I registered to point out to Mr. King that while he has a right to his own opinion, he has no right to his own facts - people who can’t read can’t get into the military. But the webmaster said he (she?) has closed down all posting on all boards and threads until May 12th, as he’s going on vacation.
So - I’ll be back May 12th. There are 3 threads that address this, and most of the posts take Mr. King to task. His fans defend him by saying he contributes books and other stuff to the troops. That doesn’t give him the right to make up lies, though.
Why would he give books to people he thinks can't read?
One day, I was rereading it while standing alert duty, and an NCO I knew from the flight line asked to borrow it. I put my name, rank and duty section in the front cover, and let him borrow it.
I didn't see the book again for about four years. I got a phone call one day from someone asking for Airman Bob. I identified myself as Sergeant Bob now. He told me that he was a Colonel, a wing commander, and that he had something of mine he was bringing in from Germany.
Two weeks later, the Colonel shows up at the shop, carrying my copy of The Stand. The book is battered - the back is broken, it's being held together with blast tape, and inside, it's been signed by everyone who had the book after me - Airmen, Sergeants, Lieutenants, even a Brigadier General. There were probably thirty names and duty stations in that book.
That book was a prized possession for many years. I wouldn't have traded it for a book signed by King. The men and women who signed that book meant more to me than an author. Unfortunately, my ex-wife tossed it out one day as garbage (we weren't exes then, and that's not why she's an ex).
Too bad we were all so illiterate.