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Photo by Tom Williams
Contact: Acting Chief Ranger Bob Cromwell, (360) 816-6253 Contact: Mary Rose, Friends of Fort Vancouver, 360-816-6216 The National Park Service at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, in partnership with the non-profit organization Friends of Fort Vancouver, is pleased to announce a book signing and lecture by Amber Smith, author of the recently-released book Danger Close: My Epic Journey as a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan on Friday, September 16, 2016, at 7 pm. This free, public event will take place at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center. Smith served in the United States Army as an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot-in-command and air mission commander in the 101st Airborne Division. She is a combat veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Smith will sign copies of her books, which are available for sale in the Visitor Center Bookstore, and will deliver a talk about her combat service. "When I got to my unit in 2004," she said, "women were very rare in the Kiowa Warrior community. I worked very hard to do my job and contribute to the mission. As soon as they realized that, I was part of the team." She added, "The Kiowa Warrior is an incredibly effective tool on the battlefield, especially in the two theaters of war. It's important that the American people hear the perspective of people who have been on the operational side of national security." Smith comes from a long line of military service and both of her parents are pilots. Her two sisters are also pilots in the military forces. The family's keen interest in Pearson Air Museum led them to contact Acting Chief Ranger Bob Cromwell regarding showcasing Smith's book at the national park. "We are thrilled to be hosting this book signing, and highlighting modern Army aviation on today's battlefields. It connects with the legacy of some of the earliest roots of Army Air Corps aviation at Pearson Field," said Cromwell. The book was released on September 6, 2016 by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. What: Book signing and lecture by Amber Smith, author of Danger Close: My Epic Journey as a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan. Where: Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, 1501 East Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661 When: Friday, September 16, 2016, at 7 pm Cost: Free |
Last updated: September 9, 2016