Sons of the 43rd tells the story of two men who left their small-town America to travel around the world and fight an enemy they had never met. One man survived World War II and the other disappeared, his fate unknown until a chance discovery fifty years later.

Delmar Dotson of Pound, Virginia, lost his father and grew up in an orphanage. The disappearance of his plane in the jungles of New Guinea has haunted his family for decades. Gray Allison of Ida, Louisiana, also lost his father but later in life. Both men found a home in the 43rd Bombardment Group fighting the Japanese, first in New Guinea and finally, for Allison, at the doorstep of Japan. He has spent decades investing in the lives of young people.

Michael R. Spradlin is the editor of Beaman's Commentary on the Gospel of John, and the author of the Sons of the 43rd, the numerous articles on church history, missions, and evangelism. He has served for many years as the President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and is a member of Mid-America's church history faculty. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States and around the world.

"This book is story telling and military history at its best. Mike Spradlin has professionally researched and superbly written this smooth flowing home front/aerial combat narrative. He writes with incredible insight bringing life to these brave airmen of the Greatest Generation and their loved ones back home, who can no longer speak for themselves. Sons of the 43rd is an outstanding military historical book. A great read and a real page turner to the end.           ---Henry B. "Sonny" Tucker, LTC U.S.A (ret.), Cdr., Hill 65, 8 November 1965, RVN...Silver Star.

"War is hell." So said General William T. Sherman nearly 100 years before the men and crews of the 43rd found themselves in a far flung corner of the South Pacific battling against a fierce and determined Japanese military machine. The various accounts of what these airmen and their support personnel endured—poisonous snakes, biting and stinging insects, sweltering heat, unbearable humidity, malaria and other tropical diseases—give much credence to General Sherman's observation about war. Yet, through it all, they men of the 43rd persevered. Despite doubt and disappointment, they never wavered. In spite of losses and failures, they never gave in nor gave up. While the world was at it's very worst, TSgt Delmar Dotson and the other valiant men of the 43rd epitomized its very best.                         ---Col. Alan J. Murray (ret.), Meritorious Service Medal, Order of Daedalians, pilot, and currently ACM, FlightSafety, Int'l.

Mike Spradlin tells the story of our greatest generation with warmth and feeling, where we see that these young men were asked to do things on a daily basis that no airman or soldier would tolerate in today's military.A must read for anyone interested in WWII, the Pacific Arena or the personal sacrifices of war. Excellent on many levels.        ---Susan Clark Lanson, President 43rd Bomb Group Association.

They have been called the greatest generation - that hardy, self reliant group that came to their nation's aid in its time of greatest need. This is their story and how they were challenged and honed for the fight ahead and ultimately prevailed. Seen through the eyes of TSgt Delmar Dotson, a B-17 flight engineer and top turret gunner, and Lt. Gray Allison, a B-24 pilot, this is the personal story of the airmen who were the 43rd Bomb Group, that hardy group who General Kenny threw into the breech to staunch the threatened invasion of Papau New Guinea and Australia in the desparate summer of 1942. It is a very personal story that suitably honors all members of the 43rd Bomb Group who answered their nations call.              ---Lt Gen Walter E. Buchanan III, USAF (ret) whose father lived this story as a 43BG B-17 bombardier, '42-'43.

The Gift of a Lifetime Presented Verse by Verse

The discovery of a commentary written (but never published) by Dr. Roy Beaman, longtime seminary professor and New Testament scholar, brings his unique biblical insights to light. Roy Beaman combined the talents of a linguist, a New Testament scholar, and a biblical archaeologist.

His commentary on the Gospel of John was developed for almost four decades and taught repeatedly in churches and in seminary classrooms. Though the manuscript was never published, printed copies were distributed through the years. Beaman’s Commentary on the Gospel of John is the compilation of two of those manuscripts.

Edited and revised by Michael R. Spradlin, PhD, this work will serve the scholar seeking information and the believer seeking devotional insights.

Roy O. Beaman, ThD (1904-1996), preached and taught in a career that spanned sixty years of ministry and theological education. He was a gifted linguist, Bible scholar, and theologian who shared his love of the scriptures and his love for the Lord Jesus with all who met him. He combined a gracious spirit with rock-solid biblical convictions that influenced several generations of pastors and theologians.

Michael R. Spradlin is the editor of Beaman's Commentary on the Gospel of John, and the author of the Sons of the 43rd, the numerous articles on church history, missions, and evangelism. He has served for many years as the President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and is a member of Mid-America's church history faculty. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States and around the world.

"This book is story telling and military history at its best. Mike Spradlin has professionally researched and superbly written this smooth flowing home front/aerial combat narrative. He writes with incredible insight bringing life to these brave airmen of the Greatest Generation and their loved ones back home, who can no longer speak for themselves. Sons of the 43rd is an outstanding military historical book. A great read and a real page turner to the end.           ---Henry B. "Sonny" Tucker, LTC U.S.A (ret.), Cdr., Hill 65, 8 November 1965, RVN...Silver Star.

"War is hell." So said General William T. Sherman nearly 100 years before the men and crews of the 43rd found themselves in a far flung corner of the South Pacific battling against a fierce and determined Japanese military machine. The various accounts of what these airmen and their support personnel endured—poisonous snakes, biting and stinging insects, sweltering heat, unbearable humidity, malaria and other tropical diseases—give much credence to General Sherman's observation about war. Yet, through it all, they men of the 43rd persevered. Despite doubt and disappointment, they never wavered. In spite of losses and failures, they never gave in nor gave up. While the world was at it's very worst, TSgt Delmar Dotson and the other valiant men of the 43rd epitomized its very best.                         ---Col. Alan J. Murray (ret.), Meritorious Service Medal, Order of Daedalians, pilot, and currently ACM, FlightSafety, Int'l.

Mike Spradlin tells the story of our greatest generation with warmth and feeling, where we see that these young men were asked to do things on a daily basis that no airman or soldier would tolerate in today's military.A must read for anyone interested in WWII, the Pacific Arena or the personal sacrifices of war. Excellent on many levels.        ---Susan Clark Lanson, President 43rd Bomb Group Association.

They have been called the greatest generation - that hardy, self reliant group that came to their nation's aid in its time of greatest need. This is their story and how they were challenged and honed for the fight ahead and ultimately prevailed. Seen through the eyes of TSgt Delmar Dotson, a B-17 flight engineer and top turret gunner, and Lt. Gray Allison, a B-24 pilot, this is the personal story of the airmen who were the 43rd Bomb Group, that hardy group who General Kenny threw into the breech to staunch the threatened invasion of Papau New Guinea and Australia in the desparate summer of 1942. It is a very personal story that suitably honors all members of the 43rd Bomb Group who answered their nations call.              ---Lt Gen Walter E. Buchanan III, USAF (ret) whose father lived this story as a 43BG B-17 bombardier, '42-'43.