A Reluctant Lieutenant at Bitburg Air Base

Book excerpt: The reluctant lieutenant will make you laugh with his self-deprecating, sometimes cynical humor and frankness. He was one of thousands of academically talented young graduate students yanked out of their happy, idealistic existence to replenish our relentless war in Vietnam. He became the lucky lieutenant when he drew orders instead for a three-year assignment to support the Cold War in Germany. This collection of short stories will lead you through those years with wit and irony as he chronicles the remarkable events he experienced, the fascinating people he encountered, and the invaluable perspective he gained on leadership. Examples abound of sterling leaders and pathetic shirkers among both officers and enlisted men, of clarity and consternation, of boredom and panic, and of luck both good and bad. Through it all is romance and the adventure of living in Europe. Ridder is a born storyteller. His insights into the people and systems that comprise the military will strike home with anyone who has served. Those who have not will experience a unique and authentic view of air force life from the inside.