One Hell Of A Ride

Ed Jared's memoir is a big story. For one thing, it's the memoir of a member of the generation Tom Brokaw called "the greatest generation any society has produced." Ed Jared served America as a pilot in World War II; he was part of the China, Burma, India Hump operation, flying over the Himalayas to supply troops in China. His insider's observations of day-to-day life as a Hump pilot as well as extreme emergencies, pranks, and personalities are set in his overall awareness of the realities of the danger he faced and his always firm grasp of how to achieve his goal: do his job and survive the experience. If all we had of Ed Jared's life story were his Hump tales, we would feel he had had quite a life indeed.

But there is so much more. When he returned home after the war, he made a good life for himself and his family, beginning with flying and then developing other areas of expertise as well. He worked hard at whatever he found to do in the Gainesville, Georgia, area where he settled: flying, training pilots, economic development. A most illuminating moment in this part of his story occurs when he is offered a job as a corporate pilot by Jesse Jewell, a prominent poultry man. Jared made it clear that he did not want to sit and wait at the airport while the passengers went off to attend to business. He wanted to be a part of the action, too, learning and gaining experience. And that's what he did, building a fine career in the world-wide military resale market, while at the same time continuing his military service in the United States Air Force Reserve. Perhaps most importantly, he also managed to achieve his dream of establishing a stable life for his family with a place his children could call home. Ed Jared's memoir is a national and personal history, a fascinating story and a primer for how to succeed in business and live a good life.