Author : Randy Kehrli
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (859 download)
Book Synopsis The Story of Striker Valance by : Randy Kehrli
Download or read book The Story of Striker Valance written by Randy Kehrli and published by . This book was released on 2022-07 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jaime Valance is a "Striker"-the prosecutors at DOJ known as " the Cowboys of the Justice Department." Those mostly young men and women crippled the traditional Mafia in the 1970s-1990s utilizing undercover operations and RICO prosecutions. Valance works out of Strike Force 18, based in Washington D.C. He travels widely throughout the nation, with investigations and trials in various locales. These trials are vividly and humorously detailed throughout the book. After an FBI conference in Florida in January 1986, Valance returns only to watch the Space Shuttle Challenger break up and plunge into the Atlantic, killing the entire crew-including the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe. This shocks him to the core, and he leaves the Air & Space Museum vowing to do something about it, declaring "Hold On! I'm Coming!" He volunteers and is appointed Staff Counsel for the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (a.k.a. The Rogers Commission). Valance takes this Challenger plunge compelled by his philosophy and directive in life-"Chaos*Fate*Life*Courage*Spirit." The various choices the Cosmos presents to Valance cause him to arrive at the point in space-time where he ends up as one of the key players in the Challenger mystery. This includes a strong plot line involving Sabra Shannon, the love of Jaime's life. An intense romance which, unbeknownst to Valance, the mob is desperately trying to sabotage-for nefarious reasons. The Challenger investigation includes characters that were are the actual well known players in that drama: Former Attorney General and Secretary of State William Rogers, First Man Neil Armstrong, First Woman Sally Ride, Astronauts Brewster Shaw and John Fabian, physicist Richard Feynman, and other charismatic and unique individuals. The book details the political pressure and intrigue that occurs, the surprising negligence of NASA, and the personal sacrifices and grief of the families of the Challenger 7. Plus it delves deeply into the working relationships and friendships formed by Valance and the Commissioners and staff investigators. The respect and talent shared by Valance and his compatriots re-enforces his strong belief in his philosophy.