The Last Lost Warrior - Paperback

by Tom a. Preece (Author)

The Last Lost Warrior, a mystery/thriller. Vietnam was a long time ago. Maybe his friend killed her in the war, maybe not; George Duvall wanted not to know, so he's careful never to ask. Thirty five years later when Tuco Ruis is mixed up in another murder, Duvall has to find out. Tuco's running and looks more guilty than before. With little hope he's not guilty, but desperate to help his friend, Duvall goes after him. Tuco doesn't make it easy; he rips off another old comrade, a gangster who wants him dead. As Tuco runs on, Duvall's less sure of what he wants. If the cops get Tuco he's down for murder, if the gangster gets him, worse. Duvall must evade gangster and cops, find Tuco, and learn the truth - but maybe from the barrel of Tuco's gun.The author reveres Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Robert B. Parker. He hopes to have emulated them at least in some small way.

Author Biography

Tom A Preece graduated from Raymond College, University of the Pacific in 1967. He was pursuing a Master's Degree in English Literature at U.O.P, when he was drafted in 1969. Assigned to the Infantry he postponed the inevitable on the job training in South Vietnam, by volunteering to be trained to become a Non Commissioned Officer, a so called Shake N Bake instant Sergeant. He graduated that school at Ft. Benning as a Staff Sergeant E-6 with an 11F, (Operations and Intelligence) military occupational specialty. In July of 1970 he was assigned to E Recon 1/7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division, where he proudly served. While in school before and after his military service Mr. Preece enjoyed a number of temporary jobs, dish washing, driving a delivery truck, cab driving, radio advertising sales, even surviving briefly on poker winnings. On a lark he took the federal Civil Service exam and was offered a position with the Veterans Administration, now the Department of Veterans Affairs. For thirty years he worked there with and for his fellow veterans until his retirement in 2007. His career at VA has given him some expertise in veterans, disability, and PTSD which are all integral components of The Last Lost Warrior.