Icebreaker

I have started Toastmasters and recently did my icebreaker speech. I found the exercise really interesting since it gave me an opportunity to chronicle my early childhood. It is amazing how much of our experiences we forget until we make a concentrated effort to remember and document our past. Please excuse any misspellings or grammatical errors (especially in German) as I wrote this as notes for my speech instead for print quality!

If someone wrote a book about your life, would you read it?
If someone made a movie about you, would you see it?


Madam Toastmaster, ladies and gentleman, distinguished guests.

The following is an excerpt from my First book Titled:

Air Force Four Reporting for Duty.


Chapter One Ich bin ein Americana. I am an American.

I will never forget that I am an American fighting in the forces that guard my country and our way of life, I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

I was born as Airman Basic Thomas Van Dalsen on February 21, 1974 on Keesler Airforce Base in Biloxi Mississippi. Son of Staff Sergeant Danny Van Dalsen (Air Force One) and German Foreign National Monica Van Dalsen (Air Force Two).

In 1976, knowing that my assignments would send me overseas for years at a time, I was enrolled in a rigorous German language immersion program called Oma’s house, or Grandma’s house. Air Force One was required to fulfill two years of remote duty in Alaska so Air Force Two moved the troops to Grafenwohr Germany where we were trained in the art of foreign linguistics, bed making, using utensils and potty training.

It is important to point out here that the linguistic program was full immersion! Deutch war meine erste sprache, ich konnte nur deutsch sprechen und dan musten wier weider im dein staten vohnenen! Now I was moving back to the States and I could ONLY speak German.

Chapter Two Never surrender

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

In 1978, after Air Force One fulfilled his remote assignment the troops were moved to March AFB California, a strange land of fruits and nuts where children spoke in foreign tongues. Air Force One attended California Polytechnic, pursuing his degree while completing Officer Cadet school and training between California and Lackland Texas. As an operational requirement I would play with the locals and soon leaned the phrase “what did he say”. I would hear this over and over again as I tried to mingle and gather intel (intelligence) on strange phenomenon like Star Wars, Saturday Morning Cartoons and someone called Captain Crunch.

Army One and Army Two (Grandma and Grandpa) quickly learned the phrase “Wo sind dine hosen” which means “where are your pants”. Yeah, don’t ask. Army One was a giant of a man, always quick with a joke and about 5 pounds heavy on the left side where he carried shrapnel from a WWII bomb blast. He had been told that the safest place to be during a bombing raid was in a blast hole, since the chance of a bomb hitting the same place twice where slim to none. My Grandfather always beat the odds.

March Airforce Base was my first experience with death. My dog delivered a litter of puppies still born, which we buried on a hill by our house. My childish innocence wanted to know how the puppies would make it home and it was inconceivable to me that they would not be coming home. March Air Force Base was also the site of the Thunderbird crash; four pilots were killed in the line of duty. I learn that death and sacrifice and danger are a reality of Military life so are honor and glory.

Chapter Three Continue to Resist

If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

In 1979 moral was low and dissent was brewing. Air Force One refused to take me and my sister (Air Force 3) to a movie at the local drive in, so the troops conferred and hatched a scheme to go AWOL (Absent without Leave). I packed all of my belongings and made sure to slam the door on my way out only to return 20 minutes later since I was not allowed to cross the street. I learn that dissension among the troops is simply not tolerated and none of the troops ever went AWOL again.

As news of our squadron’s capabilities spread throughout the military and we continued to train together and build military bearing and discipline, our missions came hard and fast. Spangdalehm AFB near Bitburg Germany in 1980, where we lose our next door neighbor in a tragic fighter crash during a training operation. Our family squadron remains intact, another lesson in the high price and the meaning of community. A year at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio in 1983. Then back to Germany in 1984 to Ramstein Air Base.

Chapter Four Prisoner of War

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

Should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies.

Ramestein AFB in 1986 has a profound impact on me. I finally receive my ID Card, a ticket that allows me to enter the bowling alley, gym and arcade without parental escort! Unfortunately, the headquarters is bombed that same year and I am unable to exercise that new freedom. While stationed on Ramstein I watch as the Italian Tri Color team accidentally crashes into the crowd during an airshow and kill 67 people and injures 346 others, including a school mate of mine who is burned over 80% of his body and requires skin graphs on his face, legs and torso.

In 1989, Airforce 3, Christina Van Dalsen transfers to Elmira College in New York where she will begin her career as a doctor.


Chapter Five Dedicated to the Principles

I will never forget that I am an American fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

North Carolina 1989. I am stationed on Pope Airforce Base and attached to EE Smith High School. My primary mission is to obtain a degree. However, halfway through I make the command decision to pursue a local hottie who would later become Navy 2 to my Navy 1. Tricia Van Dalsen, my beautiful wife and mother of Navy 3 Christianna Van Dalsen. A school shooting in 1991 forces me to change schools and I actually complete my mission at Pinecrest High School graduating in 1992.

Chapter 6 Anchors Away

In 1992 we are shipped to Maxwell AirForce Base in Montgomery Alabama while AirForce One attends war college. I join the Navy, changing my call sign to Navy 1.

This story continues in my next three books Anchors Away, Navy Blue to Corporate Gray and Computers Byte; they includes danger, adventure, passion, mishaps, mayhem, drunken debauchery and travel to strange and exotic lands. Unfortunately, this is all the time we have and I would like to end the way I opened:

If someone where to write a book about your life. Would you read it?

Write your story!

Thank you.