The issues and concerns facing youth in the 1960s were never as simple as a choice between patriotism and protests, despite what some believe. Instead, the era was a time of enormous cultural upheaval as a young generation came face-to-face with critical social issues while forming their own beliefs and values.
Scot Barton and his good friend, John, like many of their peers, struggle to make sense of their rapidly changing world. Both young men find themselves conflicted over the value of a formal college education.
As their paths lead Scot and John further away from their families' traditional expectations, they find their way to the San Francisco Federal Building and a set of military recruiters. With war in Vietnam on the horizon, enlisting is one of the hottest topics of the day.
Their decisions lead them to careers in the Submarine Service, an exciting assignment that exposes two young, impressionable men to the regional culture of every area of the United States. As they serve their country, they wrestle with the era's issues and their own values, finding the courage to develop and stand up for their convictions.
About the Author: Phillip C. Holland's life centers on discovery. In the early 1960s Holland found adventure in the Submarine Service.
His search for a college degree that met his needs spread across nine colleges in four different states-a search that, coupled with his naval service, allowed him to experience America's culture in every region of the nation. After college, he jumped headlong into the entrepreneurial world, raising four daughters while he built, and ultimately sold, a business.
Only when time became available did Holland begin to write. Throughout life, he viewed every experience as a story, mentally composing his tales while daydreaming or just before wandering off to sleep. Given a chance to finally put pen to paper, those stories quickly returned. Test of Courage is the first of those tales.
