Roger M. Schmidt
PebbleCreek resident Roger M. Schmidt, a Past Commander of VFW Post 6298, Pleasanton, Calif., and currently a member of Post 12098, Buckeye, Ariz., has released his second book, “Spindrift” through his Paragus Publishing imprint. Although “Spindrift” is a stand-alone book, it is a companion piece to Schmidt’s first book, “The Beacon.”
Bob Erickson, the protagonist of Roger Schmidt’s “The Beacon,” continues his Coast Guard career in “Spindrift.” Erickson, now a commissioned officer, returns to Viet Nam where he serves as Executive Officer and later the Commanding Officer of Coast Guard 82′ patrol boats participating in Operation Market Time.
“Spindrift” follows Erickson through the tension-filled hours of boarding Vietnamese fishing boats to the sudden explosion of combat with North Vietnamese Army ground forces.
Following Viet Nam, Erickson returns to the U.S. and finds himself under attack by aggressive anti-Viet Nam war protesters in San Francisco. He defends himself, but is accused of assault by one of the protestors. Once again, he must defend his honor and his career, but this time against a fellow American.
“Spindrift” tracks Erickson’s many challenges—from exposing corruption within the Coast Guard shipbuilding program, to witnessing the backlash as women are integrated into the Coast Guard for the first time. Captain Bob Erickson’s story is the saga of an American hero who rises from the lowest enlisted ranks to the pinnacle of Coast Guard leadership. It is an inspiring reminder that honor, dedication, bravery, and patriotism remain the hallmarks of the American Armed Forces.
The book is available as a paperback, hardcase, and ebook on Amazon.