Kentucky Maverick : The Life and Adventures of Colonel George M. Chinn

**"An absorbing story about how the Lincoln veteran George Watt managed to escape from Nazi-occupied Belgium."—__San Francisco Review of Books__** November 1943: American flyer George Watt parachutes out of his burning warplane and lands in rural Nazi-occupied Belgium. __Escape from Hitler's Europe__ is the incredible story of his getaway—how brave villagers spirited him to Brussels to connect with the Comet Line, a rescue arm of the Belgian resistance. This was a gravely dangerous mission, especially for a Jewish soldier who had fought against Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Watt recounts dodging the Gestapo, entering Paris via the underground, and finally, crossing the treacherous Pyrenees into Spain. In 1985, he returned to Belgium and discovered an astonishing postscript to his wartime experiences. "A story of what is best in human beings triumphing over what is worst."—John Sayles, author of __Yellow Earth__ "One of those rare little narratives that engage the reader from the first page to the last . . . It is about the human spirit and those willing to risk their lives for a stranger."—__Library Journal__ "A hell of an adventure story."―Ring Lardner, Jr., author of __The Ecstasy of Owen Muir__ "This is one of my favorite books about World War II, and the first I have read that is about the Comet Line and the people who helped with running it."—__Armchair Interviews__ "This is an interesting and exciting account that provides a first-person examination of the plight of an individual airman, and insights into the scope, risks, and techniques of the Belgian and French underground movements."—Col. Stetson M. Siler, USAF (Ret.) "An absorbing story about how the Lincoln veteran George Watt managed to escape from Nazi-occupied Belgium."— San Francisco Review of Books November 1943: American flyer George Watt parachutes out of his burning warplane and lands in rural Nazi-occupied Belgium. Escape from Hitler's Europe is the incredible story of his getaway—how brave villagers spirited him to Brussels to connect with the Comet Line, a rescue arm of the Belgian resistance. This was a gravely dangerous mission, especially for a Jewish soldier who had fought against Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Watt recounts dodging the Gestapo, entering Paris via the underground, and finally, crossing the treacherous Pyrenees into Spain. In 1985, he returned to Belgium and discovered an astonishing postscript to his wartime experiences. "A story of what is best in human beings triumphing over what is worst."—John Sayles, author of Yellow Earth "One of those rare little narratives that engage the reader from the first page to the last . . . It is about the human spirit and those willing to risk their lives for a stranger."— Library Journal "A hell of an adventure story."―Ring Lardner, Jr., author of The Ecstasy of Owen Muir "This is one of my favorite books about World War II, and the first I have read that is about the Comet Line and the people who helped with running it."— Armchair Interviews "This is an interesting and exciting account that provides a first-person examination of the plight of an individual airman, and insights into the scope, risks, and techniques of the Belgian and French underground movements."—Col. Stetson M. Siler, USAF (Ret.)

Colonel George M. Chinn's (1902–1987) life story reads more like fiction than the biography of a Kentucky soldier. A smart and fun-loving character, Chinn attended Centre College and played on the famous "Praying Colonels" football team that won the 1921 national championship. After graduation, he returned to his home in Mercer County and partnered with munitions expert "Tunnel" Smith to dynamite a cliff. The resulting hole became Chinn's Cave House—a diner that also functioned as an underground gambling operation during Prohibition. He even served as Governor A. B. "Happy" Chandler's bodyguard before joining the Marine Corps in 1943.

In Kentucky Maverick, Carlton Jackson details the life of a legendary and highly decorated Marine whose career spanned both world wars, the Korean War, and Vietnam. Chinn's service paired a love of history with a special kind of genius: he documented the history of military technology while designing innovative weapons such as the M-19 automatic grenade launcher, which is still used in the armed forces today. After leaving the Corps, Chinn leaned on his many connections to become the director of the Kentucky Historical Society.

Carlton Jackson's entertaining biography weaves together outrageous tales of gunplay and politics while revealing Chinn's sense of humor, unbending will, and a sense of destiny that could only be fulfilled by a true twentieth-century Renaissance man.

"Colonel George M. Chinn's (1902-1987) life story reads more like fiction than the biography of a Kentucky soldier. A smart and fun-loving character, Chinn attended Centre College and played on the famous 'Praying Colonels' football team that won the 1921 national championship. After graduation, he returned to his home in Mercer County and partnered with munitions expert 'Tunnel' Smith to dynamite a cliff. The resulting hole became Chinn's Cave House--a diner that also functioned as an underground gambling operation during Prohibition. He even served as Governor A.B. 'Happy' Chandler's bodyguard before joining the Marine Corps in 1943. In Kentucky Maverick, Carlton Jackson details the life of a legendary and highly decorated Marine whose career spanned both world wars, the Korean War, and Vietnam. Chinn's service paired a love of history with a special kind of genius: he documented the history of military technology while designing innovative weapons such as the M-19 automatic grenade launcher, which is still used in the armed forces today. After leaving the Corps, Chinn leaned on his many connections to become the director of the Kentucky Historical Society. Carlton Jackson's entertaining biography weaves together outrageous tales of gunplay and politics while revealing Chinn's sense of humor, unbending will, and a sense of destiny that could only be fulfilled by a true twentieth-century Renaissance man"--Résumé de l'éditeur "Colonel George M. Chinn's (1902-1987) life story reads more like fiction than the biography of a Kentucky soldier. A smart and fun-loving character, Chinn attended Centre College and played on the famous 'Praying Colonels' football team that won the 1921 national championship. After graduation, he returned to his home in Mercer County and partnered with munitions expert 'Tunnel' Smith to dynamite a cliff. The resulting hole became Chinn's Cave House--a diner that also functioned as an underground gambling operation during Prohibition. He even served as Governor A.B. 'Happy' Chandler's bodyguard before joining the Marine Corps in 1943. In Kentucky Maverick, Carlton Jackson details the life of a legendary and highly decorated Marine whose career spanned both world wars, the Korean War, and Vietnam. Chinn's service paired a love of history with a special kind of genius: he documented the history of military technology while designing innovative weapons such as the M-19 automatic grenade launcher, which is still used in the armed forces today. After leaving the Corps, Chinn leaned on his many connections to become the director of the Kentucky Historical Society. Carlton Jackson's entertaining biography weaves together outrageous tales of gunplay and politics while revealing Chinn's sense of humor, unbending will, and a sense of destiny that could only be fulfilled by a true twentieth-century Renaissance man"--Provided by publisher Colonel George M. Chinn's (1902?1987) life story reads more like fiction than the biography of a Kentucky soldier. A smart and fun-loving character, Chinn attended Centre College and played on the famous "Praying Colonels" football team that won the 1921 national championship. After graduation, he returned to his home in Mercer County and partnered with munitions expert "Tunnel" Smith to dynamite a cliff. The resulting hole became Chinn's Cave House? a diner that also functioned as an underground gambling operation during Prohibition. He even served as Governor A.B. "Happy" Chandler's bodyguard before joining the Marine Corps in 1943. In Kentucky Maverick, Carlton Jackson details the life of a legendary and highly decorated Marine whose career spanned both world wars, the Korean War, and Vietnam. Chinn's service paired a love of history with a special kind of genius: he documented the history of military technology while designing innovative weapons such as the M-19 automatic grenade launcher, which is still used in the armed forces today. After leaving the Corps, Chinn leaned on his many connections to become the director of the Kentucky Historical Society. Carlton Jackson's entertaining biography weaves together outrageous tales of gunplay and politics while revealing Chinn's sense of humor, unbending will, and a sense of destiny that could only be fulfilled by a true twentieth-century Renaissance man Colonel George M. Chinn's (1902--1987) Life Story Reads More Like Fiction Than The Biography Of A Kentucky Soldier. A Smart And Fun-loving Character, Chinn Attended Centre College And Played On The Famous Praying Colonels Football Team That Won The 1921 National Championship. After Graduation, He Returned To His Home In Mercer County And Partnered With Munitions Expert Tunnel Smith To Dynamite A Cliff. The Resulting Hole Became Chinn's Cave House -- A Diner That Also Functioned As An Underground Gambling Operation During Prohibition. He Even Served As Governor A. B. Happy Chandler's Bodyguard Before Joining The Marine Corps In 1943. In Kentucky Maverick, Carlton Jackson Details The Life Of A Legendary And Highly Decorated Marine Whose Career Spanned Both World Wars, The Korean War, And Vietnam. Chinn's Service Paired A Love Of History With A Special Kind Of Genius: He Documented The History Of Military Technology While Designing Innovative Weapons Such As The M-19 Automatic Grenade Launcher, Which Is Still Used In The Armed Forces Today. After Leaving The Corps, Chinn Leaned On His Many Connections To Become The Director Of The Kentucky Historical Society. Carlton Jackson's Entertaining Biography Weaves Together Outrageous Tales Of Gunplay And Politics While Revealing Chinn's Sense Of Humor, Unbending Will, And A Sense Of Destiny That Could Only Be Fulfilled By A True Twentieth-century Renaissance Man.