"90 DAY WONDER - DARKNESS REMEMBERED is a great book, a fabulous book, to be read, savored, and remembered.
A captivating real life history lesson! The book is not just a story of World War II and how a young college graduate
becomes an officer in the Navy after 90 days of training, but it is also a story about exactly what war and life was like
during that era. Told in the covers of this book are multi-hued levels of experience to be analyzed and digested.
The largest of these is the story of his superior officer who is a sadistic commander. He drives other officers and
enlisted men unnecessarily and purposefully to their deaths.
Engineering student, Leon Cooper, is about to graduate from the University of Illinois when the Japanese attack Pearl
Harbor and the USA is pulled into the war against Japan, Germany, and their allies. Through the eyes of Leon Cooper we learn
what it is like to make the transition from civilian life to officer and gentleman. Cooper is plunged into World War
II with an important combat role to play. Leon Cooper leads us through the physical and mental reality of a nation at
war. His individual story reveals what it was like to live and fight during that crucial time in our nation's
history. In detail, this story conveys the reality of World War II aboard a cruise ship refitted for combat duty.
The ship is able to transport 1000 fighting marines with a crew of 400 enlisted men and officers. Cooper's role is to
man 'Higgins Boats,' assault landing crafts during island invasions.
Leon Cooper leaves behind his successful college life, a promise of a good job, and a secure future for duty in the
armed forces. He also leaves behind a woman he cares about. Leon chooses the Navy and his personal life, like the lives
of millions of other men, is interrupted with a war that cannot be ignored. From private life, we follow the individual
story of Cooper's introduction to Navy service and training. >From there we relive his experiences as he faces the challenges
presented to him. If the war is to be won, the young men of the country must sacrifice all personal ambition and possibly
their lives for their country. Leon Cooper's story reveals that he gets more than he bargained for. He must serve
under a sadistic commander whose behavior is more threatening than that of the Japanese. Commander Boda takes an instant
dislike to Lieutenant Cooper and throughout the war repeatedly attempts to get him killed.
This unique account reveals more than the story of life aboard ship during combat. It tells the tale of a man's
inhumanity to men. A group of soldiers aboard ship during combat are subjected to inhumane rules and punishment, making
life all that more unbearable and dangerous. Through Cooper's eyes we follow his daily struggle to deal with death,
turmoil, and survival while on board a sadistic commander's ship. We learn how Cooper copes, keeping his integrity and looking
out for the lives of his fellow men.
The reader sees young Cooper enter the service with basic expectations and a healthy spirit. Through no fault
of his own he is subjected to unnecessary torture by a twisted commander. Leon Cooper, a sensitive intelligent human
being, returns home damaged by his military experiences. The story continues and we follow him into marriage, civilian
life, and work. We watch him struggle as a scarred war veteran. Down deep we see the anger and how the bitter
experiences distort his daily life. Death and torture remain in Leon's psyche and we see how it affects him. Conflict
continues as he deals with his own personal hell.
As Cooper nears discharge from the Navy, he renews his relationship with the woman he loves and marries her.
He gives her credit for loving and believing in him; thus, giving him the ability to move forward.
What is unique about this book is the story does not end with the culmination of the war nor with Leon Cooper's transition
into civilian life. It continues to tell the outcome of one scarred veteran. The trauma dished out by the cruel Commander
Boda is further exacerbated due to Cooper's inability to rid himself of his deep seated sense of injustice perpetrated by
Boda. We learn that Cooper suffers from uncontrolled fits of anger from time to time and, like millions of soldiers
before him, he is in need of helpful therapy. Worse, his uncontrolled anger affects his spouse and his own family life.
Ultimately Leon Cooper learns that his ex-commander has been promoted to Admiral. Driven by a sense of injustice,
Cooper takes matters into his own hands and tries to execute Commander Boda. Yet that very act is intervened by the
love of his life, his spouse, and an old friend. Further, no prosecution takes place because Commander Boda knows his
own criminal past will be revealed if he does take action against his nemesis Cooper. Finally, Cooper gains life advantage
through a series of twists of fate where he meets the son of Commander Boda and learns a powerful secret. How Cooper
keeps a promise to his spouse to leave revenge to a higher power, yet still gain advantage over the evil Commander Boda, creates
a unique ending to this powerful tale. Truth is indeed stronger and stranger than fiction. This is a fascinating story
and it is one well worth reading.
Finding and having professional Hollywood writer, Don Tait, help with the editing and text results in a clear well-written
narrative. Together Cooper and Tait have created a wonderful book.
I highly recommend this book for everyone able and willing to read a story about World War II and the history of
this time.
Clint Eastwood, if you are out there and looking for a script for another compelling movie, this is it! 90
Day Wonder - Darkness Remembered is a heart-wrenching true story of one man's fight for survival through the days of World
War II and how that man, on behalf of his family, copes with repatriation into normal civilian life. This war story
reviews and explains again what men of that age had to endure for the benefit of The United States of America. Leon
Cooper is a war hero and an eighty plus year old survivor, a man to be revered and congratulated for becoming an author and
sharing his life story with us all."
-- Charlie Steel, Ph.D. Western author and writer of FIGHT FOR WET SPRINGS
"It's a good read ...for those who, after seeing the movie, enjoy boasting that they read the book....The book examines
with special vigor how the psychological trauma of this experience affected...Cooper's...post-war life...This is a book that
screams out, 'Make me into a movie!' Witness co-author Don Tait. This is not an "as told to" co-author. No, this is an experienced
TV and movie writer (Maverick, Bonanza, Mr Roberts) who has been brought in to enhance and perhaps concoct scenes that will
sell the book as a movie. When was the last time you saw a movie without a sex scene? ...Sometimes malign tyrants cum martinets
are placed in command of men and ships ...leading...to unnecessary deaths and long-term, post-war psychological problems for
the surviving subordinates. And the Navy looks the other way and brushes all this stuff under the rug... Read
the book and judge for yourself."
-- Stephen Wersan, Amazon.com. Also, in Ridgecrest, CA "News and Views,"
August 10, 2003
"Many will recall Leon Cooper. Leon was Boat Commander and participated in six invasions beginning with Tarawa
...I received a copy from one of my shipmates. I had already ordered a copy from Amazon, but couldn't wait for its arrival... Leon
... expresses his innermost feelings about his superiors, his boat crews and his wife Alberta. How much is fiction and how
much is reality? Leon has done an outstanding job of letting the reader sort this out....Should you consider purchasing this
work by Leon? Yes....I really did enjoy reading it".
-- Patrick Smith, Editor. Harry Lee Newsletter, August 25, 2003 (Note: Smith was Captain's Yeoman, USS Harry Lee,
during the time Cooper served on the Harry Lee)
"An outstanding piece of work ...
Co-author Leon Cooper recounts his experiences as a US Naval officer during
World War II. The story goes back and forth in time, but mainly begins around the time Pearl Harbor was bombed. The reader
glimpses several key people in Cooper's life, such as Lt Commander Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, Then there is Captain Boda of the
USS Harry Lee who took an instant dislike of Cooper and began to make life very difficult. In fact, Boda is to Cooper what
Vader is to Luke, a dark and malicious force that needed to be reckoned with. Then there is the return to civilian life. With
all he has witnessed, Cooper and Alberta (the love of his life) must somehow cope with not only the events during his military
time, but also events from his childhood."
-- Debra Fitch (Top 1000 Reviewer - Huntress Reviews) ... December 25, 2003
"90 day Wonder - Darkness Remembered describes the events that changed Leon Cooper's life. In 1941, Leon Cooper graduated
from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. The future looked bright for
Leon.
He readied himself for a new career with the government and a new romance with a girl working at his new office.
Then, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Everything changed. Leon joined the Navy. 90 days later, Leon was an officer, a landing craft
officer. Soon Leon's life was about death, terror, and endless conflict with his superior officer, Captain Boda. These memories
would haunt and change Leon Cooper forever.
90 Day Wonder - Darkness Remembered is an incredibly touching, well-written story. I felt privileged that the author
allowed me read about his experiences. I think that by reading this book, I not only learned more about the generation who
truly experienced World War II I also learned a little about myself and about how I deal with challenges in my life."
-- Tami Brady, Reviewer, eBook Reviews Weekly... March 28, 2004
"90 Day Wonder - Darkness Remembered follows the battles in the Pacific not only with the Japs but also between Cooper,
a Naval officer, and his overbearing Commanding Officer. Politics abound in the milutary. And this book brilliantly
captures one man's struggle to overcome prejudicial treatment and win back his dignity. A perfect read for the WWII
buff. But also rings home for anyone who has served in the military in any branch. Striking cover art."
-- Independent Publishing Review ...April 9, 2004
"It's certainly admirable to record one's life adventures with such storytelling skill. Cooper's life as a WWII
veteran is, after all, a unique story to share, one that provides a historical perspective to understanding another time and
a war to beat all wars. The personal conflict between Cooper and his commanding officer helps humanize the story, which otherwise
might fall prey to the dry chronology of many war memoirs. This one, by comparison, has a lot of spunk. "
-- Writer's Digest ...April 30, 2004
