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‘Nighthawk’: A Page-Turning Tale About the Spirit of Youth

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Picture yourself at 18. Your thoughts, motivations, and ideas about the world. Now, picture that person, your 18-year-old self, joining the Air Force and being shipped halfway across the world to a tropical paradise.

That, in a nutshell, is the basis of Bill Bowers and Sandee Hart’s Nighthawk.  What Bill experiences is a total culture shock.  Sent from the suburbs of Philadelphia to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, he’s forced to adjust quickly to the rules of his new home.

Bill’s experiences frame a coming-of-age tale filled with exciting exploits, daring adventures, and important life lessons.

The book grips you from the beginning.  As Bill stares in the mirror, memories of his childhood flood his mind.  Wondering if he is about to die, he has an epiphany.  His soul is calling to him.  He must share his story with the world.

Right from the start, you fall in synch with Bill’s voice.  You feel like a fellow Airman, living the story with him every step of the way.

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Bill’s approach to life is inspirational, if not enviable.  He dives right into new, unknown experiences without a second thought.  A trait I wish I possessed at that age.

A member of the Air Force Security Police, Bill is responsible for defending and protecting the base.  Guarding a 27-mile perimeter with only 7 miles of fence line still intact, they must remain vigilant at all times.

Nighthawks face a variety of dangerous threats daily.  Armed intruders seeking American treasure.  Wires tied between trees to decapitate horse patrol units.  Pit vipers and python snakes lurking in the tall elephant grass.

Stationed at Clark for some of the most eventful times in the base’s history, Bill recounts his stories without reservation.  Unlike most military memoirs, Nighthawk is not bogged down by all of the terminology that is often confusing to civilians like us.

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Whether it’s surfing on the top of jeepneys, or fistfighting with Marines outside bars, the Nighthawks know how to make things interesting.

Bill arrives at Clark a wide-eyed boy.  After 18 months, he leaves a man.  One who has lived and learned valuable lessons applicable to all aspects of life.

There are countless exciting stories that make this book tough to put down.  Nighthawk is a true page-turner in every sense of the word.

Written By

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College), founder of Joker Mag, and author of The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (And Yourself). Since launching in November 2017, my stories have been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers worldwide. The seed was planted way back in 7th grade when I got cut from the baseball team. Instead of giving up, I found hope and inspiration in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. Today, my mission is simple: To share stories that give people the same feeling I felt when I was that undersized ballplayer searching for hope, inspiration, and evidence that my dream was possible. Like my mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes we just need a little extra push. And that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories with the world.

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