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Kenny's BLOG.....

Streetcar 304 revisited Laos a second time January 14, 2009

Well...I can now report that Streetcar 304 and

Nail 69 made it to the Streetcar 304 mission target

area in Laos and returned safely this time but the

trip was not without a scary incident.

Once in the target area, we noted that a very

unfriendly Swiss funded "Laotian Bomb Demolition

Team" was still clearing the area of live "dud" bombs

and on our second day in the area---as we were

walking around looking for the final rescue pick-up

point---that team exploded a 500 pound bomb not

too far from our location. The explosion echoed

around the valley just like my memory of many

others forty years ago.... And, that was a vivid

reminder of the danger we faced in trying to retrace

my evasion trails.

We saw many, many small to massive bomb craters

and, to be honest, it was a little scary to walk around

the same area that I once evaded in because we feared

that we would step on a leftover CBU--- but we sucked

it up and did so anyway.

The trip was quite an adventure and we learned that the area is still very isolated from the rest of the world and only inhabited

by a few very poor villagers.. We walked over the same trails that I had once evaded enemy troops along and we got to

mingle with the local villagers who live in the same area today. But, I can report that most of the animals and birds have been

killed for food....

The best news....We found my A-7 crash site and actually dug up a few small pieces to bring home with us. Most of the plane had

been salvaged by others because the villagers use every piece they can find in very innovative ways and I thought for sure that

we would be blown up before we finally started to find small pieces of the plane in the hole we were digging in. But, I got enough

parts to satisfy me....

In the photo, I'm standing next to the oldest guy in the village about one half mile fron the area where I evaded and I'm still not

sure what he thought of me since we couldn't communicate. But, I don't believe the kids in the village had ever seen an American---

the way they reacted. They appeared very tenative at first but finally eased closer to me but I'm not sure that I would have

been friendly to me either if I had been in their shoes....

All in all though....A shit-hot adventure....

More photos of the trip are available for viewing on the "Laos Photos" page so I hope that you enjoy them.

streetcar 304

Streetcar 304 Returns to Laos---With his FAC, Nail 69 November 19, 2008

Streetcar 304 and Nail 69 will depart 21 November to re-visit

the scene in Laos where the huge battle occurred in 1968 during

the rescue of Streetcar 304.

They will spend several nights in Tchepone and during the days

will attempt to locate the plane wreckage site...hike the trails

that Streetcar evaded along...and stand on the actual spot where

he was finally rescued by the Sandys and Jolly Green helo crew.

Wish us well....

The photo depicts the scene when Streetcar 304 was welcomed

"home" aboard USS America. That's 304 in the cowboy cap....

Veteran's Day Speech---Davidson, NC November 6, 2008

On November 5th, I was invited to give a presentation about

my book to the Davidson, NC chapter of the Military Officer's

Association and, since Veteran's Day was approaching, I first

gave a short tribute to veterans. I would like to share my

tribute with my readers---many of whom are vets.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen....I’ve been invited

to tell my story about one of my combat missions in Vietnam

but, if you don’t mind, I would first like to pay a short tribute

to Veteran’s Day which occurs next Tuesday, the 11th.

In 1776, several of my wife’s ancestors--- and maybe some

of mine and yours---were poorly equipped to do so but they

still took up arms and fought gallantly against the British

Redcoats during the American Revolutionary War. Would

this country have ever been the land of the free if an estimated

25,000 Americans had not died in that war of independence?

In 1812, my wife's ancestors again heeded the call to arms to

stop the British Empire from conscripting U.S citizens into the British navy...from encroaching our borders...from inciting the Indians.

Nearly 2,200 Americans died in that war and thousands more died from disease and other harsh causes before the stirring defeat of

the British in the Battle of New Orleans.

In 1862, my great, great grandfather removed his rifle from the mantle over the fireplace in his mountain home and made a long

march to do battle at various sites in the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War---our most deadly war ever---to fight

against what he perceived to be a racial injustice.

On September 17th, 1862… Several of my wife’s ancestors fought for a noble cause… amidst row after row of tall corn stalks on

the rolling hills of the Antietam battle field. By the end of that long, bloody day… 22,000 bodies piled one on top of another …but,

somehow, her great grandfather made it through---only to later become a POW for the duration of the war. If not for the three

million Americans who fought, and the 600,000 who died from battle or disease … Would we have a black American president

elect today?

In 1944, my wife was the oldest of three siblings---at age five---when her thirty year old dad gave up his deferment that he had

because of his job… and he joined the Army. Eleven months later, on December 3rd--- on a frigid cold night near Julick, Germany---

his company was deliberately making their second attempted attack through a minefield under blistering machine gun fire. My

wife’s father was killed by a mine explosion---one of 400,000 plus GI’s who lost their life in the second world war.

In 1945, after most of my uncles had returned from WW11---the Second World War---I was old enough to grasp the ever lasting

trauma of one uncle's heroic service as a Marine in that war. I will never forget the very short anwser that I heard my dad receive

after he casually asked his ex-Marine brother what it was like to be in on the invasion at Guadalcanal in August 1942. "Just be glad

that you weren't there", my uncle said. But, my uncle was still luckier than the 400,000 plus GI's who lost their life---over there.

From 1950-1953, 35,000 Americans lost their life in the Korean War…The Unknown War… The Forgotten War… Does it seem

we have totally forgotten their sacrifice?

Between 1950---when the first American advisors arrived in Vietnam---till 1975, over 58,000 Americans died to stem what

President Eisenhower and presidents after him felt was the attempted take over of Indochina by the communists. I could go on

but suffice it to say that hundreds of thousands of Americans have died for what they felt was a just cause, and, today, we have

about 23 million vets living amongst us and nearly three million of them have some type of permanent combat disability. We owe

them---the dead and the living--- our foremost gratitude because our current liberties were paid for with a steep price---by our

veterans and their families. Sadly, as a result of my rescue, there are men… now veterans… who bear the scars of combat…

both physical and psychological scars…as a result of their action to rescue me during what was considered an impossible mission

by all involved. So, If there are any veterans present today…or widows of one…would you stand up please? (And, if you're one

who is reading this at home, I salute you sir...madam.

In the photo, left to right, are my wife's sister, Joyce Cox, Todd Fields, and my wife, Shirley Garrett Fields. The two sisters stand

before their father's grave---in the Margratten cemetery in the Netherlands.

October Sky Festival, "Coalwood Days".... October 24, 2008

On October 4th, I signed books at the annual "October Sky Festival" in Coalwood, WV---hometown of Homer Hickam, the

author of "Rocket Boys", and the locale of the story in that book.

Homer was present to sign books as was the astronaut Tom Jones who is the co-author of the book "Hell Hawks" and author

of "Skywalking". And, I have to admit that both of them sold more books than I did but I, too, had my share of fans to show up.

It was a beautiful day in the mountains and I felt very much at home there because, for those who don't know, I grew up in

Bartley, WV which is only twenty minutes from where Homer lived in Coalwood. And, get this... The "Rocket Boys" story took

place during my senior year at Big Creek High School when Homer was only a lowly sophmore. That year, I was the starting

linebacker on the football team and the tackle who played in front of me was Homer's brother, Jimmy Hickam. Small world,

isn't it? Below is a photo of me swapping books with the astronaut Tom Jones.

If you read my book, you will find that I attribute my survival in that story to my days as a youth roaming the hills in McDowell

County, West Virginia. It was a fun place to grow up and I wouldn't have traded it for any other place---even in retrospect.

Naval Institute Press "Author of the Year" November 13, 2008

October 16th, 2008, Kenny Wayne Fields received the "2007 Author of the Year---Second Place Award" from his

publisher, the Naval Institute Press, for his successful book, The Rescue of Streetcar 304.

The semi-formal evening event took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, Virginia (across the river from the Lincoln

Memorial) and the award ceremony was preceded by a formal banquet. After dinner, the CEO of the Press, retired Marine

General Tom Wilkerson, presented Admiral Jim Holloway with the first place award and then he presented Kenny with a nice

plaque---and a $5,000 check for second place. Author Jim Wise was awarded third place....At left is a photo of the award

presentation, l-r. Kenny, Tom Wilkerson and George Keating, Directer of Sales.

Previous winners of this award have included

Tom Clancy, Stephen Coonts and Homer Hickam so

I feel very honored to have received second place....

Lincoln Memorial University "Literary Hall of Fame" November 13, 2008

On October 11th, 2008, I was privileged to be inducted

into the "Literary Hall of Fame" at the college, Lincoln

Memorial University (LMU), where I graduated in 1962.

This honor was given as a tribute to the success of my

book, "The Rescue of Streetcar 304".

The event took place in the new Lincoln Museum on the

LMU campus and it was a beautiful fall Saturday in

Harrogate, Tennessee---near the Cumberland Gap.

Upon arrival, my wife, my youngest son Todd and I first

attended an outdoor school sponsored lunch under several

tent canopies with live blue grass music as a back drop.

At 1:30 p.m., my wife attended a sorority tea while Todd

and I, plus some old friends, watched a girls varsity softball

game.

The Hall of Fame event took place at 3:30 and President

Nancy Moody gave me a very sterling introduction for

which I am grateful. That evening, we all attended the

annual "Homecoming Banquet" and the food was delicious....the hospitality heart warming. In the photo at left, my wife and I

are viewing the spot on the Hall of Fame wall where my "image" will be displayed on a plaque.

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Record.... September 4, 2008

Since my book was released in May 2007, I have done several

book signings at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington,

DC and I'm very proud of the results. The museum only receives 70%

of its budget from the government so it has to raise the other 30% via

its gift shop sales, movie tickets, etc. I'm very proud that in 2007 I

sold more books for them at my book signing events there than any

other author so... I thank you, and the museum thanks you for

buying my book when you visit the museum. They need the revenue....

"Attack" pilots versus "Fighter" Pilots... September 3, 2008

By now, nearly everyone in America has heard at one time

or another that John McCain flew A-4 Skyhawks in the

Navy and, to other Navy pilots, that means to us that he

was an attack pilot, i.e., he dropped bombs on the enemy.

He could have been a fighter pilot in the F-8 "Crusader"

or the F-4 "Phantom" but, like most attack pilots, McCain

was a conservative and he wanted in on the most possible

action and that meant the attack community so he chose

to be an attack pilot---he chose to fly A-4s. And, for

info, I too chose the "attack" mission and was fortunate

to fly the A-7 "Corsair"---which replaced the smaller and

less bomb load capable A-4 "Skyhawk".

Back in the Navy during the Vietnam War days, there was

a noticeable personality difference between attack and

fighter pilots. Now, don't get me wrong...Back then, Navy

fighter pukes were outstanding pilots and they had a very

high kill ratio against enemy Migs so they did a tremendous

service in assisting destruction of enemy targets. But,

even the fighter pilots must admit that the more reserved, more laid back attack pilots were involved in the most combat action....

However, it was also commonly admitted by attack pilots' that fighter pilots generally were more aggressive in all facets of life and

hand in hand with that went a certain cockiness which is necessary to survive in a dogfight---and the fighter pilots performed that

mission in an outstanding manner. My point....Attack pilots and fighter pilots are two separate breed...with different personalities....

one suited for "fighter" and the other for "attack".

In the photo....Streetcar (VA-82) A-7s and VF 102 F-4s on a stike mission over North Vietnam

Streetcar 304 Reflects Back on Time August 26, 2008

Well folks...It's been nearly sixteen months since my book

was released and in that time my morale has been up, then

down, and sometimes back up just a little. Right now, it's

down....

During the past sixteen months I have completed around 100

book signing events and/or book presentations to groups and

my wife tells me that I seem to enjoy that type of work. She

thinks so, but as for me, "not always".... True, I've been told

that few authors can match the numbers of books that I

always sell at book signing events and, in fact, my book is the

number one selling book at the Smithsonian Air & Space

Museum in Washington, DC for 2007 and thus far in 2008.

But then, my efforts have not translated into the "best seller"

or "movie script" that readers tell me that they think my book

deserves. I guess that I will just keep hoping for the infamous

"one big break", and I'm so proud of my story that I truly

think it is possible....Once you read the story, you will agree

with me. I'm totally confident of that!!! But, good things do continue to happen...just not fast enough for me.

For example, the August issue of "Air & Space Magazine" has an excellent review about the book but frankly, that's what I have

come to expect. In the past sixteen months, around twenty formal book reviews have been written about "The Rescue of Streetcar

304" and nary a bad word was written in any of them. Most were super reviews (read the 22 on amazon and you'll see what I'm

talking about).... And, I'm appreciative to the several hundreds of readers who took the time to write me and to express their

glowing remarks about my story and writing style. Your postive comments do keep me goal-oriented to finish my second book

so I love my readers for that kind gesture.

And, another thing that I'm grateful for...My publisher decided to release my book in a full size, 6x9 paperback and I'm told by

book store personnel that doesn't happen very often any more...going from hardback to paperback. So, the paperback is now

available at the on-line bookstores like amazon.com and hopefully your local bookstores will have it in stock during the official

September release period.

I'm trying to wind down my marketing efforts on "The Rescue of Streetcar 304" so that I can get on with other books but,

as I do, you can keep tabs on my progress on this site .

Well...enough "whining and pineing" for now. Back to work on other books so stay tuned....

Kenny, Streetcar 304