Author. He was an American novelist as well as a screenwriter and columnist. A native Texan, he graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1933 and worked for the "Houston Post" as a journalist from 1940 to 1960. He graduated with a B.A. degree from Rice University in Houston in 1937. Moving to Los Angeles to write full-time, he was the author of fifteen novels and one non-fiction book. He is well known for his best sellers "Von Ryan's Express" in 1964, which was adapted to a 1966 Academy Award-nominated film of the same name, and the 1965 novel, "My Sweet Charlie," which was adapted to a stage play as well as a 1970 Emmy Award television movie. While serving in the Army Air Forces during World War II, he was a navigator on a B-24 bomber that was shot down in 1942, and he spent 28 months in POW camps. For his World War II experience of 29 bombing missions, he was a recipient of an Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. He reenlisted during the Korean War, serving in the Pentagon and served in the U. S. Air Force Reserve into the 1960s as Lieutenant Colonel. His novel "The Great Wounded Bird" is a recollection of World War II. His first novel, "Summer on the Water," was published in 1948. His last novel, "Delay En Route," which was published in 2002, is a lighthearted tale of an American POW. He died from heart failure. He was married with a son.
Author. He was an American novelist as well as a screenwriter and columnist. A native Texan, he graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1933 and worked for the "Houston Post" as a journalist from 1940 to 1960. He graduated with a B.A. degree from Rice University in Houston in 1937. Moving to Los Angeles to write full-time, he was the author of fifteen novels and one non-fiction book. He is well known for his best sellers "Von Ryan's Express" in 1964, which was adapted to a 1966 Academy Award-nominated film of the same name, and the 1965 novel, "My Sweet Charlie," which was adapted to a stage play as well as a 1970 Emmy Award television movie. While serving in the Army Air Forces during World War II, he was a navigator on a B-24 bomber that was shot down in 1942, and he spent 28 months in POW camps. For his World War II experience of 29 bombing missions, he was a recipient of an Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. He reenlisted during the Korean War, serving in the Pentagon and served in the U. S. Air Force Reserve into the 1960s as Lieutenant Colonel. His novel "The Great Wounded Bird" is a recollection of World War II. His first novel, "Summer on the Water," was published in 1948. His last novel, "Delay En Route," which was published in 2002, is a lighthearted tale of an American POW. He died from heart failure. He was married with a son.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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