A Soldier's Odyssey

Lives touch upon other lives. This is as incontrovertible as rain falling from the sky. This is the message Cecil Cline delivers with the story of his growth and journey from the coal fields of West Virginia to the cutting edge of the development of America's original space program. Cecil Cline was born in an isolated valley in West Virginia into a family where hard work and poverty were the rule. It was a normal and expected part of life to grow up, go to work, raise a family, and accept one's lot in life as that was all there was. Cecil Cline was different. Something ignited a spark in him that would not die. He dreamt of becoming an engineer and did not let anything stop him as he went through life. Read along as Cecil tells of those who in retrospect had a great impact on his life and how he was able to take advantage of opportunity, no matter how slim. Historians also might take notice of Mr. Cline's detailed descriptions of his experiences in the Korean War. This is a war which is largely overlooked in history texts for various reasons. So the reader can be thankful for the insights and explanations offered here. The author was seriously wounded in this conflict and the reader can follow along in his many months of healing and recuperation which afforded him time to think and come to realizations that in the end have touched so many people. In this work, Cecil Cline has told a very intriguing story of how a person can succeed if they really have the desire for success. Mr. Cline did not set any artificial timetable for success. He just kept his eye on the result he wished to achieve. Too many people give up because they hold themselves to other people's measures of what success is and give up their dreams too easily. What would have happened to our space program if Cecil Cline had listened to the naysayers? I shudder to guess. This book is carefully and craftily written so as to be acceptable to readers of all ages. There are no details or innuendo that might make parents wary of allowing teens or preteens the experience of reading this volume, but as an adult I found it comforting and well-flowing. I am especially grateful to Mr. Cline for his paragraph on the definition of heroism and heroes. I too believe that these terms have been grossly watered-down in popular culture. While Cecil Cline may not fit his own definition of `hero,' he is a great role-model and has led a life worthy of emulation. Needless to say this book is highly recommended for anyone who is confused about life and where it can lead. Reviewer: John Helman, Allbooks Reviews.