Duke Pennell is a man of wide experience and even wider interests. He traces his family tree along the ridges of the mountains of the Ozarks, through the Cumberlands and the Smokies, all the way back to the East Coast. He was raised on stories of the hills and their people — self reliance and independence was fed to him like mother's milk — and he ate it up. The term "Ridge Runner" truly comes to mind. A Viet Nam veteran, he spent a year aboard an aircraft carrier off Yankee Station. Then came three years in the Philippines — the first year at Cubi Point Naval Air Station, flying right-seat aboard a C-45; followed by almost two years in Subic Bay Naval Station as a member of the Armed Forces Police operating in Olongapo City, PI. After the Navy, like so many others, he found it difficult to settle down. A partial list of occupations he held includes: factory worker, horse trainer, firefighter, police officer, long haul trucker, jewelry designer, construction worker, appliance repairman, teacher, and computer systems engineer. He is a Master Class combat shooter, and an avid motorcyclist. He loves animals and they seem to respond in kind. His varied background has provided a wealth of events in his life. Not all were pleasant, but even the distasteful were interesting. Some of his stories are taken directly from these experiences. Some are merely influenced by them. If you have any questions or comments, please send him an email at duke@dukepennell.com. He'll be happy to respond.