A Winding Road To The Land of Enchantment

By Gerald W. Thomas and David G. Thomas

From an Idaho ranch during the Great Depression to the cockpit of a torpedo bomber in World War II-and ultimately to the presidency of New Mexico State University.

A Winding Road to the Land of Enchantment is the remarkable autobiography of Gerald W. Thomas, whose life carried him across some of the defining events of twentieth-century America.

Thomas recounts growing up on a ranch in Idaho during the Great Depression, where hardship, hard work, and self-reliance shaped his character. As a young man, he played baseball with Jackie and Mack Robinson before the course of his life changed forever with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Thomas joined the United States Navy and became a TBM Avenger torpedo-bomber pilot, flying combat missions from aircraft carriers in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

During an attack on Bod , Norway, antiaircraft fire severely damaged his aircraft. Oil poured across the cockpit canopy, reducing his visibility to almost nothing. Despite the damage, Thomas managed to return to his carrier and crash-land safely, saving both himself and his two crewmen.

Transferred to the Pacific, he participated in strikes against Manila, Mindoro, Luzon, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan. After returning from a mission over Luzon, he was aboard the USS Essex when a kamikaze struck the carrier, killing sixteen men.

For his wartime service and combat actions, Thomas received three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations.

His story did not end with the war. Thomas earned a doctorate, built a distinguished academic career, and eventually became president of New Mexico State University, helping guide the institution during an important period of growth and change.

Illustrated with 205 photographs, this 270-page memoir offers a vivid firsthand account of ranch life during the Depression, naval aviation in World War II, carrier combat in two oceans, and a lifetime devoted to education and public service.

A Winding Road to the Land of Enchantment is an inspiring story of courage, perseverance, leadership, and the unexpected path from a remote Western ranch to the highest levels of American higher education.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0982870914
• ISBN13: 9780982870914
• Release Date: July 2010
• Publisher: Doc45 Publishing
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 1.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.5" x 11.0"