This book is for you—the listener, men, and women in public safety professions and the United States Armed Forces. I hope that you will identify with the sights, smells, hardships, dedication, and perseverance, just to name a few.

Early on in Sam Macaluso’s life, he ultimately knew what he was destined to do in his life. The complex path to that dream led through good times and bad times. He would experience real-world problems, along with the best training offered. In the military, teenagers are highly trained to sail massive ships, prepare nuclear power, build, or if necessary, destroy cities, launch multimillion-dollar aircraft from a postage stamp called an aircraft carrier, and become diplomats in countries all over the world. Sam had thought he had seen it all when he returned to civilian life. He became fascinated by what he was instructed to do while in the military and blended that education into his civilian professions.

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, he was pulled back to his childhood dream as a law enforcement officer. Upon a very successful career in law enforcement and firefighting, he moved into an area that he least expected—one that would leave him with a sense of satisfaction and a culture that would round his life off after moving into retirement. This final phase of his working life led him to the most satisfying education he had ever received.