Vincent Schilling - Native Men of Courage

S o many people contribute to the process of creating a book. I would like to thank every one of them and I will do my best to do so. If I have forgotten anyone, it does not mean anything other than a human error. My gratitude for everyone's effort is genuine.

First I would like to thank everyone at Book Publishing Company. Without the help and input from Kathleen Hanson, Jerry Hutchens, Bob Holzapfel, Warren Jefferson, Gwynelle Dismukes, Anna Pope and others at BPC, gifts to the world such as Native Men of Courage would never materialize. Because of your efforts, many lives can change for the better.

Second, I want to thank my wife Delores Schilling. She is my greatest supporter and wise beyond her years. There can never be enough words to express my thanks. This book is as much because of you as me. I love you Delores.

I want to thank all of my family, especially my father Ray Schilling and the incredible woman who helped raise me; Mary Schilling. It is to you that I dedicate this, my second book.

I also thank my wife's family who has taken me under their wing. Thank you to Sharon Anderson, Mary Keller and my little man Parker.

And within the process, there have been those who have been supportive and lent their efforts to help make this book possible. Thank you to Henry Martin, Kathy Flores (my research helper) and Dann Boyko (you are a great friend buddy) who have provided an endless amount of moral support.

Hello also to Natalie Bruffy, Cera Beck, Chloe Beck and Ruby Christian, you will always be my friends. To Mary White, (another gifted writer) keep up your dreams Mary, everything you do is based on the spirit of selfless service, I admire you. And to Doris and Bill Anderson, you both have been very supportive.

Thank you to the staff of the Virginia Beach Library system, especially the Kempsville Library. Thank you also to Rene Ball and Margie Long of the Virginia Beach Police Department, Al Fleming of the CAP, and to Dave Devendorf and Nancy Tierney, staff members to Senator Campbell.

But thank you most of all to the courageous men in this book, including a special mention to the Golden Eagles Hotshots, especially Chief Ruiz. You guys treated me like a king, and I will always think of you as my brothers. I wish this book was a million pages long to give all of you the credit you deserve.

Also, a note of thanks to Red Hawk and Senator Campbell, I will always cherish having met with you.

All of the men in this book are honorable and heroic, I am a better person because of their combined wisdom. Their words will influence positive change and help the lives of so many. I am forever grateful to you and what you do. Thank you to all of youYou all are exactly what the title of this book indicatesYou are all Native Men of Courage.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Schilling, Vincent.

Native men of courage / Vincent Schilling.

p. cm. (Native trailblazer series)

ISBN 978-0-9779183-3-1

1. Indians of North AmericaBiographyJuvenile literature. I. Title.

E89.S13 2008

920.009297dc22

[B]

2008007458

2008 by Vincent Schilling
Cover design: Warren Jefferson
Interior design: John Wincek

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, except for brief quotations in reviews, without written permission from the publisher.

Published in the United States by
7th Generation
P.O. Box 99
Summertown, TN 38483
(888) 260-8458

Printed in Canada.

ISBN 978-0-9779183-3-1

Photo credits found on page 117.

Seventh Generation is committed to preserving ancient forests and natural resources. We have elected to print this title on paper which is 100% postconsumer recycled and processed chlorine free. As a result of our paper choice, we have saved the following natural resources:

36 trees
1,685 pounds of solid waste
13,125 gallons of water
3,162 pounds pounds of greenhouse gases
25 million BTUs of total energy

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