERT. There is a God, I pray you don't have to find Him in the way that I did, this book is not one to ignore for it shows by example the peace, tranquility and rejuvenating of energy in spirit that you can receive if only you will let God take charge of your life. So, before you take your next tranquilizer, read this book, "THAT'S AN ORDER." Valerie is a painter with words (the best), my way of saying she paints such beautiful pictures in your mind. You become aware of God's blessings that surround us everyday- too many of us do not take time "to smell the roses." I tend to judge authors in somewhat the same way I do- statesman, doctors, Presidents, and various other important dignitaries. The most important attributes are honor, honesty, responsibility, and conviction. Valerie earned an A+ in all of these areas- this pretty young lady is "walken what she's talken." When the blessings of Christ are offered to me, as Valerie has done in this book, I can feel the serenity overcome me. I am reminded of the beauty around me that God has given to us all, and best we soak in that beauty while there is still time. Valerie has put into words for our benefit, what it is really like to walk with the Lord. With a God given talent to paint beautiful pictures with words, Valerie has offered us a program of what awaits us; when God calls us home. You know the old saying, "the best things in life are free." I happen to believe that is absolutely true- there is much more joy in watching a deer in your front yard than buying a new car. The car will eventually need to be replaced- but the memory of that deer can last a life time. Valerie has had a very deep impact on my life and her husband, Mike was God's vessel who showed me the path to take in fulfilling the tasks God wanted me to attend to. I was already a christian but I was lost. Mike invited me to join a group that provides help for those Veterans less fortunate than we are. This book that Valerie has written, the book of Paeans, is a true blessing and well worth your time- it's a picture of a young lady so filled with the spirit of God; she almost "glows"-hope you get to know her by reading her book. It has been an honor to write these words and to express my feelings about this wonderful volume, of Paeans. One of my most important gifts from Jesus has been the joining of Praise to the Lord with Valerie and Mike at my side. May God Bless and Keep You. "Flea Flicker"
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