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Last Updated: September 2, 2024

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108: “When you're really grateful for the blessings in your life, you give.” Talking in stories and combat heroes books with Jerry Barnes

Veteran, long-time Virginian resident, and author Jerry Barnes returns to update us on his latest manuscript, share a snapshot of his satisfying life, and a teaser on some upcoming stories.

Listen to our last conversation from Ep. 70: https://www.holdingdownthefortpodcast.com/episode/070

Find all of Jerry’s available and upcoming books at http://combatsurvivorheroes.com/ 

For a clip of Jerry's recognition at the Cincinnati Reds New York Mets game: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lpipZGOFz90mwJZb3qsh6YEAsPHY9KPj/view?usp=sharing

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Jen Amos 0:00

All right. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the award winning podcast show holding down the fort podcast. I'm Jen Amos, your writer and co host. And of course, as always, I have my co host, Jenny Lynch tube with me, active duty military spouse for 12 plus years mom of two boys mental health advocate. Without further ado, Jerry Barnes, who has been on our show in the past, once again, joining us here at a very interesting time right now. But Jerry, welcome back to holding down the fort.

Speaker 1 0:26

Thank you, Jim. Good to be with you. And busier than Rick and Bay, we sent the manuscript the book to the publisher about three weeks ago, and it's a fairly long manuscript, the book is gonna be over 200 pages, which is partly that's because I'm long winded in my writing. I could have written a little more briefly, but some of the experiences of the veterans that I'm writing stories about, have a great deal of what shall I say, our explanation, it's necessary to make it for the listening audience. You don't want to do more and that kind of stuff. But you've got to at least embellish it to the extent so people can understand the danger of the situation. So that's what I'm doing. And then the publisher has come back. And even the publishers uses Jerry, she says, Some of this is just too graphic, can you find it up a little bit, and I told him that I would know, of course, I write the books on the premise of the last four words of the oath of enlistment, which are, so we have a guard, and I tell all the veterans is, every time I'd get their stories, and about a fourth of them will mention, something had happened in the middle of their service, in combat, in battle, or afterwards, that was really interesting, if not divine, and how they were rescued, or, or coped with difficult situations. And so the publisher has asked me to lighten up the gore and focus a bit on that. And I promised her I would do that. And so it looks like the book is not going to be published. Now. I thought it's gonna be published in October, it looks like she says, once you can do that she's not more published. So that's kind of what she's come back. And typical editor form, and told me to make some changes, and some additions and stuff from its to the manuscript. So that's what we're in the process doing. And so in the middle of that conversation, she looked at me and she says, aren't you writing some other things? And I said, Yes. And so she said, Well, what are they? I said, Well, my wife and I have written practical Bible lessons, and taught those classes for over 40 years. And I says, they're written from the perspective of an engineer combat engineers, when you're facing difficult situations. How do you deal with them? So you don't endanger your life, and they endanger life of other people? Or how do you solve difficult problems really are problems. And Sasha, an engineer always looks at it from a practical perspective. So I've written all those lessons. And the publisher come into my shop. She says, I'd be interested in publishing bears. Wow. Serious. And she mentioned the word she says, Yeah, I see probably four or five books for those. That Are you serious? She said, Yes. So Jen, I was on a roll. But I hadn't expected. I says, Well, I've also written about 100 stories of things that happened all throughout my career, and my life, that they're not combat related, but they are related to just practical things that happen in life. And so I wrote a story about my dad buying a horse mule one time years ago, and my friend, and I talked about how what Swiss franc was, and everything we did to try to get pranked to work, find a complaint that Frank, all he wants to do is eat grass and run around in the field. He didn't want to work. He didn't want to run. He didn't want to be worked. He didn't want to be written nothing. So anyway, I told her that I had a bunch of those stories. And she said, Well, Jerry, I'm not sure I wouldn't be interested in publishing those two. So this story, Jen, that she's going to publish my book of combat stories, and she will publish the next volume miles affected. I was dealing with a publisher who's going to publish one more book, perhaps too. And she's going to because I've gotten so many mo tell you some really neat things that have happened, but then out of the clear blue, she showed interest in publishing, everything else I've written. So here and I said, Fine, I 75 years old, no financial problems at all. As you and your husband No. And man just potentially his business. We want to be for the restaurant I

Speaker 1 4:50

we don't play golf. We do enjoy trips once in a while. But we can see productive things to do with our lives for the rest of my life. And I guess that job satisfaction is the way that you have success in life. And of course, relationship satisfaction. So, in my case, in your case and your husband's case, you deal with helping people solve financial problems. And I'm writing to help veterans cope with recovery from combat. And I enjoy a great deal of satisfaction from doing that. And listen to the show a neat thing that happened in them, you can ask me some questions fine. I had a great day we were went to what is called a rec Fest in Clarksville, Virginia, where about 40,000 people walk by you hear a little bit of pop up tent. And, and then once you buy the tent, I probably 100. And so we sat down, and we were selling books here and there, and I picked up 400 stories, and then contacts have repeating back to them. And then right at the end of the day, this was such the neatest thing. At the end of the day, a man walked up to him. And he says, I didn't mean to come over here. He bought not. And he gave me a $20 bill, I sell my books for 10 bucks. And he says keep change. And I said, Well, thank you. Because I said I tell everybody, I give away all the money. He said we're giving away. And this can and this was just this blew me away. He says, Well, you may be interested in knowing that I'm a contractor for tunnel to towers, founder towers, built homes for disabled veterans that have been dramatically affected for lost RAMs, talented towers, Bill Holmes, for disabled people to make him friendly. So if a man or woman loses an arm or leg, a bill sinks, they can be raised up or down, or ovens they can be raised up or down, that kind of stuff. So they can still enjoy the benefit of just the home life and cooking and that kind of. And so, and I told him, I said that, if I was a guessing person, that you probably have contacts with a number of those folks, is I reckon I do. Well, and so Jim, here I am sitting at 75, I can see enough meaningful work, enjoyable work, writing those stories. And these are the practical stories and the Bible lessons for the rest of our life. And so when you found financial satisfaction, and job satisfaction, what more than a human being want. And so that's kind of where I'm at, right?

Jen Amos 7:28

Well, thank you, Jerry, I was just kind of sitting and listening to you. But I'm just like, Oh, it's Jerry. I'm sure Jenny Lynn feels the same way. And I want to check in with Jenny Lynn here in a second as well. But to me, it sounds like when you're really grateful for the blessings in your life you give. And the way that you're giving is by sharing the stories of combat veterans. And so I just, I applaud you. And it's why I feel like I gravitate toward you and wanted to bring you back on the show, because of just the work that you do and just you know, even your own general satisfaction for life. But I want to hand it over to Jenny Lynn here for a second. Jenny Lynn,

Speaker 2 8:01

welcome back to the show. And as a fellow Virginia and here shares with us, how is it like for you to have Jerry back on the show? Oh, man, I too could listen to him all day. And I just find so much heart in the things that he shares and the way that he lives in the world. And I think that gives me a lot of hope. And I'm grateful to be here listening to him catch up with us. It's very fun.

Unknown Speaker 8:27

Yeah.

Speaker 1 8:29

My wife tells me sometimes I talk too much, but my mother talking stories. She almost never talking words or sentences. She talked in stories. And so that rubbed off on me. And so I just always taught some stories. I was trained to be an engineering college. I wanted to design roads and bridges. And so you can see when sooner the army saw me they wanted to make me a combat engineer. Well, I love to go into that training. But about six months after I went to the My first assignment with the Corps of Engineers, the colonel broke into the front office. And he says, Jerry, our public affairs officer is left and I want you to fill in for him that I can hire somebody else. So well, when you're a Second Lieutenant, you just emergency Yes, sir. Which is exactly what I did. Well, I stayed there for six years. He never hired anybody else. And so I became a media officer. I dealt with the news media. I dealt with TV. I get interviewed bunch of times, and this name will ring a bell. I know for Jen, Bruce Rader. used to work for NBC channel 10 in Portsmouth, Virginia Beach. I don't remember where. And Bruce Rader and I became great friends. And Bruce would call me sometimes just before the nightly news about five o'clock and Bruce fashion because he was running late and running, doing everything. He called me and he says, Jerry, I'm on my way I need 20 Second for the nightly news. I said, Bruce, there is one Bravo. What is that we want to talk about is, of course, going, I just need 20 seconds. And I'll be there in 15 minutes. So that relationship with virtually everybody in the media. So that's how do I transition from being an engineer, I never designed anything. I never was on a construction site. I just don't when I was on construction sites, but I never managed any construction projects. I always was involved and listening to people, talking to people solving interpersonal problems. And I did that for 40 years. So you can't do that for 40 years and not pick up all sorts of things to write about. She has Oh, absolutely. All sorts of things in people and interesting stuff. That's happened to me. And so yeah, those were the joys that the publisher also got interested in.

For sure. Again, just kind of thinking about hearing you talk and share your story just makes me hopeful for even my own future. Like I hope to continue to be as lively and inspired as you to be able to continue to create stuff for the community for the world, essentially. And these books are a prime example. You know of that. So you mentioned that you have this upcoming book coming out. Would you like to share one story you don't have to, you know, give away the spoilers or anything like last time we talked you were really good at giving teasers for your book. But is there one story you want to share today? That would entice people to let's say, preorder that upcoming book of yours?

Yes, my wife who is also my love of my life, and I 54 years, and she's also my chief critic and editor and tells me when I'm talking too much, which she's like, right there next to you listening. So the book has 30 stories, convinced me that she doesn't like the main story. And she wants me to write a better blade story. And here's the story she wants me to write. I have a great great friend, retired Air Force Colonel who flew the b1 B bomber. Well, that massive thing can carry 1000s of pounds of bombs. And it's thrown back in theater and approve for. But he told me a story that I'm going to write the blade in the next book. So this would be the lead story for the next book. They were taking off from McConnell Air Force Base, and I believe Kansas or Nebraska. I don't remember anything cheery. We attach it to the end of the runway. 11,000 foot runway getting ready to take off, got permission taxi to take off permission to take off. He said during when I gave it the gas. He says we're going down the runway at about 300 miles an hour picking up speed, he says and a flock of less or less turns. Burj Burj Burj strolled onto the runway must have been at least 100 of them. He said, so I made a call the plane up, but not in time enough, he says, and a bunch of those birds struck the plane. And they were brought into the left two engines are the plain cleaners for engines. And he says I heard a commotion. But I didn't realize how much damage they did. He said, We kept elevating, elevating, he says a screen 18,000 pounds of fuel. And he says and I noticed it right? anytime before the engine monitor came on that there was a problem with the number one and number two, number one number three engines. And he says one of the officers on the crew in the back says, sir, to the engines on fire. I said what is the GM? He says we'll cut off the fuel. He says I'm desperately trying to get the fuel off. So here we are sitting on 18,000 pounds of fuel. And I'm trying to cut the fuel off. So I can cut off the source of the fire. Wondering what I'm gonna do next. Yeah, he said, I knew the plane is designed to fire one engine shed but it has four because it carries a heavy load. We had a heavy load. He says I immediately throttle back thrust. I knew it would take much longer gallery to play and bring it up in the air. And I contacted a field and ask them for permission to text to circle and to land again because I do insurance on fire. And the thing that happened that shocked me because my home base at macom came back on in my consent, Permission denied. We don't have enough fire suppression paper barricades to handle you at the moment. And there's too much traffic in the area. You don't have to go somewhere else. Oh my goodness. And that's the lead story. Wow. That's just what happened next. And I will give you a tease They frantically called airports and everybody that called tell them permission, denied permission, denied Permission denied. He said, because they were concerned about all the fuel you're carrying. And we knew we could dump the fuel. But then the dilemma becomes, you can't dump it off, because you don't know how much you're gonna be up in the air. Yeah. So that's gonna be the lead story for the book. What happens? That's a good lead, Jerry, good choice.

I mean, as soon as you said, birds, a couple of thoughts ran through my head, one, my family are not bird people. And I thought, of course, it was the birds, it's always the birds. We also are really good friends with a former naval pilot, who was in charge of things out in Naval Station, North Island. And part of that whole thing is that that base is like sitting on wetlands and thing, right. And so all of the animals and birds that are part of that area are protected. You also have multiple planes flying multiple flight ups every day. And as soon as you said, birds, I was like, Oh, my God, I know where this is going. And I could just hear my friend in my head going hate the birds, like it's always

a bird, you know, maybe one you can now but two or three giant birds that get thrown into the engine, a jet engine of a plane crash, it's not good for the birds. But if enough, Masters birds just join in. It's not good for the engineer. Absolutely. And so Wow. I can tease you with that. And I can talk to you. There's another potential story. But it'll be in the next book right after this from the same fellow. And I can record this too, if you want to. He says we're on a routine mission, flying from Florida, to Panama training mission. He says Nigeria, the amazing, amazing thing is that we're flying over the Gulf of Mexico, you would think it'd be so hot, you wouldn't have this problem. He said Timothy navigated Cameron and says, Captain, he says, There's reports of ice in the atmosphere. We got to be alert to that. He says, and Jerry, how are you alert vice, he said, we ran into pockets of ice, Gulf of Mexico, and we lost an engine. But he says we're already at 10,000 feet, and we lost an engine for 1000 feet. So this story goes, they lose one engine, they lose a second engine. From and I'm not talking about one event advice. I'm talking about three or four events with ice Oregon from Mexico. So as I write the story, developers directing, obviously create tension that they felt, because every time you lose an engine, you need more runway in front of you. The key to stopping a jet is the reverse thrust that you put the engine to to slow down the speed of the aircraft before it lands. So every time you lose an engine, you've lost re engine that can give you additional braking power to stop this thing. And so you can imagine where that story bears. And so that's another story that I'm running end up writing for the next book.

Well, Jerry, I just want to thank you for being part of the holding down the fort community and continuing to captivate us with the incredible stories that you've already shared and continue to share. I'm just really excited for you and for what's to come. And even that, you know, the other book that the publisher wants to work on with you. And I feel like every time you you talk, I get speechless. I'm like, how do I respond after that, you know, but I'm just so glad I'm so glad and captivated. And in the meantime, and I mentioned this in the post recording I mentioned like how people can get a hold of you and all that good stuff. Other than that, is there anything else? Because I definitely want you guys to go on your merry way and go back on the road. Yeah, but is there anything else you'd like to share?

I can give you came out of the clear blue and totally shocked me. And Jim. I mean, I'm no superhuman, anything like that, just a normal guy from Virginia. But I was contacted by a friend of mine in Cincinnati and said, Jerry, I've got something I want to ask you. What is that? He says, the Cincinnati Reds. Recognize a veteran at many of their basketball games, baseball, baseball games. He says one bedroom, and I want to put your name in five of them for recognition. So Wow. Oh my goodness. It's just one person. Yes. And so three weeks ago, at the Cincinnati Reds New York Mets game, Jerry Barnes, in his red shirt stood up in front of 23,000 people. And I was recognized for my service to the Corps of Engineers, both as a veteran and as a civilian and right at the end, they said hearings also is a published author of 60 combat stories, and he's still writing. Send me the clip of that if you want me to out send it to you. Yeah, please, if you want to put it on your, your tickler for other things, that'll just give me a little more juice, you know, with your listeners about what I'm involved in. And if they want to call me with a story or just want to get in touch with me, but I've seen that Yes, sir. And you look at your see, you know, can I don't get intimidated? I guess I just maybe I'm too sniper minded or something. I just things don't intimidate me. But I do get overwhelmed sometimes. That was overwhelming to know that 20,000 people are looking at me. It's a little bit overwhelming. A little bit. Oh, yeah.

I think that that'd be overwhelming for anyone to have 20,000 people looking at you. But maybe that's the engineering you you know, it's to not be intimidated. You know,

it doesn't. But I do get a little bit overwhelmed the time, and I guess the party is wanting to well, am I gonna scratch my air when I shouldn't? My wife will yell at me or something. So now do star one. That's, that's the overwhelming part. You're gonna be what you're not near perfect for the media. And can't do Yeah,

absolutely. Well, you know, Jerry, I just want to thank you for taking a minute out of your drive right now to check in with us and catch up with us.

I love listening to the stories all day. And I I will say I think your humility in being recognized is something to be emulated. And I think it's very sweet. Well,

thank you. I hope you're not just saying that the urine Oh, man, but I read it. And I said, don't get intimidated. But I do get overwhelmed at times. And that was one. Yeah. So yeah, for sure. great to talk to you too.

Yeah, absolutely. Anything you want me to add to the show notes. Feel free to do that. Other than that, Jerry? Well, first of all, thank you for helping my husband and I and reading our blue book. We talked about that extensively on another conversation. And just thank you for being a part of our community and thank you for what you're doing for the community. And I just hope that you guys have a wonderful rest of the week and we'll be in touch well just feel free to email me what you need and and I'll let you know when your episode is available. I'm gonna hang out with Jenny Lynn but I know that you guys got to hit the road so

much a part of visiting sometime down the road. Alright, bye for now.