"Spirit Speaks. Are You Listening?" follows the remarkable spiritual journey of a woman who knew from early childhood that she had a wise and true voice within that spoke to her from realms beyond. Valerie Croce Stiehl outlines a life path every one of us can take if we long for inner peace and fulfillment. Hers are words to live by, road signs that can be followed readily no matter where you are on your path. She tells of her early years as the suddenly single mother of five children; years of deprivation as she worked and went to school and struggled to put food on the table for her family; a later executive career in Manhattan; a transforming Near Death Experience as a result of a devastating car crash; and a decade living on an Indian reservation in South Dakota. Those experiences forged a woman of towering strength, love and purpose-guided surely by Spirit. It has been said of her by a spiritual teacher that she lives in a state of grace. This book confirms the fact. ""Enlightened, deeply spiritual welcome, 'Spirit Speaks' fulfills the seeker's quest for truths both mundane and ethereal."" Swami Bhimasen - Sivanda Ashram, India ""Valerie shares with us connedtedness to the universe, not unlike Nicholas Black Elk, who, like her, left behind a comfortable world to seek truth and beauty in the natural spiritualism of Native American culture."" Don Wigal, Ph.D. - Experiences in Faith (1970)

After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1969 I was commissioned as an officer in the Marines. I served an interesting 'tour of duty' in Southeast Asia in 1972, during which time I was "in and out" of six different countries...including Vietnam. A greenhorn lieutenant when I landed, I was eventually promoted to captain. Because of my God given 'take charge personality' and a few "very junior officer" notable accomplishments I found myself frequently being handpicked for special assignments. I 'saw action' with seven different units...some good ...some bad...some ugly. I saw men die. I saw capable men withered by fatigue, brave men crippled by fear. Since I served, more than forty years ago now, I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting and getting to know hundreds of fellow-Vietnam Vets; short term acquaintances, professional colleagues, neighbors, close friends, family members. Although our individual Vietnam stories are unique and intensely personal, I have come to realize that a common thread runs through most of them. For more than twenty-five years I have been asked to formally speak to sundry civic organizations, history classes, and social gatherings. As a result of fielding thousands of audience questions and listening to their spontaneous reactions to my "talks" I have learned what people are interesting in hearing. I have seen their reactions to my version of America's 'Vietnam experience'. I know what's interesting and what's not; what's important to those who weren't there, ordinary people who merely wonder 'what it was like'. I have enjoyed two "successful careers" and am currently embarked upon my third. I have fired most of life's best bullets, emptied most of my chosen weapon's most precious magazines, drained my fullest canteens, exhausted most of my allotted time on this fair planet we call earth. I want to share a few of the stories of men I served with, men I came to know later in life, men I loved as brothers-in-arms surviving in harm's way; or men who were simply 'Crazy Vietnam Vets' (like me) with a special story to tell. "Men JUST like me...only different " Ours are interesting up and down tales of wonder and weird, of good times and bad. I am happily married to a "seasoned" school nurse, am the father of three college educated sons, and have two fine grandsons. I live in Blanco, Texas about forty miles due west of Austin. I have always viewed life's glass as half full; hope you enjoy our 'Not Ordinary' war stories.