Welcome to SixthFleet.Com, the Cyberspace Home of author David E. Meadows. "When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other." --W.E.B. Griffin "Rip-snorting, realistic action-adventure from a man who has been there. David Meadows is the real thing," --Stephen Coonts author of numerous bestsellers, including Flight of the Intruder, Saucer, America, and Liberty. "An absorbing, compelling look at America's future place in the world. It's visionary, and scary. Great battle scenes, believable heroes, plus villains you'll love to hate!" -Joe Buff, bestselling author of Straits of Power, Tidal Rip, and Crush Depth. "David E. Meadows is simply the best writer of naval thriller/adventure fiction out there today." --Tom Wilson, acclaimed author of Black Canyon, Desert Fury, Tango Uniform and other best selling military thrillers.

SAVING ISRAEL

I have recently completed the book proposal and scenario for another novel that I have tentatively titled ‘SAVING ISRAEL’ that deals with five young aircrewmen forward deployed to Rota, Spain, during the Yom Kippur War of 1973 at a time when the United States Air Force was ferrying fresh war supplies to the embattled state of Israel. The resupply effort was OPERATION NICKEL GRASS. I flew some of those barrier patrols conducted by the Air Force and Navy reconnaissance aircraft of VQ-2/Naval Security Group and the 6916th USAFSS. It was an exciting time; it was a dangerous time; it was a time when the United States and the Soviet Union came nuclear eyeball to eyeball; but, in this novel, for these five young aircrewmen, it was a time to mature and discover their true capabilities. You can go to http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj89/krisinger.html to find out more about Operation Nickel Grass. You most likely won’t be able to view the VQ-2 or Naval Security Group Activity Rota web page, but searching for either of those two Naval commands on any search engine will provide commercial sites with some information. No comment on whether the information is accurate or not. You can discover other information on the Air Force 6916th SS at their veteran home page http://www.6916th.org/. July 2004, at Fort George G. Meade, an EA-3B Skywarrior will be dedicated to those Sailors who have lost their lives while flying reconnaissance missions in support of national security. No specific date is available at this time or who will be the keynote speaker. I found the information on the following web page informative about the number of VQ missions that had been shot down, forced down, or crashed while conducting reconnaissance missions. Once again, I can neither verify nor confirm that the information is correct, but I do recognize some of the names. http://www.portlyautey.com/ECM-2.htm I am working on a third book proposal…but for that matter, I am always working on ideas for a book and every time I finish a new idea that’s the one I want to jump into and start pounding the keys. I have recently bought a combined fax, copies, and scanner. I am looking forward to enticing my son (Junior at a nearby college who just made the Dean’s List again and majoring in Computer Science – Anyone got any jobs overseas for a bright enterprising computer science lad?) to set it up for me. (I could do it, but why should an older man be scrambling around on his hands and knees pulling plugs/pushing cable/lifting desks and such when he has a fine, young son who is being trained to do that sort of thing? Only one time – when her husband returns early.) The combined copier-scanner-printer is a HP-6110. I couldn’t find any negative comments on the product and I already use a HP-895CSE Deskjet printer (five years and still performing without a single problem) so I naturally migrated to the HP for computer accessories though I still buy computers from Dell. Let me tell you a couple of events I had the honor of being a part since my last newsletter. First, I was invited to Virginia Tech on May 14, 2004 to be part of the commissioning ceremony of 24 new Ensigns from the graduating class. I had the honor of commissioning Ensign Frances Durham into the United States Navy Reserve. Frances is the daughter of George and Ellen Durham. George and I flew reconnaissance missions during the 1970s out of Athens, Greece. George is a card-carrying veteran of the United States Air Force 6916th Security Service Squadron while I am a veteran & plankowner of Naval Security Group Detachment, Athens, Greece. He and Ellen met in Athens and through the years we have maintained contact. It was quite an honor to be asked to participate at the commissioning and to be the one to commission their daughter into the Navy. Frances was selected to go on to a Master’s degree program and when she graduates from her Master’s program, she will go to Pensacola, Florida for Flight school. She is excited and I can’t say enough about how proud I am of her achievements.

It was a thrill and an emotional experience to see these 24 highly patriotic scholars, obviously proud and full of enthusiasm over receiving their commissioning. It is with a little envy that I know they are starting their Navy adventure while I am ending mine after 38 years of active duty. The guest speaker was Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mullens, who made a comment about how if he and those of us participating in the ceremony could start over our Navy careers, we would. He is so very very right. One thing about the young men and women, such as those at Virginia Tech who were commissioned into the Navy and Marine Corps, is that they represent the best and brightest that America has to offer and they sacrifice the things civilians take for granted so they may serve their country. Even as each of them walked to the podium to recite their oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, those of us who watched knew some of them might give their lives for their country in the years of service to come.

JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA is Meadows' newest novel scheduled for release in March 2005.

Read More About JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA

JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA A Navy EP-3E is hit by a missile and before the pilot can recover control of the aircraft four aircrew bail out over West Africa, landing in the middle of an African civil war. It is a fast-pace story as Admiral Holman races to rescue the Sailors before they are killed or captured. "Meadows will keep you turning pages and thinking new thoughts." --Newt Gingrich "Rip-snorting, realistic action-adventure from a man who has been there." --Stephen Coonts "When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other." --W.E.B. Griffin "Fast-paced, roller-coaster ride with this exhilarating military thriller. Dynamic writer with a fresh voice in this technical-ridden, yet intriguing genre." --Midwest Book Review "An absorbing, compelling look at America's future. Visionary, scary. Great battle scenes, believable heroes, plus villains you'll love to hate!" --Joe Buff, author Tidal Rip.

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David E. Meadows / SixthFleet.Com David E. Meadows Washington D.C. E-Mail readermail@SixthFleet.Com