The story of Edward Leach, an American patriot, a Green Beret, a CIA operative, and the man who ran America's largest drug rehab program. The tales of his ups and downs range from meeting heads of state to being destitute and homeless, then rising again as a brilliant arbitrageur with a doctorate, before finding himself back on the streets. After years more of sobriety, Ed found himself lost again, and shares his journey and conversation with God, during his life after death experience. Today -- sober, healthy, and whole -- Ed says, "Once CIA, always CIA" and helps those who cannot help themselves. This book is a heck of a ride, an inspiration to not only alcoholics and addicts everywhere, but to everyone who is searching for a connection to God, and searching for their purpose and mission in life. This is also a passionate tribute to a great and abiding love.
About the Author: Edward Leach, Ph.D.-Economics. Ed graduated Cum Laude from St. Thomas University, Houston, Texas, 1974, with dual majors in Business Administration and Economics. Ed graduated Cum Laude from LaSalle University, Mandeville, Louisiana, 1998, earning his Doctor of Philosophy and Economics degree. He was the National Executive Director of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) from 1978 to 1982; and an arbitrageur and derivative trader (currency trader) from 1995 to present. Ed was driven to write his memoirs initially to "set the record straight" on what happened to the PDAP movement. As he wrote, this story became more about Ed's extraordinary life than the tale of a drug rehab movement. This is the tale of an incredible man who went from the depths of alcoholism and drug addiction to helping thousands upon thousands of drug abusers and addicts find a new, healthy way to live, which has transformed generations and will continue to, for years to come. PDAP is only a part of Ed's story. We learn that Ed was in Mexico City during JFK's visit, and was privy to secret CIA information about Lee Harvey Oswald's activity with the Cuban and Russian embassies in the 60's prior to JFK's assassination. Ed is a Vietnam veteran who served as a Green Beret medic who worked for both the CIA and the CID during and after his service in the Army. Since the PDAP days, Edward has succeeded and failed and succeeded many times. He's been homeless and he's managed billions of dollars, at one point going from an insane asylum to managing millions within six weeks! Despite being active in the Celebrate Recovery movement, depression, loneliness, and isolation drove Ed to attempt suicide, arriving DOA at the hospital and waiting for the plug to be pulled, before his incredible out of body experience with God, and he shares his conversation with the Lord, with us, and most importantly talks about suicide prevention and intervention. Ed shares openly about the myriad of ups and downs in his life, with the hope that the reader will find inspiration therein. Since the early 80's, Ed was utterly transformed when he fell in love with a very good friend of his wife's, who was one of the most successful senior counselors of the PDAP program. Despite shutting the door on that relationship, he loved Anne always and he shares that love story with you.