MacIntosh will speak for Veterans Day

Talk about it

Craig MacIntosh doesn’t particularly like long flights and he hates swamps. But he’ll tell you flying more than 24 hours to Papua New Guinea to slog through swamps to help locate World War II American MIAs, was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I’m happy I went,” said MacIntosh.

MacIntosh traveled to Papua New Guinea in 2010 with the MIA Hunters, an organization dedicated to locating American MIAs and bringing them back to the United States for burial.

A fiction author, MacIntosh went with the group to do research for his latest book, “The Last Lightning.” But he came back with a lot to tell.

As part of the expedition MacIntosh helped conduct searches of inhospitable jungle to look for the sites of crashed planes. MacIntosh said locals helped the groups find the wreck sites.

They also spent time in the capitol city Port Moresby and several villages. MacIntosh said it was a true cultural experience.

For Veterans Day Nov. 11 MacIntosh will talk about his experiences as part of the expedition from 3 to 5 p.m. at the American Legion Post 65, 14590 Burma Ave. W. The talk will be accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation of photos from his trip. The event will be sponsored by the Rosemount Area Arts Council and American Legion Post 65.

MacIntosh said he will focus on sharing stories from the trip and the activities of the MIA Hunters but will have copies of his book available.

MacIntosh is an Army veteran who served as a platoon leader with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam.

The Last Lightning

While he had already started to write “The Last Lightning” before he traveled to Papua New Guinea, MacIntosh said the trip shaped his second novel.

A fictional story, the book takes place nearly 70 years after a top-secret escort mission flown by four American aces ends mysteriously. A missionary in Papua New Guinea discovers the flight lead’s P-38 Lightning deep in the jungle. Half a world away, others who learn of the discovery race to unlock the past. Greed, betrayal and brutality visit a hidden valley where tribal life has remained unchanged for a century.

MacIntosh is also the author of The Fortunate Orphans, which also has its roots in World War II.

As part of the Rosemount Area Arts Council author series, MacIntosh will discuss his book at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Robert Trail Library.

For more information about MacIntosh and his latest book visit www.thelastlightning.com.

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