The story is dedicated to all of those fine young men and women who pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps out of the poverty of the Great Depression, through World War II, through the Korean War, through Vietnam and through the Cold War to become responsible and productive American citizens. This is not a story about the elite heroes praised in Tom Brokaw's book titled, "The Greatest Generation", this is a story about an ordinary country boy who attended his first grade school years in a two room school where two teachers taught 8 grades. It tells about the hard times children of his generation suffered when they were humiliated by being forced to accept welfare because of the impact of the Great Depression on the state of Oklahoma during the late 1920s and 1930s. The story reveals the emotional trauma suffered by families who lost loved ones and whose family members were wounded during World War II. It tells about the behavior of a young boy growing up in a small Oklahoma village after losing his father at the age of 5. The story reveals early boy-girl relationships and the frustrations experienced by adolescents while learning about sex. It tells of the early experiences of Major Taber as an enlisted man serving in the U. S. Army and about his service in a combat zone in the 304th Signal Battalion in 1950-51 during the Korean War. Major Taber describes his major duties as an officer in the United States Air Force in Europe and in the United States. He traces his family genealogy from Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1630 to his present residence in Texas 2001. The major expresses some of his opinions regarding a few of our national social and political issues. The book contains pictures of Major Taber's family and contains brief narratives about their personal lives. The memoirs are humorous, informative and realistic. Major Taber may be the main character in the book but his story is a mirror image of millions of young men and women in his generation who pulled themselves out of poverty into a respectable occupation and have contributed mightily to bringing about the high standards of living that most of us enjoy today.

Although the name is the same, this book should not be confused with the 556-page Final Report based on the work of the Oklahoma Bombing Investigation Committee, and funded by private citizens.

This volume was written by city rescue officials in Oklahoma City. It focuses on the heroic rescue operations conducted afterwards, in minute detail.

On the plus side, it gives a huge amount of information about effects of the explosion, the number of people trapped inside, the number of people rescued, by what time and date, the locations and numbers of rescuers, and so on. Thanks must forever be given to those who risked their lives to save others.

But the book does not examine questions about perpetrators, motives, and investigations covered in the Final Report by Oklahoma State Representative Charles Key. That book raises extremely important questions about the first major terrorist attack on U.S. shores, which was unfortunately not the last. In hindsight, some observers wonder whether the devastating 1995 attack was both precursor and connected to the Sept. 11, 2002 attacks on New York and Washington which took more than 3,000 lives.

The research in Key's Final Report provides clear evidence that U.S. Federal authorities never found all the perpetrators of the Oklahoma City attack, did not pursue every lead, and did not utilize all available physical evidence. Substantial evidence indicated that dozens of crucial eyewitnesses were neither interviewed nor called at federal trials.

In October 1995, Key petitioned the District Court of Oklahoma County for a Grand jury to be formed to investigate the bombing. His petition was denied in February 1997.

But, an FBI agent swore in an affidavit included in Key's Final Report that Abraham Abdallah Ahmed, a Jordanian-born naturalized U.S. citizen detained by American Airlines security personnel in Chicago on April 19, 1995 met the description of one of the male suspects seen running from the scene of the bombing. Ahmed flew from Oklahoma City to Chicago after the bombing. Ahmed's luggage, which according to the FBI man continued to Rome, contained several car radios, substantial amounts of wire, and several tools. These could be used for everyday work, but were also "consistent with use" for "explosive devices." Ahmed was requested to appear before a Grand Jury, but had fled.

The Grand Jury indicted Timothy McVeigh, along with "others unknown." The Key Final Report provides composite sketches of two "others," each called "John Doe," but never found.

Evidence from 1989 and 1996 terrorist attacks in Columbia, Saudi Arabia and Lima Peru proved a car bomb alone could not destroy reinforced concrete supports like those in the Alfred P. Murrah building. Chemical and electrical engineers, physicists and a U.S. Brigadier General all concurred that damage on April 19, 1995 could not be ascribed to a single truck bomb containing 4,800 pounds of ammonium nitrate fuel oil.

A former military man at the scene on April 19 to search for victims witnessed fire department teams removing two devices that were placed in bomb disposal units. These were described as "military olive drab in color," the size of "round, five-gallon drums, with black lettering designating the contents as fulminated mercury," a high grade explosive. He saw mercury switches on devices that he recognized as detonators.

This book honors the dead, and those who worked to save the living. It's a good companion to Key's Final Report.

A lot more questions ought to be answered. But at this late juncture, it's doubtful that they ever will.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

This is one of the best books I have read. If you like to read about crime, with some politics and humor thrown in, this is it. One eyed Mack, who is the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, who has a wife that owns Jackiemarts and who won the Chocolate Fork award, provide a book full of entertainment. I don't want to give away details. READ THE BOOK. It was so good. I never dreamt Jim Lehrer wrote so many books. There are 6 books featuring One eyed Mack and I can't wait to read the others.

I've owned a copy of this book since it first came out in 1987. It is still the most comprehensive book dealing specifically with forcing entry. It is clear and concise in describing a myriad of methods of safely breaking into strucutures. Although it is written for the fire services by the International Fire Service Training Association, I bought it and still use it for law enforcement high risk entries, especially SWAT. It is the only book I'm aware of any where that deals specifically with this complex subject. DEFINITELY worth the money.

This book allows the reader to see in real life how families handled the bombing in Oklahoma City. Some stories leave you crying from sympathy, but a surprising amount of the book leaves you crying with joy. One of the stories is mine. I hope you enjoy it, and thank you everyone for reading it.

Though Linzer could have written a scathing historical commentary on the ridiculous treatment of Native Americans, she has instead chosen to write a novel about the amazing strength of three young Indian men. Their lives split between Oklahoma and Washington state reservations, these men are still able to find laughter and the sacred beauty their great-great-grandmother taught them sternly about. Unbroken spirits in broken down Chevys....read it, you'll enjoy it.

One pulls for first one man and then the other in this engaging book. Who will she end up with and why? Besides being a mystery involving expensive Lakewood art pottery, one isn't sure who is the bad guy. Romantic scenes are the stuff of fantasy come to life. The plot sweeps you right along as you learn about academic politics in a university and art pottery auctions. The author certainly knows her stuff!

Full of tips and details only somone who has been there could know. Refreshing, insightful and fun.

Dan Poynter, Author, The Self-Publishing Manual.

Only if you were on another planet could you have not been aware of the heinous and hideous act of terrorism and cowardice that struck the people of Oklahoma City (and the nation) in April, 1995. In this very real (but fictional account) of the quest for the all-loving and all-powerful God, Kara and Rachael (two friends in OKC), and Kara's uncle in Charleston, SC (a retired Episcopal priest) explore the issues of theodicy, the sovereignty of God, and why evil is in this world. In a historically accurate, and theologically astute manner, Doctor Truesdale (professor of philosophy and ethics at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO) explores these questions that have plagued honest-hearted believers for centuries. "IF God is God, then why?" is such a profound masterpiece of heart-searching spirituality, that I had to read it three times. I will recommend it to anyone. I will certainly recommend it to my seminary professors. And I will re-read it, everytime I want to ask "If God is God, then why?" Truesdale has done a tremendous service to the Body of Christ in this deeply reflective book. Buy one for yourself, buy one for a friend, and search the scriptures, just as the author has encouraged the three main players to do in this magnanimous work. Thank you, Doctor Al Truesdale for pastoring so many of us in this great book!