Raland J. Patterson
Hogback is a suspense novel, which explores the age-old dilemma of good versus evil.
As a teenager, Jim Coleman, found himself in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Upon his release he sets off on a trail of vengeance that leads him through small Georgia towns with a mounting body count in his wake. When he arrives in Blue Ridge, Georgia, an encounter with a red-haired beauty named Peggy Taylor changes his life and those in the town forever.
This is the first of a series based on several of the characters introduced in this book.
Pat Patterson is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who served in Vietnam from 1970-1971 with the First Cavalry Division. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star with One Oak Leaf Cluster, among other awards. He earned his MBA with National University and currently works as a Regional Vice President of a financial planning organization. He resides in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
CW3 MICHAEL BARKLEY ARRIVED AT the darkest part of the parking area to brief his flight crew on the day’s mission, copilot CW2 Jeff Larson, crew chief SP4 Roy Barnes, and door gunner Charlie Jones. “Chief, why did you let your pilot put you here, in this position?”
“He knew this was not his bird today so he didn’t look for a better location.”
“I’ll do better tonight. This has got to be the worst place on the airfield. You can’t get here without wading mud holes. It’s so quiet it makes me feel like I’m in a graveyard.”
“It does feel weird. Why don’t you give us the briefing so we can leave.”
“Roger that,” Barkley said. “It looks like we’ll get some sun today. Our mission for the next few days is to fly to Nancy and be on call for COL Gray. We’re stuck with the commo bird. Chief, you and Jonsey need to take your tools.”
“Why’s that, sir?”
“I thought you could take care of the scheduled inspection while we wait. Or do you want to do them after we get back at night?”
“Thanks, sir. Were you a crew chief before you went to flight school?”
“Yes, why?”
“Because the other pilots wouldn’t care if Jonsey and I work late or not. Thanks.”
Jeff asked, “Why don’t we just standby here and save flight hours?”
“It’s a status thing. COL Gray likes having his own helicopter at his beck and call.”
“What an asshole. All I can say is 21 and a wakeup!”
“Jeff, did you take care of the preflight?”
“It’s done. What about all of that radio equipment in the back?”
“It’s okay. We won’t be using it today.”
“It sure takes up a lot of room. How did we get stuck with it?”
“Battalion has a big mission near Cambodia and they need all the birds they can get.”
“Yeah, you sure can’t haul troops in Old Paint.”
“Watch it or you’ll hurt her feelings.”
