Deadly Decision - Paperback

by Rick Centore (Author)

Deadly Decision by Rick Centore brings a rare and revealing personal voice to the telling of an extraordinary World War II combat tale. Based on the wartime experiences of Technical Sergeant Nello Centore of the 856th Bomb Squadron, author Centore recounts the compelling events leading to a fateful day in June 1944 when disaster strikes Crew 601, and Sergeant Centore's world is changed forever. Those ensuing days under German lock-and-key in a prisoner-of-war camp are recounted with a visceral memory in the form of Nello Centore's personal journal entries. The author then embellishes and amplifies the first-person account through commentary that sets the historical, political, and personal context for each entry; and this is what sets this war story apart from so many others. Author Centore reveals a powerful understanding and appreciation for his father's experiences, and thus gives the reader a rare insight into the minds, hearts, and souls of the men of Crew 601.

Author Biography

Rick Centore was born on September 15, 1944 in Vineland, New Jersey. On that day his father, Nello Centore, was a prisoner of war in Germany. After graduating from high school in 1963, Rick enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served as a helicopter avionics technician and deployed to Vietnam in 1965. During his tour of duty he flew combat missions as a door gunner and was awarded the Air Medal. He was discharged in 1967. In 1978 he and his wife, Lynne, were married. Their son Michael was born two years later. After returning to civilian life, Rick worked for over forty years as an industrial electrician and technician. He has had an interest in military history and aviation for most of his life. He volunteers as a docent and aircraft restorer at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. He and Lynne live in Suffield, Connecticut.