The "An Amazing Book About Veteran Norm Billipp" Story

This photograph shows part of the wall of pictures of those who
served in the Armed Forces.  On the bottom 3rd from the left,
appears the black and white photo of Chip, a reader of this blog.

It was an ordinary day.  Just received an email from Erin who I had been in contact with a little over 4 years ago.  It was on Monday, August 12 of 2013 that I posted a story on my blog telling about a wall in the high school where I graduated from and where I also taught for over 30 years and still work part-time doing the in-house printing requests.  

The black and white in the center is a photo of my
good friend and traveling companion, Jere.

Wall features photographs of past students who had served in the United States armed forces.  Neat wall with photos of those whom I graduated with, those whom I had as students and a few who were good friends with my own children.  One of the photos featured my high school classmate Capt. Norman K. Billipp who was a great athlete as well as student in high school.  Norm was born in Schenectady, NY, moved to Milwaukee, WI and finally settling in Lancaster, PA for his high school years.  

Norm's 1962 high school graduation photo.

He went to the University of Wisconsin where he enrolled in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program.  Graduated with a degree in micro-biology and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in June of 1966.  Norm eventually received his wings as a Marine Corps aviator at naval Air Station, Kingsville, Texas in 1968.  He flew a single-seat A-4 Skyhawk jet.  He then flew an O-1G Bird Dog while based in South Vietnam.  While flying with his aerial observer John Hagen, he failed to return from an observation mission between Khe Sahn and the South Vietnam border with Laos.  An air search was unsuccessful and he was listed as missing in action.  

Friend and Airman Norm Billipp

The Dept. of Defense listed him MIA until 1976 when the Marine Corps issued a "Presumptive finding of death."  Both Norm and John's remains were eventually found in 1996 in Hanoi.  In 1997 Norm had his name added to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washiington D.C. at panel 25W; row 9.  He was only 23 when he died.  While I was teaching at our Alma matre, Norm was fighting for his country as well as for me when he lost his life.  Shortly after my story posted I received an email from Erin who asked if I had anymore information I could share with her since she was writing a book on servicemen from Wisconsin who had died in Vietnam.  I had little more to offer her, but wished her well on her mission.  Then today I got the email hoping I was well and telling me that the book featuring Norm Billipp will be released April 20th.  Her portion of the profits will be donated to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and Highground Memorial in Neillsville.  She included the website where I might find the site to order a copy of the book.  After opening the site and viewing the cover of the book I read the brief statement about the book.  It read:  

Copy of Erin's book Wisconsin's 37

The signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973 signified the end of the Vietnam War.  American personnel returned home and 591 American prisoners held captive in North Vietnam were released.  Still, 2,646 individuals did not come home.  Thirty-seven of those missing in action were from Wisconsin.  Their names appear on the largest object--a motorcycle (now part of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Collection)--ever left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  Using the recollections of the soldiers' families, friends and fellow servicemen, the author tells the story of each man's life.  I'm sure I will enjoy Erin's book which was written with John B. Sharpless.  And if you too care to order a copy, click on the following link to pre-order a copy of the book titled: Wisconsin's 37 - The Lives of Those Missing in Action in the Vietnam War.  https://www.amazon.com/Wisconsins-37-Missing-Action-Vietnam/dp/1476672008  . Thank you Erin for your efforts and to hopefully keep alive the memories of the friends and relatives who died defending our country.  And a big "Thank You" goes out to all who served my family andmuyself and the United States while in the armed forces.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.