Mustang Fever Dedication and Foreword

MUSTANG FEVER
RUN FREE WITH WILD MUSTANGS
DEDICATION AND FOREWORD

I begin by dedicating this story first to the passionately determined spirit of Cheyenne, the sweetly resilient spirit of Moana, and the indomitable spirit of all the wild American Mustangs—especially the wise and mature mares who lead the charge of every mustang herd as if they were all Teddy Roosevelts, who hold the herd together and keep them on course with bonding, nurturing, teaching, and protecting that only they can do. America proudly hosts the untamed spirit of the mustang--free and wild and beautiful.

With mustangs, the stallions drive the herd and assert their fierce and warlike spirit from the rear. It is the opposite with our military heroes and role models. They stand at the forefront. I conclude my dedication of this story to the following:

To my two beloved uncles, Edmund and Arnold Smith, who loved their country, who flew fighters and bombers against German and Japanese aggressors, who survived prison camps and round-the-clock bomber and fighter missions, who came back and built big families as carpenters and happy dads, who took me in and brought me home during troubled teen years.

To my revered father, Dr. Donald Gladish, who loved his country and traveled overseas in two World Wars, the first as a Marine warrior, crossing the Atlantic. In his mid-forties and with a thriving medical practice, he surprised all his patients by enlisting in the Navy: as Lieutenant Commander and Navy Doctor, he cared for other warriors in the far Pacific, gone for a long three years. Love of country goes a long way in our church and in our family.

To my grandfathers and great-grandfathers and their fathers, who loved their country and fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War, among them a Captain Jeremiah Gladish and a Private Wilfor Wallenberg, who spent over two-and-a-half years in the battlefields, and died on Sherman’s March to the Sea.

To all Native American grandfathers and great-grandfathers, who loved their country, and who fought to preserve their myriad ubiquitous tribal territories, who fought to preserve the Union of Native American heritages, who were defeated but never destroyed, who survived their reservation prison camp and round-the-clock bombardment of their precious lands and their harmony with nature. And to all Native American servicemen, warriors, and veterans, who have always fought--in disproportionately high numbers—to preserve and protect the United States, their father country.

To Grandfather, the Great Spirit and Father God who loved His country America, and showered His blessings upon us all, who used us, His warriors, to preserve and protect the union of this country against all aggressors, both foreign and domestic, who fought through us to gain and maintain our independence, who set tables before us in the presence of our enemies, who led us through the valley of the shadow of death, who always, always took us, His prodigal sons, in and brought us home.

To all our fellow Air Force warriors, Army soldiers, Navy sailors, Marines and Coast Guard servicemen, who love our country and who stand guard and fight every day to preserve our independence, our beloved union of fifty states, against all aggressors, both foreign and domestic.

To all Sixth Weather Squadron (Mobile) Weather warriors, who proved their military discipline and dedication for over fifty years to accomplish whatever isolated and far-off mission on which they were ordered to go. My fictional stories to the contrary—in which the characters take us wherever they want to go—there are countless documentations of Sixth Weather Squadron’s history and performance which confirm stellar round-the-clock accomplishments of teamwork and excellence with mainly off-base assignments in locations many might consider similar to combat areas.

To my two sons, of whom and for whom no father could be prouder or more grateful, currently on active duty in the Army National Guard, who have a passion to defend and protect their fatherland, who volunteer for the most dangerous and challenging missions, who model the seven Army elite values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage, and who, as officers and honor graduates of two Arizona universities, quietly live the Soldier’s Creed:
“I am an American soldier. I am a warrior and member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and the Army values. I will always place the union first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough…I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American soldier.”

To all the above, I dedicate this story of strength and character and purpose, full of family values, Native American cultural traditions, and the overall integrity of the military spirit—all of which serve as underpinnings to the unsung heroism of America’s far-flung and life-giving feminine champions and heroines, with their spirit radiantly reflected in our second-most honored national symbol—the wild and free American Mustang.