Phil Ward...

...the author of "Those Who Dare", is a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran and graduate of Officer Candidate School, And Ft Benning's Airborne and Ranger Schools, earning his Ranger tab at 19 years of age. He served in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam in 1968, participating in such battles as the "Battle of the Plain of Reeds", where his unit landed "hot" and faced a Vietcong Main Force Regiment of 800-1300 men. Ward took command from his dying unit commander and called in airstrikes to cover his unit's exfiltration, which also pinned down the enemy until reinforcements came in and destroyed them.

Ward has received the Silver Star, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star with Valor Device (3 awards), the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device (3 awards), the Purple Heart (2 awards), the Air Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Combat Infantry Badge. His unit also received a Presidential Unit Citation.

After Vietnam, Mr Ward graduated with a Criminal Justice Degree from Southwest Texas State University. He has written course texts for the driver-education business he helped to establish, and his curricula gave been used by over 1,000 driver safety schools.

Ward has also served in the Texas National Guard and has taught Ranger tactics to ROTC cadets at UT, TSU, and the Texas National Guard's Officer Candidate School. His last military assignment before ending his 26 year military career was with the 10th Special Forces Group.

Mr Ward's military experience and status a a master military tactician surely helped him in his writing endeavors. His first book, "Those Who Dare", is a novel of the early years of WWII in Britain, when an invasion of the United Kingdom seemed inevitable. The book details the formation of early commando units, the evolution of commando raids, in the importance these raids had in the overall campaign in occupied France. Look for a review of this excellent book in a future nite here, and on Facebook.

Mr Ward and his wife Lindy currently live in Austin Texas. Lindy Ward is the daughter of Bob Bullock, who served as Lt. Governor to both Ann Richards and George W. Bush