Nine Lives of a Soldier and Sailor: Memoir of War Sea and Survival - Kelvin Davis
On Thanksgiving Day,just after 5pm, Kelvin and three American Army Engineers were making their risky return to camp at LZ North English in his Jeep, knowing the Viet Cong controlled the roads at night.
Earlier, Davis had celebrated his first Thanksgiving with the troops, enjoying a turkey feast and a rare respite from the ongoing war. But their late departure from camp left them isolated on the now-deserted roads. As they approached a dense jungle area ominously known as "ambush alley", uniformed soldiers appeared out of the shadows on both sides of the road.
In a blur of gunfire, Davis and his passengers felt the impact of the bullets as his Jeep became a kill zone. Would they escape alive?
Author bio:
Kelvin Davis, has evaded death on at least four occasions, and these experiences have profoundly shaped his life. Spending thirteen years in the Royal New Zealand Navy, the education and knowledge he gained opened his mind to opportunities in later years. His natural curiosity and habit of asking the right questions of others placed him on a successful career path.
For the past 55 years, Davis has tried to locate the American Army Engineers who were caught in that horrific roadside ambush with him, but to no avail. In 2018, he visited Washington to pay homage to his American friends whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Wall. His hope is that veterans will read his book and make contact.
When not working on his memoir, Davis enjoys boating, fishing, and diving. He is a past president of Milford Rotary and has been a member for 29 years. He is currently retired and living in Auckland, New Zealand
270 pages
Paperback
