Joseph Lunkas:  

After graduating from Northwestern H.S in 1966, I and fellow graduate Bob Husak (Unfortunately Bob "passed on" in 2012) took a five-week trip to the wilds of the Upper Peninsula to fish, hunt, and "unwind". After trying out a series of construction and food industry jobs I applied for one of the then-easy to get jobs at the numerous GM assembly plants. In August of 1967 I started working on the line at GM and I enrolled at Flint JC and earned my associate degree in Science and mathematics. Vietnam came along and I spent the next 3 years, 2 months, 16 days, and 10 hours serving my country. My last 2-1/2 years were spent working in military corrections working with other troubled combat veterans. The ones I could not help continue to haunt me in my "night dreams" as do my war "night Demons"! The chaos and horrors experienced in War have a lasting effect on the mind, soul, and spirit. There are many shocking examples of Man's inhumanity to Man, and "innocents" that happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time that are hard to describe and talk about and should not be. It is impossible to rationalize the blind obedience a trained soldier exhibits when faced with an unclear and seemingly impossible objective. We often reacted violently in the name of duty, honor, country, and even vengeance. We honor our fallen and try to "readjust" to civilian life the best we can. Some of us are successful, many are not. Please look at the Dedications in each of my books and the "My Hidden Messages" section in the conclusion of my third book, Read "The Old Deer Hunter's Prayer" that I end each of my books with for added insight into my being. "Fifty Years of Memorable Hunting Experiences: Lessons Learned of a Michigan Outdoorsman" is was released in Mid-October of 2013. The unfortunate "undocumented" military veteran casualties of War are EVERYWHERE! Regrettably, many of these brave war veterans are found living on the streets. This should be an embarrassment to ALL Americans! Other troubled veterans like me choose to live in remote areas to face their demons in solitude. SOME of these troubled souls MAY be responsible for some of the Bigfoot sightings reported. I am known as "the Wexford County Bigfoot"! ---Most are not. Many eventually choose suicide as release from their torments. In my books I offer a viable alternative. Mother Nature has always been my greatest source of "regaining perspective" and continuity. She has persevered throughout history in times before, during, and after wars. Her soothing solitude, sources of sustenance, and offerings of "the challenge of the hunt" craved by many, including recovering War veterans, has been my salvation. My understanding and supportive wife Yvonna has made me one extremely lucky and productive person. Other than in sometimes helpful "counseling" sessions, talking about explicit war experiences is ill-advised.All this dredging up of the past only intensifies the surprisingly realistic "flashbacks" and "night sweats" experienced by war veterans. The sights, sounds, and even smells of War and death come flooding back into the subconscious consciousness. 'Floating talking heads" during my flashbacks are MY demons to try to conquer! So far I have been successful. After one of these horrific episodes, it is a shock for me to look in the mirror and see an old, weathered face where just moments before a young and virile 22-year old soiled and bloodied soldier face once peered back at me. I continue to face this repeating dilemma. Starting in June of 2018, I have finally turned to the VA for help with my PTSD "issues" that are increasingly getting worse! Wish me luck. After Vietnam I was a "changed" man. I wish that your compliments of me when I was in high school were still true ---That Joe Lunkas did not return from the war! I returned to GM and enrolled at the U of M(Flint), I earned my BA in Business Administration and Management with the help of the GI Bill and took a salaried position at GM i...Expand for more