Shields of Honor

About the Book

The author was called to active duty in three wars.  World War II.  Second, the Korean War and third, The Cuban Missile Crisis after which he was held on active duty and in 1969 and 1970 made repeated trips to Vietnam as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer of Cubi Point representing Deputy COM FAIR WEST PAC.  This exciting story tells of his part in these wars and realistically portrays the role the Reserve Component of the Navy played in each.  He combines the lighter parts of his life in the Navy with his role in combat.  His characters are portrayed with true service humor, but also depict their sincere dedication to duty as well.  It’s an interesting read for anyone who had a friend or relative in the Reserve or National Guard.  Since he was a Reservist, there are other parts of his life as a detective in the New York Police Department that the reader will also find exciting.

About the Author

Cdr. John L. “Jack” Sullivan USNR will probably be remembered in the Navy as the Banshee Jet Fighter Pilot that led the last flight of the Korean War and made the last carrier landing.  Since he was a recalled Police Detective from New York the headline read “New York City Cop Blows Whistle on Korean Police Action”

In 1969 he was the Officer that built the legendary Catapult in the Cubi Point Officers Club in the Philippines that was featured in the book The Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coonts and the movie of the same name.

In later years as the Base Manager of Grumman Aerospace for the advanced Squadron of Iranian F14 Fighter Jets stationed at Shiraz, Iran he was the last one to leave that country after the Shah had abdicated and Kohmeini arrived and assumed control.  This makes interesting reading because it tells a different side of this story than was depicted in our press at the time.  The account of the patriotism demonstrated on the last Pan American 747 aircraft to take Americans home from Iran is emotional and heartwarming.  This story of his life is filled with humorous anecdotes, many of which depict actions he would quickly state were “out of my job description,” but lend to the balance of levity and patriotism that make up this book.