Norman Ross grew up in the cauldron of Ft. Apache in the south Bronx, flew 60 combat missions for the U.S. Navy in WWII, and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and eleven Air Medals. (The DFC is the closest combat medal next to the Medal of Honor.) After six months in a VA hospital, he went to Columbia University and obtained a PhD. He spent 30 years teaching English at the high school and college level; he coached soccer and track teams to several championships; he spent a sabbatical leave traveling around the world. In his 50s he ran two 26 mile marathons. He is a man, who after retiring in 1982, performed the leading roles in "HMS PINAFORE," "THE MIKADO," "THE PIRATES of PENZANCE," "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF," "THE MUSIC MAN," and "MY FAIR LADY". Truly, the author is a Renaissance man; warrior, scholar, athlete, writer, and performer. His "MEMOIRS of a TAIL GUNNER" relates the tale of his seven different "lives".