New Theory On Largest Known Mass Extinction In Earth's History
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090330102659.htm
The largest mass extinction in the history of the earth could have been triggered off by giant salt
lakes, whose emissions of halogenated gases changed the atmospheric composition so
dramatically that vegetation was irretrievably damaged. At the Permian/Triassic boundary, 250
million years ago, about 90 percent of the animal and plant species ashore became extinct.
Previously it was thought that volcanic eruptions, the impacts of asteroids, or methane hydrate
were instigating causes.
From page 92, NYPL Science Desk Reference: "Although there are millions of species of fish,
-------alive today, these species represent only a small percentage of the organisms that have ever
existed on earth. What happened to the others?----at the end of the Permian period, about 250
million years ago, it is estimated that about 96 percent of marine organisms became extinct---"
From UB paper 59 (see the last sentence---this is an example of the subtlety of the UB---I've
known about the mass extinctions from science for many years, and I've read and/or listened to the
UB 28 times, but tonight I finally put these two together as to why---amazing)
280,000,000 years ago the continents had largely emerged from the second Silurian inundation.
The rock deposits of this submergence are known in North America as Niagara limestone because
this is the stratum of rock over which Niagara Falls now flows. This layer of rock extends from the
eastern mountains to the Mississippi valley region but not farther west except to the south. Several
layers extend over Canada, portions of South America, Australia, and most of Europe, the average
thickness of this Niagara series being about six hundred feet. Immediately overlying the Niagara
deposit, in many regions may be found a collection of conglomerate, shale, and rock salt. This is
the accumulation of secondary subsidences. This salt settled in great lagoons which were
alternately opened up to the sea and then cut off so that evaporation occurred with deposition of
salt along with other matter held in solution. In some regions these rock salt beds are seventy feet
thick.
677§7 59:3.10 The climate is even and mild, and marine fossils are laid down in the arctic regions.
But by the end of this epoch the seas are so excessively salty that little life survives.
Latest article on Paul, June 29, 2009. http://tcpalm.com/news/2009/jun/26/despite-near-misses-
skydiver-takes-leap-on-71st/
January 2009. Hi guys,
The attached pics are of the PT-17 that I was getting ready to jump from during the Nov. 2008 Stuart, FL airshow
when my backpack accidently popped open and damn near killed us both. In these shots I'm flying (front seat)
while Jack Reisel (owner, and my jump pilot on 7 previous jumps) is dumping the ashes of a friend over the beach.
By the way, I've decided to quit jumping -----and SCUBA diving. I'm not afraid of dying---but I am afraid of getting
hurt. I recently read that Gen. David Petraeus broke his hip on a skydive in 2000. He was 48 and in super shape.
I'm 70 and not in super shape. Everytime I see someone in a wheel chair I realize that I'm just one bad jump
away from being there myself. I really lucked out on my malfunction/cutaway in Nov. My reserve is 30% smaller
than my main, and I had never landed under it before (I've got 5 previous reserve rides in my 52 years of jumping--
but on other reserves---and I was much younger, lighter, and in better shape).
Also, in Oct. we had our 2nd SCUBA fatality in three weeks here in Jupiter. I happened to be at the dock when the
Coast Guard RHIB came roaring in (siren blaring and lights flashing) while they were giving the diver CPR. He
looked dead to me--and he was. I've been thinking about quitting SCUBA for a couple of years. I've been running
out of air sooner than everybody else, and have been having a hard time climbing the boat ladder with gear on--
especially in rough seas.
So when I think about my last SCUBA dive---on my 70th birthday--and having parachuted into the Atlantic to do it
(and, according to retired navy SEAL Capt. Dick Couch, a SEAL's last training requirement before his graduation)---
and my last demo jump ---from a helo with my son aboard, and into a 50th anniv. open house at my employer of
31 years, and resulting in a malfunction and successful cutaway/reserve ride, I couldn't think of a better way to end
both activities. It is hard to give up those two at the same time. They are part of my identity, but I have to face the
reality that I'm getting older and just can't do everything I used to.
Paul
Fantasy Retirement
By Paul Herrick, 2/23/2008
Did you know that only about one man in one hundred who claims to be ex-navy SEAL really is? We just had an
incident in August of 2006 where a local church organist had an elaborate newspaper article written about him
including, among other things, his daring exploits as a SEAL in Vietnam. The SEAL part, at least, was all a big lie.
He was never even in the service.
In 1996, Warner L. Smith, a realtor in Atlanta, wrote a thrilling non-fiction book titled, “Covert Warrior: A Vietnam
Memoir” about his combat adventures for the CIA. It too was all a big lie. He was in the navy but was never in
Vietnam, never saw combat, and never, ever, worked for the CIA.
What is it about being a Green Beret type that is so desirable to men? Is it just because women are drawn to
them? I’m sure that’s part of it, as well as the worshipful attitudes of kids toward them. But it also has to do with
their relationships to other men. Most men are truly impressed by them, and the ones who aren’t are often
envious, and even resentful of them. These men are suddenly very aware that they themselves may not be the
“gutsiest guy in the room”. But it must also be the self-confidence that these real live James Bond types acquire
by completing their exciting, difficult, and often dangerous training programs.
I’ve known it for years but it was nice to hear someone else say it. “I think the training was the most exciting and
the most fun; the most memorable and the most worthwhile aspect of any CIA officer’s career.” So said former
CIA Case Officer Lindsay Moran on NBC’s Today show on 2 February 2008. Lindsay is the author of the 2005
book, “Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy”.
So what was this training? It’s the four month PM (paramilitary) course that all CIA covert operators go through at
“the farm”, i.e., Camp Perry, VA. The specifics vary somewhat over the years but when she went through it in 1999
it consisted of running day and night compass courses through the woods, defensive driving, explosives, small
boat handling, cargo drops from aircraft, weapons, hand-to-hand combat, medical training, parachuting, and a
final exercise incorporating all she learned with a POW experience at the end.
Her “real job”, after this exciting training program, though somewhat dangerous, was, to her, unfulfilling and down
right boring.
I’ve noted the same thing relative to those in the other special warfare related activities such as Navy SEALs, Air
Force Pararescue, Army Special Forces, etc. Their training in parachuting, SCUBA diving, shooting, mountain
climbing, etc., plus arctic, desert, and jungle survival training in exotic locations around the world, are all much
more attractive than their actual field work turns out to be. “SEALs constantly talk about jumping, diving, and
shooting” says former SEAL Dick Couch in his 2001 book, “The Warrior Elite.” But the chances of a typical SEAL
making even one actual underwater ship attack, or a Green Beret making a real combat jump, or a
Pararescueman making an actual rescue jump are almost nil over the course of a full twenty year career.
As a Russian smokejumper once said: “Two minutes--fly like eagle, three days---dig like mole.” It was the
jumping that attracted him, not the long hours of dirty, sweaty dog work fighting forest fires. But at least jumping is
part of his normal work regimen, unlike most other occupations that include jumping as part of their training.
As Lindsay Moran says in her book, “Virtually none of the PM training was relevant to the reality of our future
careers. In actuality, we would have little reason to be traipsing through the woods with nothing other than a
compass or doing donuts and wheelies in our diplomat-plated vehicles. Jumping out of airplanes represented
perhaps the most gratuitous exercise. It wasn’t as if we were going to arrive for our first overseas post via airdrop,
like some kind of Flying Elvis Brigade.”
I think most men fantasize about the life of a “James Bond” type. He goes everywhere, does everything, and
interacts with all kinds of people (including some really sexy women)----and lives to revel in the glory. Real SEALs
often endure the toughest, most excruciating training in the world, only to die in an IED explosion or a helicopter
crash, many times before they’ve even had a chance to “get a gun in the fight”.
Ernest Becker, in his 1973 book, “The Denial of Death”, says, “The truth about the need for heroism is not easy for
anyone to admit….to become conscious of what one is doing to earn this feeling of heroism is the main self-
analytic problem of life.”
As my early childhood was during WWII, my “heroes” have always been related to the national feelings of that era.
They are: the “para-commando” (a commando who parachutes to the scene of the action), the fighter pilot, and
Superman (somebody who’s trying to save the world, all by himself).
I got my first clue about the Superman thing when I was in fifth grade. We were having a snowball fight during
lunch hour and the side I was on was losing. Kids to the right and left of me started drifting over to join the other
side. The more that defected, the harder I fought (and the more I seemed to love it). It ended up as everybody else
versus me. I got the crap beat out of me but I felt good about it. Another time, in eighth grade, I took the rap for
something I didn’t do, to keep the whole class from being put on detention. I guess I’m just a glutton for
punishment. Anyway, I’ve spent my whole life trying to “earn this feeling of heroism” in all three of my personal
“hero” categories.
My parachuting started in 1957, even before I joined the army. While on spring break from my freshman year of
college, I went through a jump school in Canada for a new sport called “skydiving”. In the army, in my late
teens/early twenties, I satisfied much of the para-commando fantasy by being in on the beginnings of night,
combat-equipped, military free-fall parachuting (now known as HALO---High Altitude Low Opening) as a member
of the army’s Raiding Aggressor Volunteers Employing Night Skydiving (RAVENS). Then, while in my early forties,
I jumped and conducted training operations while embedded with two different army Special Forces units and an
air force Pararescue outfit, all as a civilian free-lance journalist.
After learning to fly in an army flying club, and graduating from college as an aeronautical engineer, I
accomplished much of the fighter pilot fantasy by doing air combat research in sophisticated fighter flight
simulators and attacking, and video taping the reactions of, soaring birds with a BB machinegun mounted in a
sailplane, as well as actual jet fighter flight testing as a back-seat-riding flight test engineer.
In 1962, while taking a philosophy course in college, I was introduced to what I now consider to be the ultimate
world saving project, The Urantia Book. It seems like it’s been me against the world ever since.
At this point in my life, I satisfy my para-commando desires by doing “demo” jumping (parachuting into air shows
with the American flag) and adventure travel, my fighter pilot desires by doing aerial photography (photo recon
while dodging SAMs--not Surface-to-Air Missiles, but Steel Antenna Masts--TV towers), and my Superman desires
by telling the world, and everybody in it, about The Urantia Book (but that‘s another story).
As a retired engineer, I decided that I wanted to “go there, do that, and get to know them.” And yes, I even wanted
to “get the tee shirt.” Along the way I decided to fulfill some fantasies by trying to experience as much of the actual
special warfare training type of exotic world travel and extreme adventure activities as I could. And, every once in a
while, I got to elevate it from pure fantasy into useful reality.
So, starting in 1993 at age 55, off I went. Since then my wife and I have gone around the world twice and visited
over ninety countries. It is now 2008 and we’re still at it.
Typical special warfare training programs start off with much physical training and running obstacle, or confidence,
courses. These courses are designed to foster strength, agility, courage, and, of course, confidence. They can be
somewhat simulated by tourist attractions like The Fly Zone tree top adventure park in St. Martin (going from
treetop-to-treetop by every imaginable kind of rope apparatus), and the tree climbing and zip lining attractions of
Costa Rica and Jamaica. I found that for many of these type activities I didn’t even have to leave Florida, and for
some, even Palm Beach County. The Skycoaster, Skyscaper, Ejection Seat, Drop of Fear, and Adrenaline Drop, all
done over the years at the South Florida Fair, were great confidence building activities. The Adrenaline Drop was
the best. They took you up 100 feet and dropped you into a net,--- no chair, no attachment, no safety line, nothing.
It was GREAT! The 300 foot Skycoaster and 365 foot Slingshot at Old Town near Orlando are the world’s highest.
The Bridge Climb in Australia (to the top of the Sydney Harbor bridge), and the Vertigo Climb in Auckland, New
Zealand (to the 1100 foot level of the Sky Tower--the highest structure in the southern hemisphere) also fit into that
category. And while you’re at the Sky Tower, you can jump off the 630 foot level. You’re on a cable paying out from
a rotating drum (like Hollywood stuntmen use on “high falls” too high for an airbag). It’s not as violent as a bungee
jump, but about one out of three who pay to do it chicken out. They don’t get their money back but they get a tee
shirt with a big chicken on it. Their motto is “Easy on the body, hard on the mind”.
Speaking of bungee jumping, this is about as frightening an activity as one can do. I wouldn’t be surprised if
some real “special ops” types might find that too scary even for them. In Queenstown, New Zealand bungee
jumps are free if you’re over sixty. I got two freebies when I was there in 1999. The 111 meter bungee jump off the
Zambezi River bridge at Victoria Falls, Africa gives you a pretty violent jolt when you reach the end of the rubber
band. That was the only one of the eight bungee jumps that I’ve done (on six continents) that I wouldn’t
recommend to the average tourist.
Rappelling is often also part of these confidence courses. My introduction to it was at the USMC Reserve training
center in West Palm Beach in 1996, by going down the outside of their 70 foot parachute drying tower (twice).
Other great rappels were down into the 180 foot deep Moaning Cavern in California, down the 112 meter vertical
face of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, and down inside 100 foot waterfalls in Costa Rica.
Weapons training is also a big part of spec ops training. Firing an M-16 on full auto (machinegun style) is not easy
to do legally in the U.S. but at Subic Bay in the Philippines its no problem. I also fired 45 caliber and 9mm pistols
while I was there. And of course learning to use a blowgun in the Amazon, a boomerang in Australia, and a spear
in Hawaii were all part of trips to these exotic locales.
SCUBA diving is also included in most special operations training programs. After dabbling with SCUBA diving in
the late fifties and early sixties, and even making a free fall para-SCUBA test jump in 1960 (two years before the
SEALs were formed), I finally got “certified” in 1998. Many reef, wreck, shark, and night diving opportunities were
taken advantage of pretty much all over the world. A “highlight” for me was surfacing on a inky black night in
Thailand in 2005, after a drift night dive, signaling to the boat several hundred feet away with my flashlight, and
hearing “uru--uru--uru--------uru--uru--uru--------uru--uru--uru” as the boat captain tried to start his engine.
Fortunately, he got it running. Otherwise, it would have been a long swim to shore.
When I rose up into an air bubble trapped in a ship wreck 50 feet underwater while diving in Barbados in 2002 it
was very much like doing a submarine “lock-in”, a common procedure navy SEALs use to enter a submerged
sub. And, of course, when I put my SCUBA regulator back in my mouth and left the air bubble, it was like doing a
“lock-out”.
I’ve already discussed my parachuting but some other aspects should be mentioned. The skydiving “vertical wind
tunnel” tourist attractions in Las Vegas, Orlando, and several other locations, are just like the one that trainees
learn in at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina as part of the military free fall course. Many Green Berets and navy SEALs go
through this course. My wife and I enjoy these very much. Anyone can walk in off the street and, in just a few
minutes, be flying like superman.
My two, two-mile midnight free falls on both New Year’s Eve 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 here in Florida, were both
very “spec war” oriented. I was in the army when, at midnight on New Year’s Eve 1959-1960, two other soldiers
and I did that for the first time ever. It was an army publicity stunt to bring attention to a new capability, i.e., night,
combat equipped military free fall.
The only jumping I’ve done while on foreign travel was in Russia. My wife and I were going from Moscow to Beijing
on the Trans-Siberian railroad when I got a chance to make two jumps in Siberia. One was from a large, mid-
forties vintage biplane with Russian smokejumpers, and the other was from a Russian Army assault helicopter
with Russian paratroopers.
When I did a HALO jump from 31,000 feet at the World Freefall Convention in 2006, SEALs from the Leap Frogs (U.
S. Navy Parachute Team) that were attending the convention, were envious of me. The highest they had ever
jumped from was 25,000 feet while in training. I also jumped from a DC-9 jet airliner while I was there. Navy
SEALs and army Delta forces sometimes practice jumping from airliners as a way to insert into enemy territory
from innocent looking, routine over-flying, scheduled airline flights.
In 1998 the army allowed me to return to Ft. Campbell, KY and make three jumps from a Blackhawk helicopter in
celebration of the fortieth anniversary of army skydiving which I helped start in 1958. Blackhawk’s are among the
standard jump aircraft used by special operators.
All types of transportation methods are taught during spec ops training. For land, they not only include cars and
four-wheel-drive vehicles but even animals. For me, the limitations of wheeled vehicles were highlighted in Africa.
Getting hung up on rocks, and stuck in the mud, with all four wheels spinning, and breaking an axle, miles from
nowhere, with a bull elephant taking an interest in you, definitely gets the blood pumping.
Quad ATV’s are very popular these days, and are often parachuted in with special operators. I got my quad ATV
driving experiences in Jamaica and, during a French Foreign Legion war game, in the mountains of Tahiti. They
had jumped in the night before, for a training exercise. Fortunately, they were firing at each other with blanks as I,
unknowingly, rode my quad right through the middle of them.
Green Berets, SEALs, and CIA operators are using horses, and probably camels, everyday in Afghanistan and
Iraq. I rode horses in Argentina and Mongolia, donkeys in Morocco, camels in the Sahara, Egypt and Dubai, and
elephants in India, Thailand, and Nepal. Tiger and rhino safaris on the back of an elephant in the early morning
mist in Nepal have got to be among the best adventures going. Especially when a rhino charges and the elephant
rears up on its hind legs to fend it off, nearly dumping its passengers off in the 12 foot high elephant grass.
Water transport includes many different vessels. The Amazon was great for training in dugout canoes, Hawaii for
outrigger canoes, and Norway for sea kayaks. Navy SEALs train heavily in the IBS (inflatable boat, small,--- aka, itty
bitty ship) which is exactly the same as the rafts that I rode the white water of the Zambezi river in Africa, as well as
in California, Costa Rica, and upstate New York. RHIB’s (rigid hull inflatable boats ) and Zodiacs are also air
dropped into the ocean from the back of C-130’s with water jumping SEALs. I got to play with those in Antigua and
go ashore in them in Antarctica. My large ship experiences have been literally “around the world”, on cruise ships
and ocean liners, and I got two tourist submarine rides, to 130 feet deep, in Hawaii. River boat cruises I took were
on the Amazon, Nile, Yangtze, and Danube.
In addition to my aerial photography flying and jumping, my aircraft experiences include: ballooning in the
Australian Outback, helicopter rides in Alaska and Hawaii, paragliding and hang gliding in New Zealand and
Costa Rica, piloting sailplanes in the U.S., and parasailing in Hawaii. Spec ops operators use airplanes and
helicopters everyday and are just starting to use powered paragliders.
Some of the adventures are truly world-class. The rappel down Table Mountain at Cape Town is the world’s
highest commercial rappel. The bungee jump at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is the world’s highest “natural”
bungee jump. Stuart Cove’s Extreme Shark Dive in Nassau, Bahamas is world renowned. The white water raft
trip down the Zambezi is known as the world’s wildest. The startling, crashing commotion of a jaguar attacking a
tapir while you are night hiking through the Amazon also ranks right up there, as does the fly-by-wire “world‘s
fastest ride” suspended between two mountains just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. I got it up to 106
mph. In November 2005 I bailed out of the bomb bay of a WWII B-17 bomber, much like the OSS (the predecessor
to the CIA) agents often did in that war, and in May of 2007 I jumped from an RAF jet fighter. Very few, if any, other
modern skydivers have those two experiences in their jump logs.
Some adventures have more military significance than others. A sequence of activities in 2007 were specifically
SEAL oriented. In March, I SCUBA dived in Grenada, where four navy SEALs drowned on a night, water jump into
the Atlantic at the start of the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983. It was dark, the wind and waves were high, and
they were heavily loaded down with combat equipment. I was secretly looking for signs of them (equipment, etc,)
all during the dive (it‘s possible---while diving in Aruba in 2001, I found an unexploded 2000 pound bomb).
Then in July, I did a water jump into the Atlantic ocean off Jupiter, FL, which was an exact duplicate of a navy SEAL’
s last training requirement before receiving his “Trident” (SEAL badge). I used the exact same type of equipment
the SEALs use---same “round” military static line parachute, same helmet and fatigues---- I even had swim fins
taped to my legs as they do.
In September I parachuted onto the beach at Carlin Park in Jupiter with the American flag for an 82nd Airborne
picnic, just as the Leap Frog SEALs do every year at the navy SEAL museum open house and show in Ft. Pierce.
Then, later in September, I went to Alaska and did the same things that the SEALs do in Alaska immediately after
getting their Tridents. This consisted of cold water diving, boat and helicopter operations, and rock and ice
climbing and rappelling.
The closest I could get to SEAL SDV (Swimmer Delivery Vehicle--a kind of mini-submarine) training occurred when
I was in St. Thomas in December 2007 when I went down in a BOSS (Breathing Observation Submersible
Scooter). This is essentially a one-man submarine. SDV’s are used to transport several SEALs and their
equipment over fairly long distances, all the while submerged. They often start out by “locking out” of a full-sized
submarine.
Every so often it becomes possible to perform these kinds of activities as a useful service, not just to fulfill secret
fantasies. One such opportunity occurred in August of 2003. A large vacant lot on a peninsula near my house, an
18 million dollar piece of prime water front property, was starting to be developed. I had wanted to jump there for
many years but hadn’t actively pursued it. When I saw the construction activity start I decided it was now or never.
Due to our litigious society, I knew I’d never get the land owner’s permission to jump there. Everybody is afraid of
liability law suits. What I did was go to the owner of the property next door and ask permission to land on his
property. Then I calmed his liability concerns by assuring him that I would not land on his property. I intended to
be “blown off course” and land in the big open lot next door. That way I would be legally covered (by having
permission from someone in the general area to land on their property) and neither land owner would be legally
liable if I had a problem. The one that granted permission wouldn’t be involved because my problem wouldn’t
occur on his property, and the owner of the property that I landed on wouldn’t be involved because he had not given
me permission to land there. It would just be an “unexpected gust of wind,” which couldn’t be sued by me or my
family.
Then I had to deal with the law. If the police saw me they could give me a hard time for parachuting into town.
Again, I knew I wouldn’t be granted permission from the town for a jump there. My solution was to make the jump
an anti-terrorist training exercise for the local cops. I went to the police station and proposed this idea to their
head of training. He liked it.
I told him that sometime between early Wednesday morning 8/20/03 and Friday afternoon 8/22/03 I would
parachute into town within a mile of the police station. I didn’t tell him exactly when or where so he couldn’t cheat
and have a cop waiting on the ground to arrest me. He said he would announce it in their morning meetings for
his patrolmen to be on the lookout for a parachutist descending from the sky over the middle of town.
Then I called the local newspaper, told them of the upcoming police training exercise, and I did tell them exactly
when and where. The newspaper called the police department and confirmed that, yes, there would be such a
terrorist training exercise sometime during that three day time period.
Even though I had low clouds, rain threatening, and high winds, I jumped over the Loxahatchee River at about 9:45
AM on Wednesday. I landed next to my wife and the newspaper reporter/photographer on my target vacant lot, and
the cops were nowhere to be found. The next day’s paper had a large color photo of me and my parachute floating
to the ground, and a nice article which included the following, “Nobody caught him. We had a challenge going on
the day shift,” said Sgt. Scott Pascarella, “we just couldn’t do it.” There were also no calls to the police station from
the locals concerning the jump.
This was deja vue for me. I had done much the same type of service while in the army in the late 50‘s, by being a
free fall aggressor force night raider harassing troops out in the field on training missions. Only this time it was
daylight out and I wasn’t going to harass the residents of my hometown with tear gas grenades, dummy
explosives, and propaganda leaflets.
While on an around-the-world cruise on the QE2 in 2005, I had what could have been another unique service
opportunity. When we were in the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen (of “USS Cole” fame) and Somalia (of “Blackhawk
Down” fame), we were radioed by a freighter that they had a medical emergency onboard and they requested the
QE2’s help. As the passengers watched from the deck, the QE2 slowed to a stop and the freighter, old and
dilapidated and with no flag flying, circled around and pulled up along side, about a hundred feet away, and
stopped.
It was just before sunset in this dangerous part of the world and my imagination was running wild. What a perfect
setup for a terrorist attack, I mused. Myself and another imaginative passenger were taking turns evolving a script
for a future movie of “The Attack on the QE2”, even designating the starring roles, as the drama unfolded. The QE2
lowered a launch and transported the ship’s doctor (a woman), and the ship’s security officer to the nearby
freighter. Upon arrival they examined the dead body of a crewman who had become “overpowered by fumes while
painting in an enclosed area.” A few minutes later the launch returned with the doctor and security chief, and was
winched aboard the QE2.
The “excitement” being over everybody left the deck for dinner but I remained, watching the freighter in the
darkness as the QE2 got under way. The freighter, with absolutely no lights illuminated, just sat motionless for
about 15 minutes as QE2 left. Then it turned on its lights and got under way itself. I felt like that was just about
enough time for them to retrieve the terrorist divers that had been placing magnetic “limpet” mines on the bottom
of the QE2 while we sat dead in the water. I considered that the ideal scenario would be to time the mines to go
off as QE2 was transiting the Suez Canal thereby plugging up this critical waterway and maximizing the publicity for
the terrorists. I knew that this was pretty far fetched but the more I thought about it the more real of a possibility it
became to me.
I thrilled at the possibility of fulfilling some heroic fantasy mission, especially considering that I was definitely the
most current night SCUBA diver on the QE2. I had just made a night dive at our stop in Thailand a few days
earlier. After much trepidation, at 8PM I placed a call to the security officer to discuss my concerns and to volunteer
to do a night dive to examine the QE2’s hull. The purser’s desk attendant told me that the security officer was at a
ship’s cocktail party and was not available. I explained my concerns, and even volunteered for the night inspection
dive but still was not put through to the security officer until 3PM the next day. I finally was allowed to talk with him
then.
I had noticed another suspicious act while we were in Sri Lanka. As I watched the harbor from the deck of the QE2
at night I noticed an unlit small boat with three locals slowly motor through a light reflection on the water. They
came right up to the QE2 and slowly passed the complete length of the ship from bow to stern within inches of the
hull. I reported this to a ship’s officer at the time but never heard anything back.
When I related these two incidents in a meeting with the security officer I was assured that there was nothing to be
concerned about. The security officer did hint that special security measures were being taken and there “might
even be U.S. or British Special Forces types on board.” I left the meeting not knowing whether the security chief
was serious, or “just humoring an old, ex-military guy with a vivid imagination.”
I did get some satisfaction from the fact that, just before our entry into the Suez Canal, while docked in Aqaba,
Jordan--- a friendly port visited often by the U.S. Navy--- three men in wet suits were sighted during the day near the
hull of the QE2. While on another QE2 cruise in 2007 (this time to Iceland, Norway, and Spitsbergen), I found out
that we did indeed have our hull “swept for mines” while we were in Jordan in 2005. The ship hired three
Jordanian navy divers to do just that. Why they would use Jordanians when a U.S. Navy ship was docked right in
front of us I didn’t find out. I guess there were no divers or SEALs on that ship. Jordan is supposedly our friend
but on August 19, 2005, a little over four months after we left, some Jordanian terrorists on shore launched three
rockets at two U.S. Navy ships in that same harbor.
The last “special operations” service that I’ll mention is my demo jumping. Like the navy’s Leap Frogs, the army’s
Special Operations Command has a demo parachute team called the “Black Daggers”. Both of these teams are
three year assignments for selected navy SEALs and army Green Berets to perform at from thirty-five to fifty air
shows and other public service events annually. They are doing exactly what I, and a few others, pioneered during
my army days back in the late fifties.
Unlike sport and military training jumps, these guys jump with smoke grenades and American and POW flags, at
strange places, often with unfamiliar aircraft and flight crew, at specific times, down to the second. They have the
pressure of “the show must go on” regardless of wind, rain, and cloud heights and they must often land in small
areas, surrounded by obstacles, with deadly accuracy. Four Black Daggers were recently injured due to high
winds, at a NASCAR race in North Carolina.
Since 1998, I have been doing exactly what these young elite warriors do as their full time job, and often I am
jumping at the same air show that they are. To me this is the ultimate in fantasy fulfillment, especially since I, at
age 69, am forty to fifty years older than they are.
Jupiter resident Paul Herrick is a retired Pratt & Whitney aeronautical engineer, a commercial pilot, and holds the
world record for the most types of aircraft parachuted from---116 types, so far.
To: Bill Gates,
(sent December 2006)
Bill and Melinda,
If you would like to do the most good for the world, sponsor radio stations world-wide that broadcast the audio
version of the Urantia Book, all 150 hours of it, over and over and over again. There is no possible better
expenditure of money. I have read the book 7 times (2100 pages) and listened to it 13 times since becoming
aware of it in 1962. It is the answer to all the worlds problems.
Paul Herrick
To the Post Regarding a NASA Mystery
. . .posed by a scientist after NASA retrieved and brought back to earth some comet material - the mystery that
arose. "How did comets get to be made up of compounds which only form at high temperatures?"
To Don Brownlee:
Forwarded Message from Paul: Don Brownlee, If you'd like to understand your latest comet data you'll find the
answers in the Urantia book. In fact you'll find answers to many of your questions about the solar system there.
This can put you in the leading edge of your field in short order if you'll take a few minutes to check it out.
Paul Herrick
More UB Substantiation
Hi guys,
I'm always finding "new" scientific discoveries that were dicussed in The Urantia Book in 1955. This is the latest.
Its from "Sculpting the earth from the inside out", by Caltech geologist Mike Gurnis, appearing in "Oceans: A
Scientific American Reader" 2007. Scientists have only recently dicovered that continents bob up and down as
well as drift horizontally. The UB discusses this in several papers (chapters) and I sent this to Mike. I recently told
NASA to read the UB's origin of the solar system to help them
understand a mystery they were trying to solve relative to the make up of comet material returned to earth by a
rocket probe. These kinds of "predictions" should grab the attention of cutting edge scientists and make them
take the UB seriously.
Paul
Mike,
Open this up and click on "part III: The History of Urantia", then click on "paper 59: The Marine Life Era on Urantia".
This paper is full of bobbing continents. This book was copy written in 1955. This is going to blow you away.
Paul Herrick
Some Personal Philosophy
Mark,
Ernest Becker, in his 1973 book, "The Denial of Death", says, "The truth about the need for heroism is not easy for
anyone to admit....to become conscious of what one is doing to earn this feeling of heroism is the main self-
analytic problem of life."
I've had three classes of "Heroes" in my life: fighter pilots, para-commandos (yes--there were Commandos in
WWII who weren't parachutists--but not now), and Superman (ie, trying to save the world). I've spent my whole life
trying to "earn this feeling of heroism" in all three categories. At this point in my life I get the first one from my aerial
photography flying (photo recce dodging SAMs (no not Surface-to-Air missiles, but Steel Antenna Masts--TV
towers), the second from my demo jumping and adventure travel, and the third from telling the world about The
Urantia Book.
Any comments?
Paul
The Urantia Book
Greg (and Scott Eyman),
I've tried to reach both of you by phone but couldn't get a human at any of the Post's dept.s. I've been reading The
Urantia Book since 1962. This book makes every other book in the world seem trivial. It is about 2100 pages long
and it took me over three years to read it the first time (I've read it seven times and listened to it sixteen times). I'd
like to hear from either or both of you as to whether you've read it, or ever even of
heard of it. Reading this book is more significant than if you were somehow visited and instructed by either a UFO
occupant or an angel. It is the book that will truly "change the world". People in your line of work should at least
know it exists. My mission in life is to let people know it exists, and I travel all over the world doing just that. What
they do about it after that is up to them.
Paul Herrick,
Jupiter, FL
UB Answers to Tonight's CBS News
Hi guys,
Tonight's CBS News had highlighted two problems that The Urantia Book has the answer to: 1) Government
employees splurging millions on booze, gambling, girl friends, etc. with our (tax payers) dollars (a clear betrayal of
governmental trust). 2) U.S. farmers moving to Mexico to get enough field laborers to harvest their crops (an
obvious opportunity to put our 2.3 million prisoners to work and rid ourselves of the need to pay the $55 billion we
spend yearly for their upkeep). "Ordinary criminals and the defectives are placed, by sexes, in different agricultural
colonies and are more than self-supporting. The more serious habitual criminals and the incurably insane are
sentenced to death in the lethal gas chambers by the courts. Numerous crimes aside from murder, including
betrayal of governmental trust, also carry the death penalty,
and the visitation of justice is sure and swift."
How long will we continue to ignore the guidance given to us by The Urantia Book?
Paul
Don't Give Up
To Richard Dawkins (author of "The God Delusion" and featured in Ben Stein's movie) over a year ago, on 2/13/07:
Richard,
I am an aerospace engineer who would love to explore the universe. I rejected religion in my teens for many of the
reasons that you and Carl Sagan have. But I was fortunate enough to be introduced to The Urantia Book in
college. That was in 1962. I have since read it 7 times (it's 2100 pages long) and listened to it 14 times (150
hours per time). It has shown me that in rejecting religion I "threw out the baby with the bath water." I now know
that I'll get to explore the universe because the UB, like the extraterrestrial radio signals in Sagan's "Contact", has
taught me how to build a conveyance to do that. That conveyance is Faith. Before you decide to limit your
existence to your life on this planet (there is no hell, if we die faithless we just cease to exist), take a hard look at
the UB. It turned me around.
Paul Herrick
PS: I hope Carl had at least a "faint flicker of faith" when he died. It would really be a shame for him, of all people,
to miss out on the universe exploring adventure that could have been his.
Paul
Why I like Demo Jumps on the Beach
Hi Guys,
Last Saturday I did a demo jump onto "kite Beach" in Jupiter, FL for an "Earth Day" beach clean up event. In
addition to riding around in a beautiful open cockpit tearman biplane on a beautiful sunny day, bailing out and
floating down over the beautiful turquoise Atlantic Ocean, and landing in the soft white sand of a pristine beach, I
was immediately surrounded by a bevy of bathing beauty's who wanted their picture taken with me.
Anybody wonder why I love beach demo jumping?
Paul
Thrilling UB Excerpt
(Easter Morning)
As these women sat there in the early hours of the dawn of this new day, they looked to one side and observed a
silent and motionless stranger. For a moment they were again frightened, but Mary Magdalene, rushing toward
him and addressing him as if she thought he might be the caretaker of the garden, said, "Where have you taken
the Master? Where have they laid him? Tell us that we may go and get him." When the stranger did not answer
Mary, she began to weep. Then spoke Jesus to them, saying, "Whom do you seek?" Mary said: "We seek for
Jesus who was laid to rest in Joseph's tomb, but he is gone. Do you know where they have taken him?" Then said
Jesus: "Did not this Jesus tell you, even in Galilee, that he would die, but that he would rise again?" These words
startled the women, but the Master was so changed that they did not yet recognize him with his back turned to the
dim light. And as they pondered his words, he addressed the Magdalene with a familiar voice, saying, "Mary." And
when she heard that word of well-known sympathy and affectionate greeting, she knew it was the voice of the
Master, and she rushed to kneel at his feet while she exclaimed, "My Lord, and my Master!" And all of the other
women recognized that it was the Master who stood before them in glorified form, and they quickly knelt before him.
P. 2027 - §1 / 189:4.11 These human eyes were enabled to see the morontia form of Jesus because of the
special ministry of the transformers and the midwayers in association with certain of the morontia personalities
then accompanying Jesus.
P. 2027 - §2 / 189:4.12 As Mary sought to embrace his feet, Jesus said: "Touch me not, Mary, for I am not as you
knew me in the flesh. In this form will I
tarry with you for a season before I ascend to the Father. But go, all of
you, now and tell my apostles—and Peter—that I have risen, and that you
have talked with me."
The UB's Most Audacious Statement
Hi Guys,
The statement below appears at the end of Paper 1 of The Urantia Book. Note the last sentence in particular. It is
either the world's most blasphemous lie or its most important truth. If it's a lie, its author will surely suffer the
worst God (if there is a God) has to offer. If it's true this book is by far the most important document on this planet.
Paul
P.32 - §1 [Presented by a Divine Counselor, a member of a group of celestial personalities assigned by the
Ancients of Days on Uversa, the headquarters of the seventh superuniverse, to supervise those portions of this
forthcoming revelation which have to do with affairs beyond the borders of the local universe of Nebadon. I am
commissioned to sponsor those papers portraying the nature and attributes of God because I represent the
highest source of information available for such a purpose on any inhabited world. I have served as a Divine
Counselor in all seven of the superuniverses and have long resided at the Paradise center of all things. Many
times have I enjoyed the supreme pleasure of a sojourn in the immediate personal presence of the Universal
Father. I portray the reality and truth of the Father's nature and ttributes with unchallengeable authority; I know
whereof I speak.]
Example of "Gentle Guidance" in UB
Hi guys
The Urantia Book has much guidance for us but is does it in a matter of fact and non-offensive way. I read the last
sentence of the statement below as a partial commentary on what's going on lately in Tibet and Burma. It is from
Paper 90, Shamanism-Medicine Men and Priests.
Paul
P.988 - §7 The shamanic priests and medicine men often became very wealthy through the accretion of their
various fees which were ostensibly offerings to the spirits. Not infrequently a shaman would accumulate practically
all the material wealth of his tribe. Upon the death of a wealthy man it was customary to divide his property equally
with the shaman and some public enterprise or charity. This practice still obtains in some parts of Tibet, where
one half the male population belongs to this class of nonproducers.
A Good Story From the UB
Hi guys,
Below is one of my favorite parts of the UB.
Paul
P.1098 - §2 In the mind's eye conjure up a picture of one of your primitive ancestors of cave-dwelling times—a
short, misshapen, filthy, snarling hulk of a man standing, legs spread, club upraised, breathing hate and
animosity as he looks fiercely just ahead. Such a picture hardly depicts the divine dignity of man. But allow us to
enlarge the picture. In front of this animated human crouches a saber-toothed tiger. Behind him, a woman and two
children. Immediately you recognize that such a picture stands for the beginnings of much that is fine and noble in
the human race, but the man is the same in both pictures. Only, in the second sketch you are favored with a
widened horizon. You therein discern the motivation of this evolving mortal. His attitude becomes praiseworthy
because you understand him. If you could only fathom the motives of your associates, how much better you would
understand them. If you could only know your fellows, you would eventually fall in love with them.
Suspicions Confirmed by the UB
Hi guys,
Just in case you needed confirmation. The Urantia Book has it.
Paul
P.938 - §7 Male and female are, practically regarded, two distinct varieties of the same species living in close and
intimate association. Their viewpoints and entire life reactions are essentially different; they are wholly incapable
of full and real comprehension of each other. Complete understanding between the sexes is not attainable.
A Message For Us From the UB
Hi guys,
Ever wonder what a extraterrestrial space traveler might say to you if you
should meet one? Maybe this.
Paul
PS An Adjuster is a Thought Adjuster--a fragment of God which resides in our minds.
P.1223 - §4 / 111:7.2 May I admonish you to heed the distant echo of the Adjuster's faithful call to your soul? The
indwelling Adjuster cannot stop or even materially alter your career struggle of time; the Adjuster cannot lessen the
hardships of life as you journey on through this world of toil. The divine indweller can only patiently forbear while
you fight the battle of life as it is lived on your planet; but you could, if you only would—as you work and worry, as
you fight and toil—permit the valiant Adjuster to fight with you and for you. You could be so comforted and inspired,
so enthralled and intrigued, if you would only allow the Adjuster constantly to bring forth the pictures of the real
motive, the final aim, and the eternal purpose of all this difficult, uphill struggle with the commonplace problems of
your present material world.
P.1223 - §5 / 111:7.3 Why do you not aid the Adjuster in the task of showing you the spiritual counterpart of all
these strenuous material efforts? Why do you not allow the Adjuster to strengthen you with the spiritual truths of
cosmic power while you wrestle with the temporal difficulties of creature existence? Why do you not encourage the
heavenly helper to cheer you with the clear vision of the eternal outlook of universal life as you gaze in perplexity at
the problems of the passing hour? Why do you refuse to be enlightened and inspired by the universe viewpoint
while you toil amidst the handicaps of time and flounder in the maze of uncertainties which beset your mortal life
journey? Why not allow the Adjuster to spiritualize your thinking, even though your feet must tread the material
paths of earthly
endeavor?
Skydiving Pales in Comparison
Hi guys,
Below is a quote from Paper 130 of The Urantia Book. It captures the essence of why my mission in life is to
make people aware of this book. You all know of my fascination with adventure. Why not have the "most
enthralling" adventure?
Paul
P.1430 - §2 . . .There is no adventure in the course of mortal existence more enthralling than to enjoy the
exhilaration of becoming the material life partner with spiritual energy and divine truth in one of their triumphant
struggles with error and evil. It is a marvelous and transforming experience to become the living channel of
spiritual light to the mortal who sits in spiritual darkness.
Evolution
Dick I sent this to Ben Wattenburg of "Think Tank" on ch 42:
Ben,
I am going to give you the absolute source of truth on this evolution vs. creation issue. It is The Urantia Book. I don't
expect you will do anything about this but I had to tell you. If you ignore this information you will cheat yourself out of
the most magnificent truth source this planet, Urantia, has seen in 2000 years. And I fully expect you to ignore it.
Paul Herrick
For Urantia Book Readers
John,
I think I agree with you. People are obviously interested in religious matters, as evidenced by the popularity of
books like "The DaVinci Code", "The Celestine Prophecy", etc. I am somewhat concerned about having people get
the content of part 4 without the benefit of parts 1, 2, and 3. I am so glad that I have been able to get all four parts.
There is NO question in my mind that ALL the worlds problems (and I do mean ALL) would be greatly diminished
if everyone in the world were exposed to all four parts (and even the Foreword). I am on my 15th time thru the audio
book and it just gets better and better. I had an idea the other day. I think every government leader (at every level)
should have a Urantia Book Advisor. I would love to work in this capacity. Maybe I should start a UB based "Dear
Abby".
Paul
Understanding the Atheism Trend
Hi guys,
I have noted an increase in atheism among the intelligentsia. Here's why (from UB Paper 155).
Paul
Jesus warned his believers that, if their religious longings were only material, increasing knowledge of nature
would, by progressive displacement of the supposed supernatural origin of things, ultimately deprive them of their
faith in God. But that, if their religion were spiritual, never could the progress of physical science disturb their faith
in eternal realities and divine values.
P.1727 - §7 / 155:3.7 They learned that, when religion is wholly spiritual in motive, it makes all life more worth
while, filling it with high purposes, dignifying it with transcendent values, inspiring it with superb motives, all the
while comforting the human soul with a sublime and sustaining hope.
True religion is designed to lessen the strain of existence; it releases faith and courage for daily living and
unselfish serving. Faith promotes spiritual vitality and righteous fruitfulness.
P.1727 - §8 / 155:3.8 Jesus repeatedly taught his apostles that no civilization could long survive the loss of the
best in its religion. And he never grew weary of pointing out to the twelve the great danger of accepting religious
symbols and ceremonies in the place of religious experience. His whole earth life was consistently devoted to the
mission of thawing out the frozen forms of religion into the liquid liberties of enlightened sonship
Ever Wonder About Christmas? (Part 1)
3. GABRIEL'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO MARY
1346§4 122:3.1 One evening about sundown, before Joseph had returned home,
Gabriel appeared to Mary by the side of a low stone table and, after she had
recovered her composure, said: "I come at the bidding of one who is my Master
and whom you shall love and nurture. To you, Mary, I bring glad tidings when I
announce that the conception within you is ordained by heaven, and that in due
time you will become the mother of a son; you shall call him Joshua, and he
shall inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on earth and among men. Speak not of this
mat ter save to Joseph and to Elizabeth, your kinswoman, to whom I have also
appeared, and who shall presently also bear a son, whose name shall be John, and
who will prepare the way for the message of deliverance which your son shall
proclaim to men with great power and deep conviction. And doubt not my word,
Mary, for this home has been chosen as the mortal habitat of the child of
destiny. My benediction rests upon you, the power of the Most Highs will
strengthen you, and the Lord of all the earth shall overshadow you."
1346§5 122:3.2 Mary pondered this visitation secretly in her heart for many
weeks until of a certainty she knew she was with child, before she dared to
disclose these unusual events to her husband. When Joseph heard all about this,
although he had great confidence in Mary, he was much troubled and could not
sleep for many nights. At first Joseph had doubts about the Gabriel visitation.
Then when he became well-nigh p ersuaded that Mary had really heard the voice and
beheld the form of the divine messenger, he was torn in mind as he pondered how
such things could be. How could the offspring of human beings be a child of
divine destiny? Never could Joseph reconcile these conflicting ideas until,
after several weeks of thought, both he and Mary reached the conclusion that
they had been chosen to become the parents of the Messiah, though it had hardly
been the Jewish concept that the expected deliverer was to be of divine nature.
Upon arriving at this momentous conclusion, Mary hastened to depart for a visit
with Elizabeth.
1347§1 122:3.3 Upon her return, Mary went to visit her parents, Joachim and
Hannah. Her two brothers and two sisters, as well as her parents, were always
very skeptical about the divine mission of Jesus, though, of course, at this
time they knew nothing of the Gabriel visitation. But Mary did confide to her
sister Salome that s he thought her son was destined to become a great teacher.
1347§2 122:3.4 Gabriel's announcement to Mary was made the day following the
conception of Jesus and was the only event of supernatural occurrence connected
with her entire experience of carrying and bearing the child of promise.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090330102659.htm
The largest mass extinction in the history of the earth could have been triggered off by giant salt
lakes, whose emissions of halogenated gases changed the atmospheric composition so
dramatically that vegetation was irretrievably damaged. At the Permian/Triassic boundary, 250
million years ago, about 90 percent of the animal and plant species ashore became extinct.
Previously it was thought that volcanic eruptions, the impacts of asteroids, or methane hydrate
were instigating causes.
From page 92, NYPL Science Desk Reference: "Although there are millions of species of fish,
-------alive today, these species represent only a small percentage of the organisms that have ever
existed on earth. What happened to the others?----at the end of the Permian period, about 250
million years ago, it is estimated that about 96 percent of marine organisms became extinct---"
From UB paper 59 (see the last sentence---this is an example of the subtlety of the UB---I've
known about the mass extinctions from science for many years, and I've read and/or listened to the
UB 28 times, but tonight I finally put these two together as to why---amazing)
280,000,000 years ago the continents had largely emerged from the second Silurian inundation.
The rock deposits of this submergence are known in North America as Niagara limestone because
this is the stratum of rock over which Niagara Falls now flows. This layer of rock extends from the
eastern mountains to the Mississippi valley region but not farther west except to the south. Several
layers extend over Canada, portions of South America, Australia, and most of Europe, the average
thickness of this Niagara series being about six hundred feet. Immediately overlying the Niagara
deposit, in many regions may be found a collection of conglomerate, shale, and rock salt. This is
the accumulation of secondary subsidences. This salt settled in great lagoons which were
alternately opened up to the sea and then cut off so that evaporation occurred with deposition of
salt along with other matter held in solution. In some regions these rock salt beds are seventy feet
thick.
677§7 59:3.10 The climate is even and mild, and marine fossils are laid down in the arctic regions.
But by the end of this epoch the seas are so excessively salty that little life survives.
Latest article on Paul, June 29, 2009. http://tcpalm.com/news/2009/jun/26/despite-near-misses-
skydiver-takes-leap-on-71st/
January 2009. Hi guys,
The attached pics are of the PT-17 that I was getting ready to jump from during the Nov. 2008 Stuart, FL airshow
when my backpack accidently popped open and damn near killed us both. In these shots I'm flying (front seat)
while Jack Reisel (owner, and my jump pilot on 7 previous jumps) is dumping the ashes of a friend over the beach.
By the way, I've decided to quit jumping -----and SCUBA diving. I'm not afraid of dying---but I am afraid of getting
hurt. I recently read that Gen. David Petraeus broke his hip on a skydive in 2000. He was 48 and in super shape.
I'm 70 and not in super shape. Everytime I see someone in a wheel chair I realize that I'm just one bad jump
away from being there myself. I really lucked out on my malfunction/cutaway in Nov. My reserve is 30% smaller
than my main, and I had never landed under it before (I've got 5 previous reserve rides in my 52 years of jumping--
but on other reserves---and I was much younger, lighter, and in better shape).
Also, in Oct. we had our 2nd SCUBA fatality in three weeks here in Jupiter. I happened to be at the dock when the
Coast Guard RHIB came roaring in (siren blaring and lights flashing) while they were giving the diver CPR. He
looked dead to me--and he was. I've been thinking about quitting SCUBA for a couple of years. I've been running
out of air sooner than everybody else, and have been having a hard time climbing the boat ladder with gear on--
especially in rough seas.
So when I think about my last SCUBA dive---on my 70th birthday--and having parachuted into the Atlantic to do it
(and, according to retired navy SEAL Capt. Dick Couch, a SEAL's last training requirement before his graduation)---
and my last demo jump ---from a helo with my son aboard, and into a 50th anniv. open house at my employer of
31 years, and resulting in a malfunction and successful cutaway/reserve ride, I couldn't think of a better way to end
both activities. It is hard to give up those two at the same time. They are part of my identity, but I have to face the
reality that I'm getting older and just can't do everything I used to.
Paul
Fantasy Retirement
By Paul Herrick, 2/23/2008
Did you know that only about one man in one hundred who claims to be ex-navy SEAL really is? We just had an
incident in August of 2006 where a local church organist had an elaborate newspaper article written about him
including, among other things, his daring exploits as a SEAL in Vietnam. The SEAL part, at least, was all a big lie.
He was never even in the service.
In 1996, Warner L. Smith, a realtor in Atlanta, wrote a thrilling non-fiction book titled, “Covert Warrior: A Vietnam
Memoir” about his combat adventures for the CIA. It too was all a big lie. He was in the navy but was never in
Vietnam, never saw combat, and never, ever, worked for the CIA.
What is it about being a Green Beret type that is so desirable to men? Is it just because women are drawn to
them? I’m sure that’s part of it, as well as the worshipful attitudes of kids toward them. But it also has to do with
their relationships to other men. Most men are truly impressed by them, and the ones who aren’t are often
envious, and even resentful of them. These men are suddenly very aware that they themselves may not be the
“gutsiest guy in the room”. But it must also be the self-confidence that these real live James Bond types acquire
by completing their exciting, difficult, and often dangerous training programs.
I’ve known it for years but it was nice to hear someone else say it. “I think the training was the most exciting and
the most fun; the most memorable and the most worthwhile aspect of any CIA officer’s career.” So said former
CIA Case Officer Lindsay Moran on NBC’s Today show on 2 February 2008. Lindsay is the author of the 2005
book, “Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy”.
So what was this training? It’s the four month PM (paramilitary) course that all CIA covert operators go through at
“the farm”, i.e., Camp Perry, VA. The specifics vary somewhat over the years but when she went through it in 1999
it consisted of running day and night compass courses through the woods, defensive driving, explosives, small
boat handling, cargo drops from aircraft, weapons, hand-to-hand combat, medical training, parachuting, and a
final exercise incorporating all she learned with a POW experience at the end.
Her “real job”, after this exciting training program, though somewhat dangerous, was, to her, unfulfilling and down
right boring.
I’ve noted the same thing relative to those in the other special warfare related activities such as Navy SEALs, Air
Force Pararescue, Army Special Forces, etc. Their training in parachuting, SCUBA diving, shooting, mountain
climbing, etc., plus arctic, desert, and jungle survival training in exotic locations around the world, are all much
more attractive than their actual field work turns out to be. “SEALs constantly talk about jumping, diving, and
shooting” says former SEAL Dick Couch in his 2001 book, “The Warrior Elite.” But the chances of a typical SEAL
making even one actual underwater ship attack, or a Green Beret making a real combat jump, or a
Pararescueman making an actual rescue jump are almost nil over the course of a full twenty year career.
As a Russian smokejumper once said: “Two minutes--fly like eagle, three days---dig like mole.” It was the
jumping that attracted him, not the long hours of dirty, sweaty dog work fighting forest fires. But at least jumping is
part of his normal work regimen, unlike most other occupations that include jumping as part of their training.
As Lindsay Moran says in her book, “Virtually none of the PM training was relevant to the reality of our future
careers. In actuality, we would have little reason to be traipsing through the woods with nothing other than a
compass or doing donuts and wheelies in our diplomat-plated vehicles. Jumping out of airplanes represented
perhaps the most gratuitous exercise. It wasn’t as if we were going to arrive for our first overseas post via airdrop,
like some kind of Flying Elvis Brigade.”
I think most men fantasize about the life of a “James Bond” type. He goes everywhere, does everything, and
interacts with all kinds of people (including some really sexy women)----and lives to revel in the glory. Real SEALs
often endure the toughest, most excruciating training in the world, only to die in an IED explosion or a helicopter
crash, many times before they’ve even had a chance to “get a gun in the fight”.
Ernest Becker, in his 1973 book, “The Denial of Death”, says, “The truth about the need for heroism is not easy for
anyone to admit….to become conscious of what one is doing to earn this feeling of heroism is the main self-
analytic problem of life.”
As my early childhood was during WWII, my “heroes” have always been related to the national feelings of that era.
They are: the “para-commando” (a commando who parachutes to the scene of the action), the fighter pilot, and
Superman (somebody who’s trying to save the world, all by himself).
I got my first clue about the Superman thing when I was in fifth grade. We were having a snowball fight during
lunch hour and the side I was on was losing. Kids to the right and left of me started drifting over to join the other
side. The more that defected, the harder I fought (and the more I seemed to love it). It ended up as everybody else
versus me. I got the crap beat out of me but I felt good about it. Another time, in eighth grade, I took the rap for
something I didn’t do, to keep the whole class from being put on detention. I guess I’m just a glutton for
punishment. Anyway, I’ve spent my whole life trying to “earn this feeling of heroism” in all three of my personal
“hero” categories.
My parachuting started in 1957, even before I joined the army. While on spring break from my freshman year of
college, I went through a jump school in Canada for a new sport called “skydiving”. In the army, in my late
teens/early twenties, I satisfied much of the para-commando fantasy by being in on the beginnings of night,
combat-equipped, military free-fall parachuting (now known as HALO---High Altitude Low Opening) as a member
of the army’s Raiding Aggressor Volunteers Employing Night Skydiving (RAVENS). Then, while in my early forties,
I jumped and conducted training operations while embedded with two different army Special Forces units and an
air force Pararescue outfit, all as a civilian free-lance journalist.
After learning to fly in an army flying club, and graduating from college as an aeronautical engineer, I
accomplished much of the fighter pilot fantasy by doing air combat research in sophisticated fighter flight
simulators and attacking, and video taping the reactions of, soaring birds with a BB machinegun mounted in a
sailplane, as well as actual jet fighter flight testing as a back-seat-riding flight test engineer.
In 1962, while taking a philosophy course in college, I was introduced to what I now consider to be the ultimate
world saving project, The Urantia Book. It seems like it’s been me against the world ever since.
At this point in my life, I satisfy my para-commando desires by doing “demo” jumping (parachuting into air shows
with the American flag) and adventure travel, my fighter pilot desires by doing aerial photography (photo recon
while dodging SAMs--not Surface-to-Air Missiles, but Steel Antenna Masts--TV towers), and my Superman desires
by telling the world, and everybody in it, about The Urantia Book (but that‘s another story).
As a retired engineer, I decided that I wanted to “go there, do that, and get to know them.” And yes, I even wanted
to “get the tee shirt.” Along the way I decided to fulfill some fantasies by trying to experience as much of the actual
special warfare training type of exotic world travel and extreme adventure activities as I could. And, every once in a
while, I got to elevate it from pure fantasy into useful reality.
So, starting in 1993 at age 55, off I went. Since then my wife and I have gone around the world twice and visited
over ninety countries. It is now 2008 and we’re still at it.
Typical special warfare training programs start off with much physical training and running obstacle, or confidence,
courses. These courses are designed to foster strength, agility, courage, and, of course, confidence. They can be
somewhat simulated by tourist attractions like The Fly Zone tree top adventure park in St. Martin (going from
treetop-to-treetop by every imaginable kind of rope apparatus), and the tree climbing and zip lining attractions of
Costa Rica and Jamaica. I found that for many of these type activities I didn’t even have to leave Florida, and for
some, even Palm Beach County. The Skycoaster, Skyscaper, Ejection Seat, Drop of Fear, and Adrenaline Drop, all
done over the years at the South Florida Fair, were great confidence building activities. The Adrenaline Drop was
the best. They took you up 100 feet and dropped you into a net,--- no chair, no attachment, no safety line, nothing.
It was GREAT! The 300 foot Skycoaster and 365 foot Slingshot at Old Town near Orlando are the world’s highest.
The Bridge Climb in Australia (to the top of the Sydney Harbor bridge), and the Vertigo Climb in Auckland, New
Zealand (to the 1100 foot level of the Sky Tower--the highest structure in the southern hemisphere) also fit into that
category. And while you’re at the Sky Tower, you can jump off the 630 foot level. You’re on a cable paying out from
a rotating drum (like Hollywood stuntmen use on “high falls” too high for an airbag). It’s not as violent as a bungee
jump, but about one out of three who pay to do it chicken out. They don’t get their money back but they get a tee
shirt with a big chicken on it. Their motto is “Easy on the body, hard on the mind”.
Speaking of bungee jumping, this is about as frightening an activity as one can do. I wouldn’t be surprised if
some real “special ops” types might find that too scary even for them. In Queenstown, New Zealand bungee
jumps are free if you’re over sixty. I got two freebies when I was there in 1999. The 111 meter bungee jump off the
Zambezi River bridge at Victoria Falls, Africa gives you a pretty violent jolt when you reach the end of the rubber
band. That was the only one of the eight bungee jumps that I’ve done (on six continents) that I wouldn’t
recommend to the average tourist.
Rappelling is often also part of these confidence courses. My introduction to it was at the USMC Reserve training
center in West Palm Beach in 1996, by going down the outside of their 70 foot parachute drying tower (twice).
Other great rappels were down into the 180 foot deep Moaning Cavern in California, down the 112 meter vertical
face of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, and down inside 100 foot waterfalls in Costa Rica.
Weapons training is also a big part of spec ops training. Firing an M-16 on full auto (machinegun style) is not easy
to do legally in the U.S. but at Subic Bay in the Philippines its no problem. I also fired 45 caliber and 9mm pistols
while I was there. And of course learning to use a blowgun in the Amazon, a boomerang in Australia, and a spear
in Hawaii were all part of trips to these exotic locales.
SCUBA diving is also included in most special operations training programs. After dabbling with SCUBA diving in
the late fifties and early sixties, and even making a free fall para-SCUBA test jump in 1960 (two years before the
SEALs were formed), I finally got “certified” in 1998. Many reef, wreck, shark, and night diving opportunities were
taken advantage of pretty much all over the world. A “highlight” for me was surfacing on a inky black night in
Thailand in 2005, after a drift night dive, signaling to the boat several hundred feet away with my flashlight, and
hearing “uru--uru--uru--------uru--uru--uru--------uru--uru--uru” as the boat captain tried to start his engine.
Fortunately, he got it running. Otherwise, it would have been a long swim to shore.
When I rose up into an air bubble trapped in a ship wreck 50 feet underwater while diving in Barbados in 2002 it
was very much like doing a submarine “lock-in”, a common procedure navy SEALs use to enter a submerged
sub. And, of course, when I put my SCUBA regulator back in my mouth and left the air bubble, it was like doing a
“lock-out”.
I’ve already discussed my parachuting but some other aspects should be mentioned. The skydiving “vertical wind
tunnel” tourist attractions in Las Vegas, Orlando, and several other locations, are just like the one that trainees
learn in at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina as part of the military free fall course. Many Green Berets and navy SEALs go
through this course. My wife and I enjoy these very much. Anyone can walk in off the street and, in just a few
minutes, be flying like superman.
My two, two-mile midnight free falls on both New Year’s Eve 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 here in Florida, were both
very “spec war” oriented. I was in the army when, at midnight on New Year’s Eve 1959-1960, two other soldiers
and I did that for the first time ever. It was an army publicity stunt to bring attention to a new capability, i.e., night,
combat equipped military free fall.
The only jumping I’ve done while on foreign travel was in Russia. My wife and I were going from Moscow to Beijing
on the Trans-Siberian railroad when I got a chance to make two jumps in Siberia. One was from a large, mid-
forties vintage biplane with Russian smokejumpers, and the other was from a Russian Army assault helicopter
with Russian paratroopers.
When I did a HALO jump from 31,000 feet at the World Freefall Convention in 2006, SEALs from the Leap Frogs (U.
S. Navy Parachute Team) that were attending the convention, were envious of me. The highest they had ever
jumped from was 25,000 feet while in training. I also jumped from a DC-9 jet airliner while I was there. Navy
SEALs and army Delta forces sometimes practice jumping from airliners as a way to insert into enemy territory
from innocent looking, routine over-flying, scheduled airline flights.
In 1998 the army allowed me to return to Ft. Campbell, KY and make three jumps from a Blackhawk helicopter in
celebration of the fortieth anniversary of army skydiving which I helped start in 1958. Blackhawk’s are among the
standard jump aircraft used by special operators.
All types of transportation methods are taught during spec ops training. For land, they not only include cars and
four-wheel-drive vehicles but even animals. For me, the limitations of wheeled vehicles were highlighted in Africa.
Getting hung up on rocks, and stuck in the mud, with all four wheels spinning, and breaking an axle, miles from
nowhere, with a bull elephant taking an interest in you, definitely gets the blood pumping.
Quad ATV’s are very popular these days, and are often parachuted in with special operators. I got my quad ATV
driving experiences in Jamaica and, during a French Foreign Legion war game, in the mountains of Tahiti. They
had jumped in the night before, for a training exercise. Fortunately, they were firing at each other with blanks as I,
unknowingly, rode my quad right through the middle of them.
Green Berets, SEALs, and CIA operators are using horses, and probably camels, everyday in Afghanistan and
Iraq. I rode horses in Argentina and Mongolia, donkeys in Morocco, camels in the Sahara, Egypt and Dubai, and
elephants in India, Thailand, and Nepal. Tiger and rhino safaris on the back of an elephant in the early morning
mist in Nepal have got to be among the best adventures going. Especially when a rhino charges and the elephant
rears up on its hind legs to fend it off, nearly dumping its passengers off in the 12 foot high elephant grass.
Water transport includes many different vessels. The Amazon was great for training in dugout canoes, Hawaii for
outrigger canoes, and Norway for sea kayaks. Navy SEALs train heavily in the IBS (inflatable boat, small,--- aka, itty
bitty ship) which is exactly the same as the rafts that I rode the white water of the Zambezi river in Africa, as well as
in California, Costa Rica, and upstate New York. RHIB’s (rigid hull inflatable boats ) and Zodiacs are also air
dropped into the ocean from the back of C-130’s with water jumping SEALs. I got to play with those in Antigua and
go ashore in them in Antarctica. My large ship experiences have been literally “around the world”, on cruise ships
and ocean liners, and I got two tourist submarine rides, to 130 feet deep, in Hawaii. River boat cruises I took were
on the Amazon, Nile, Yangtze, and Danube.
In addition to my aerial photography flying and jumping, my aircraft experiences include: ballooning in the
Australian Outback, helicopter rides in Alaska and Hawaii, paragliding and hang gliding in New Zealand and
Costa Rica, piloting sailplanes in the U.S., and parasailing in Hawaii. Spec ops operators use airplanes and
helicopters everyday and are just starting to use powered paragliders.
Some of the adventures are truly world-class. The rappel down Table Mountain at Cape Town is the world’s
highest commercial rappel. The bungee jump at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is the world’s highest “natural”
bungee jump. Stuart Cove’s Extreme Shark Dive in Nassau, Bahamas is world renowned. The white water raft
trip down the Zambezi is known as the world’s wildest. The startling, crashing commotion of a jaguar attacking a
tapir while you are night hiking through the Amazon also ranks right up there, as does the fly-by-wire “world‘s
fastest ride” suspended between two mountains just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. I got it up to 106
mph. In November 2005 I bailed out of the bomb bay of a WWII B-17 bomber, much like the OSS (the predecessor
to the CIA) agents often did in that war, and in May of 2007 I jumped from an RAF jet fighter. Very few, if any, other
modern skydivers have those two experiences in their jump logs.
Some adventures have more military significance than others. A sequence of activities in 2007 were specifically
SEAL oriented. In March, I SCUBA dived in Grenada, where four navy SEALs drowned on a night, water jump into
the Atlantic at the start of the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983. It was dark, the wind and waves were high, and
they were heavily loaded down with combat equipment. I was secretly looking for signs of them (equipment, etc,)
all during the dive (it‘s possible---while diving in Aruba in 2001, I found an unexploded 2000 pound bomb).
Then in July, I did a water jump into the Atlantic ocean off Jupiter, FL, which was an exact duplicate of a navy SEAL’
s last training requirement before receiving his “Trident” (SEAL badge). I used the exact same type of equipment
the SEALs use---same “round” military static line parachute, same helmet and fatigues---- I even had swim fins
taped to my legs as they do.
In September I parachuted onto the beach at Carlin Park in Jupiter with the American flag for an 82nd Airborne
picnic, just as the Leap Frog SEALs do every year at the navy SEAL museum open house and show in Ft. Pierce.
Then, later in September, I went to Alaska and did the same things that the SEALs do in Alaska immediately after
getting their Tridents. This consisted of cold water diving, boat and helicopter operations, and rock and ice
climbing and rappelling.
The closest I could get to SEAL SDV (Swimmer Delivery Vehicle--a kind of mini-submarine) training occurred when
I was in St. Thomas in December 2007 when I went down in a BOSS (Breathing Observation Submersible
Scooter). This is essentially a one-man submarine. SDV’s are used to transport several SEALs and their
equipment over fairly long distances, all the while submerged. They often start out by “locking out” of a full-sized
submarine.
Every so often it becomes possible to perform these kinds of activities as a useful service, not just to fulfill secret
fantasies. One such opportunity occurred in August of 2003. A large vacant lot on a peninsula near my house, an
18 million dollar piece of prime water front property, was starting to be developed. I had wanted to jump there for
many years but hadn’t actively pursued it. When I saw the construction activity start I decided it was now or never.
Due to our litigious society, I knew I’d never get the land owner’s permission to jump there. Everybody is afraid of
liability law suits. What I did was go to the owner of the property next door and ask permission to land on his
property. Then I calmed his liability concerns by assuring him that I would not land on his property. I intended to
be “blown off course” and land in the big open lot next door. That way I would be legally covered (by having
permission from someone in the general area to land on their property) and neither land owner would be legally
liable if I had a problem. The one that granted permission wouldn’t be involved because my problem wouldn’t
occur on his property, and the owner of the property that I landed on wouldn’t be involved because he had not given
me permission to land there. It would just be an “unexpected gust of wind,” which couldn’t be sued by me or my
family.
Then I had to deal with the law. If the police saw me they could give me a hard time for parachuting into town.
Again, I knew I wouldn’t be granted permission from the town for a jump there. My solution was to make the jump
an anti-terrorist training exercise for the local cops. I went to the police station and proposed this idea to their
head of training. He liked it.
I told him that sometime between early Wednesday morning 8/20/03 and Friday afternoon 8/22/03 I would
parachute into town within a mile of the police station. I didn’t tell him exactly when or where so he couldn’t cheat
and have a cop waiting on the ground to arrest me. He said he would announce it in their morning meetings for
his patrolmen to be on the lookout for a parachutist descending from the sky over the middle of town.
Then I called the local newspaper, told them of the upcoming police training exercise, and I did tell them exactly
when and where. The newspaper called the police department and confirmed that, yes, there would be such a
terrorist training exercise sometime during that three day time period.
Even though I had low clouds, rain threatening, and high winds, I jumped over the Loxahatchee River at about 9:45
AM on Wednesday. I landed next to my wife and the newspaper reporter/photographer on my target vacant lot, and
the cops were nowhere to be found. The next day’s paper had a large color photo of me and my parachute floating
to the ground, and a nice article which included the following, “Nobody caught him. We had a challenge going on
the day shift,” said Sgt. Scott Pascarella, “we just couldn’t do it.” There were also no calls to the police station from
the locals concerning the jump.
This was deja vue for me. I had done much the same type of service while in the army in the late 50‘s, by being a
free fall aggressor force night raider harassing troops out in the field on training missions. Only this time it was
daylight out and I wasn’t going to harass the residents of my hometown with tear gas grenades, dummy
explosives, and propaganda leaflets.
While on an around-the-world cruise on the QE2 in 2005, I had what could have been another unique service
opportunity. When we were in the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen (of “USS Cole” fame) and Somalia (of “Blackhawk
Down” fame), we were radioed by a freighter that they had a medical emergency onboard and they requested the
QE2’s help. As the passengers watched from the deck, the QE2 slowed to a stop and the freighter, old and
dilapidated and with no flag flying, circled around and pulled up along side, about a hundred feet away, and
stopped.
It was just before sunset in this dangerous part of the world and my imagination was running wild. What a perfect
setup for a terrorist attack, I mused. Myself and another imaginative passenger were taking turns evolving a script
for a future movie of “The Attack on the QE2”, even designating the starring roles, as the drama unfolded. The QE2
lowered a launch and transported the ship’s doctor (a woman), and the ship’s security officer to the nearby
freighter. Upon arrival they examined the dead body of a crewman who had become “overpowered by fumes while
painting in an enclosed area.” A few minutes later the launch returned with the doctor and security chief, and was
winched aboard the QE2.
The “excitement” being over everybody left the deck for dinner but I remained, watching the freighter in the
darkness as the QE2 got under way. The freighter, with absolutely no lights illuminated, just sat motionless for
about 15 minutes as QE2 left. Then it turned on its lights and got under way itself. I felt like that was just about
enough time for them to retrieve the terrorist divers that had been placing magnetic “limpet” mines on the bottom
of the QE2 while we sat dead in the water. I considered that the ideal scenario would be to time the mines to go
off as QE2 was transiting the Suez Canal thereby plugging up this critical waterway and maximizing the publicity for
the terrorists. I knew that this was pretty far fetched but the more I thought about it the more real of a possibility it
became to me.
I thrilled at the possibility of fulfilling some heroic fantasy mission, especially considering that I was definitely the
most current night SCUBA diver on the QE2. I had just made a night dive at our stop in Thailand a few days
earlier. After much trepidation, at 8PM I placed a call to the security officer to discuss my concerns and to volunteer
to do a night dive to examine the QE2’s hull. The purser’s desk attendant told me that the security officer was at a
ship’s cocktail party and was not available. I explained my concerns, and even volunteered for the night inspection
dive but still was not put through to the security officer until 3PM the next day. I finally was allowed to talk with him
then.
I had noticed another suspicious act while we were in Sri Lanka. As I watched the harbor from the deck of the QE2
at night I noticed an unlit small boat with three locals slowly motor through a light reflection on the water. They
came right up to the QE2 and slowly passed the complete length of the ship from bow to stern within inches of the
hull. I reported this to a ship’s officer at the time but never heard anything back.
When I related these two incidents in a meeting with the security officer I was assured that there was nothing to be
concerned about. The security officer did hint that special security measures were being taken and there “might
even be U.S. or British Special Forces types on board.” I left the meeting not knowing whether the security chief
was serious, or “just humoring an old, ex-military guy with a vivid imagination.”
I did get some satisfaction from the fact that, just before our entry into the Suez Canal, while docked in Aqaba,
Jordan--- a friendly port visited often by the U.S. Navy--- three men in wet suits were sighted during the day near the
hull of the QE2. While on another QE2 cruise in 2007 (this time to Iceland, Norway, and Spitsbergen), I found out
that we did indeed have our hull “swept for mines” while we were in Jordan in 2005. The ship hired three
Jordanian navy divers to do just that. Why they would use Jordanians when a U.S. Navy ship was docked right in
front of us I didn’t find out. I guess there were no divers or SEALs on that ship. Jordan is supposedly our friend
but on August 19, 2005, a little over four months after we left, some Jordanian terrorists on shore launched three
rockets at two U.S. Navy ships in that same harbor.
The last “special operations” service that I’ll mention is my demo jumping. Like the navy’s Leap Frogs, the army’s
Special Operations Command has a demo parachute team called the “Black Daggers”. Both of these teams are
three year assignments for selected navy SEALs and army Green Berets to perform at from thirty-five to fifty air
shows and other public service events annually. They are doing exactly what I, and a few others, pioneered during
my army days back in the late fifties.
Unlike sport and military training jumps, these guys jump with smoke grenades and American and POW flags, at
strange places, often with unfamiliar aircraft and flight crew, at specific times, down to the second. They have the
pressure of “the show must go on” regardless of wind, rain, and cloud heights and they must often land in small
areas, surrounded by obstacles, with deadly accuracy. Four Black Daggers were recently injured due to high
winds, at a NASCAR race in North Carolina.
Since 1998, I have been doing exactly what these young elite warriors do as their full time job, and often I am
jumping at the same air show that they are. To me this is the ultimate in fantasy fulfillment, especially since I, at
age 69, am forty to fifty years older than they are.
Jupiter resident Paul Herrick is a retired Pratt & Whitney aeronautical engineer, a commercial pilot, and holds the
world record for the most types of aircraft parachuted from---116 types, so far.
To: Bill Gates,
(sent December 2006)
Bill and Melinda,
If you would like to do the most good for the world, sponsor radio stations world-wide that broadcast the audio
version of the Urantia Book, all 150 hours of it, over and over and over again. There is no possible better
expenditure of money. I have read the book 7 times (2100 pages) and listened to it 13 times since becoming
aware of it in 1962. It is the answer to all the worlds problems.
Paul Herrick
To the Post Regarding a NASA Mystery
. . .posed by a scientist after NASA retrieved and brought back to earth some comet material - the mystery that
arose. "How did comets get to be made up of compounds which only form at high temperatures?"
To Don Brownlee:
Forwarded Message from Paul: Don Brownlee, If you'd like to understand your latest comet data you'll find the
answers in the Urantia book. In fact you'll find answers to many of your questions about the solar system there.
This can put you in the leading edge of your field in short order if you'll take a few minutes to check it out.
Paul Herrick
More UB Substantiation
Hi guys,
I'm always finding "new" scientific discoveries that were dicussed in The Urantia Book in 1955. This is the latest.
Its from "Sculpting the earth from the inside out", by Caltech geologist Mike Gurnis, appearing in "Oceans: A
Scientific American Reader" 2007. Scientists have only recently dicovered that continents bob up and down as
well as drift horizontally. The UB discusses this in several papers (chapters) and I sent this to Mike. I recently told
NASA to read the UB's origin of the solar system to help them
understand a mystery they were trying to solve relative to the make up of comet material returned to earth by a
rocket probe. These kinds of "predictions" should grab the attention of cutting edge scientists and make them
take the UB seriously.
Paul
Mike,
Open this up and click on "part III: The History of Urantia", then click on "paper 59: The Marine Life Era on Urantia".
This paper is full of bobbing continents. This book was copy written in 1955. This is going to blow you away.
Paul Herrick
Some Personal Philosophy
Mark,
Ernest Becker, in his 1973 book, "The Denial of Death", says, "The truth about the need for heroism is not easy for
anyone to admit....to become conscious of what one is doing to earn this feeling of heroism is the main self-
analytic problem of life."
I've had three classes of "Heroes" in my life: fighter pilots, para-commandos (yes--there were Commandos in
WWII who weren't parachutists--but not now), and Superman (ie, trying to save the world). I've spent my whole life
trying to "earn this feeling of heroism" in all three categories. At this point in my life I get the first one from my aerial
photography flying (photo recce dodging SAMs (no not Surface-to-Air missiles, but Steel Antenna Masts--TV
towers), the second from my demo jumping and adventure travel, and the third from telling the world about The
Urantia Book.
Any comments?
Paul
The Urantia Book
Greg (and Scott Eyman),
I've tried to reach both of you by phone but couldn't get a human at any of the Post's dept.s. I've been reading The
Urantia Book since 1962. This book makes every other book in the world seem trivial. It is about 2100 pages long
and it took me over three years to read it the first time (I've read it seven times and listened to it sixteen times). I'd
like to hear from either or both of you as to whether you've read it, or ever even of
heard of it. Reading this book is more significant than if you were somehow visited and instructed by either a UFO
occupant or an angel. It is the book that will truly "change the world". People in your line of work should at least
know it exists. My mission in life is to let people know it exists, and I travel all over the world doing just that. What
they do about it after that is up to them.
Paul Herrick,
Jupiter, FL
UB Answers to Tonight's CBS News
Hi guys,
Tonight's CBS News had highlighted two problems that The Urantia Book has the answer to: 1) Government
employees splurging millions on booze, gambling, girl friends, etc. with our (tax payers) dollars (a clear betrayal of
governmental trust). 2) U.S. farmers moving to Mexico to get enough field laborers to harvest their crops (an
obvious opportunity to put our 2.3 million prisoners to work and rid ourselves of the need to pay the $55 billion we
spend yearly for their upkeep). "Ordinary criminals and the defectives are placed, by sexes, in different agricultural
colonies and are more than self-supporting. The more serious habitual criminals and the incurably insane are
sentenced to death in the lethal gas chambers by the courts. Numerous crimes aside from murder, including
betrayal of governmental trust, also carry the death penalty,
and the visitation of justice is sure and swift."
How long will we continue to ignore the guidance given to us by The Urantia Book?
Paul
Don't Give Up
To Richard Dawkins (author of "The God Delusion" and featured in Ben Stein's movie) over a year ago, on 2/13/07:
Richard,
I am an aerospace engineer who would love to explore the universe. I rejected religion in my teens for many of the
reasons that you and Carl Sagan have. But I was fortunate enough to be introduced to The Urantia Book in
college. That was in 1962. I have since read it 7 times (it's 2100 pages long) and listened to it 14 times (150
hours per time). It has shown me that in rejecting religion I "threw out the baby with the bath water." I now know
that I'll get to explore the universe because the UB, like the extraterrestrial radio signals in Sagan's "Contact", has
taught me how to build a conveyance to do that. That conveyance is Faith. Before you decide to limit your
existence to your life on this planet (there is no hell, if we die faithless we just cease to exist), take a hard look at
the UB. It turned me around.
Paul Herrick
PS: I hope Carl had at least a "faint flicker of faith" when he died. It would really be a shame for him, of all people,
to miss out on the universe exploring adventure that could have been his.
Paul
Why I like Demo Jumps on the Beach
Hi Guys,
Last Saturday I did a demo jump onto "kite Beach" in Jupiter, FL for an "Earth Day" beach clean up event. In
addition to riding around in a beautiful open cockpit tearman biplane on a beautiful sunny day, bailing out and
floating down over the beautiful turquoise Atlantic Ocean, and landing in the soft white sand of a pristine beach, I
was immediately surrounded by a bevy of bathing beauty's who wanted their picture taken with me.
Anybody wonder why I love beach demo jumping?
Paul
Thrilling UB Excerpt
(Easter Morning)
As these women sat there in the early hours of the dawn of this new day, they looked to one side and observed a
silent and motionless stranger. For a moment they were again frightened, but Mary Magdalene, rushing toward
him and addressing him as if she thought he might be the caretaker of the garden, said, "Where have you taken
the Master? Where have they laid him? Tell us that we may go and get him." When the stranger did not answer
Mary, she began to weep. Then spoke Jesus to them, saying, "Whom do you seek?" Mary said: "We seek for
Jesus who was laid to rest in Joseph's tomb, but he is gone. Do you know where they have taken him?" Then said
Jesus: "Did not this Jesus tell you, even in Galilee, that he would die, but that he would rise again?" These words
startled the women, but the Master was so changed that they did not yet recognize him with his back turned to the
dim light. And as they pondered his words, he addressed the Magdalene with a familiar voice, saying, "Mary." And
when she heard that word of well-known sympathy and affectionate greeting, she knew it was the voice of the
Master, and she rushed to kneel at his feet while she exclaimed, "My Lord, and my Master!" And all of the other
women recognized that it was the Master who stood before them in glorified form, and they quickly knelt before him.
P. 2027 - §1 / 189:4.11 These human eyes were enabled to see the morontia form of Jesus because of the
special ministry of the transformers and the midwayers in association with certain of the morontia personalities
then accompanying Jesus.
P. 2027 - §2 / 189:4.12 As Mary sought to embrace his feet, Jesus said: "Touch me not, Mary, for I am not as you
knew me in the flesh. In this form will I
tarry with you for a season before I ascend to the Father. But go, all of
you, now and tell my apostles—and Peter—that I have risen, and that you
have talked with me."
The UB's Most Audacious Statement
Hi Guys,
The statement below appears at the end of Paper 1 of The Urantia Book. Note the last sentence in particular. It is
either the world's most blasphemous lie or its most important truth. If it's a lie, its author will surely suffer the
worst God (if there is a God) has to offer. If it's true this book is by far the most important document on this planet.
Paul
P.32 - §1 [Presented by a Divine Counselor, a member of a group of celestial personalities assigned by the
Ancients of Days on Uversa, the headquarters of the seventh superuniverse, to supervise those portions of this
forthcoming revelation which have to do with affairs beyond the borders of the local universe of Nebadon. I am
commissioned to sponsor those papers portraying the nature and attributes of God because I represent the
highest source of information available for such a purpose on any inhabited world. I have served as a Divine
Counselor in all seven of the superuniverses and have long resided at the Paradise center of all things. Many
times have I enjoyed the supreme pleasure of a sojourn in the immediate personal presence of the Universal
Father. I portray the reality and truth of the Father's nature and ttributes with unchallengeable authority; I know
whereof I speak.]
Example of "Gentle Guidance" in UB
Hi guys
The Urantia Book has much guidance for us but is does it in a matter of fact and non-offensive way. I read the last
sentence of the statement below as a partial commentary on what's going on lately in Tibet and Burma. It is from
Paper 90, Shamanism-Medicine Men and Priests.
Paul
P.988 - §7 The shamanic priests and medicine men often became very wealthy through the accretion of their
various fees which were ostensibly offerings to the spirits. Not infrequently a shaman would accumulate practically
all the material wealth of his tribe. Upon the death of a wealthy man it was customary to divide his property equally
with the shaman and some public enterprise or charity. This practice still obtains in some parts of Tibet, where
one half the male population belongs to this class of nonproducers.
A Good Story From the UB
Hi guys,
Below is one of my favorite parts of the UB.
Paul
P.1098 - §2 In the mind's eye conjure up a picture of one of your primitive ancestors of cave-dwelling times—a
short, misshapen, filthy, snarling hulk of a man standing, legs spread, club upraised, breathing hate and
animosity as he looks fiercely just ahead. Such a picture hardly depicts the divine dignity of man. But allow us to
enlarge the picture. In front of this animated human crouches a saber-toothed tiger. Behind him, a woman and two
children. Immediately you recognize that such a picture stands for the beginnings of much that is fine and noble in
the human race, but the man is the same in both pictures. Only, in the second sketch you are favored with a
widened horizon. You therein discern the motivation of this evolving mortal. His attitude becomes praiseworthy
because you understand him. If you could only fathom the motives of your associates, how much better you would
understand them. If you could only know your fellows, you would eventually fall in love with them.
Suspicions Confirmed by the UB
Hi guys,
Just in case you needed confirmation. The Urantia Book has it.
Paul
P.938 - §7 Male and female are, practically regarded, two distinct varieties of the same species living in close and
intimate association. Their viewpoints and entire life reactions are essentially different; they are wholly incapable
of full and real comprehension of each other. Complete understanding between the sexes is not attainable.
A Message For Us From the UB
Hi guys,
Ever wonder what a extraterrestrial space traveler might say to you if you
should meet one? Maybe this.
Paul
PS An Adjuster is a Thought Adjuster--a fragment of God which resides in our minds.
P.1223 - §4 / 111:7.2 May I admonish you to heed the distant echo of the Adjuster's faithful call to your soul? The
indwelling Adjuster cannot stop or even materially alter your career struggle of time; the Adjuster cannot lessen the
hardships of life as you journey on through this world of toil. The divine indweller can only patiently forbear while
you fight the battle of life as it is lived on your planet; but you could, if you only would—as you work and worry, as
you fight and toil—permit the valiant Adjuster to fight with you and for you. You could be so comforted and inspired,
so enthralled and intrigued, if you would only allow the Adjuster constantly to bring forth the pictures of the real
motive, the final aim, and the eternal purpose of all this difficult, uphill struggle with the commonplace problems of
your present material world.
P.1223 - §5 / 111:7.3 Why do you not aid the Adjuster in the task of showing you the spiritual counterpart of all
these strenuous material efforts? Why do you not allow the Adjuster to strengthen you with the spiritual truths of
cosmic power while you wrestle with the temporal difficulties of creature existence? Why do you not encourage the
heavenly helper to cheer you with the clear vision of the eternal outlook of universal life as you gaze in perplexity at
the problems of the passing hour? Why do you refuse to be enlightened and inspired by the universe viewpoint
while you toil amidst the handicaps of time and flounder in the maze of uncertainties which beset your mortal life
journey? Why not allow the Adjuster to spiritualize your thinking, even though your feet must tread the material
paths of earthly
endeavor?
Skydiving Pales in Comparison
Hi guys,
Below is a quote from Paper 130 of The Urantia Book. It captures the essence of why my mission in life is to
make people aware of this book. You all know of my fascination with adventure. Why not have the "most
enthralling" adventure?
Paul
P.1430 - §2 . . .There is no adventure in the course of mortal existence more enthralling than to enjoy the
exhilaration of becoming the material life partner with spiritual energy and divine truth in one of their triumphant
struggles with error and evil. It is a marvelous and transforming experience to become the living channel of
spiritual light to the mortal who sits in spiritual darkness.
Evolution
Dick I sent this to Ben Wattenburg of "Think Tank" on ch 42:
Ben,
I am going to give you the absolute source of truth on this evolution vs. creation issue. It is The Urantia Book. I don't
expect you will do anything about this but I had to tell you. If you ignore this information you will cheat yourself out of
the most magnificent truth source this planet, Urantia, has seen in 2000 years. And I fully expect you to ignore it.
Paul Herrick
For Urantia Book Readers
John,
I think I agree with you. People are obviously interested in religious matters, as evidenced by the popularity of
books like "The DaVinci Code", "The Celestine Prophecy", etc. I am somewhat concerned about having people get
the content of part 4 without the benefit of parts 1, 2, and 3. I am so glad that I have been able to get all four parts.
There is NO question in my mind that ALL the worlds problems (and I do mean ALL) would be greatly diminished
if everyone in the world were exposed to all four parts (and even the Foreword). I am on my 15th time thru the audio
book and it just gets better and better. I had an idea the other day. I think every government leader (at every level)
should have a Urantia Book Advisor. I would love to work in this capacity. Maybe I should start a UB based "Dear
Abby".
Paul
Understanding the Atheism Trend
Hi guys,
I have noted an increase in atheism among the intelligentsia. Here's why (from UB Paper 155).
Paul
Jesus warned his believers that, if their religious longings were only material, increasing knowledge of nature
would, by progressive displacement of the supposed supernatural origin of things, ultimately deprive them of their
faith in God. But that, if their religion were spiritual, never could the progress of physical science disturb their faith
in eternal realities and divine values.
P.1727 - §7 / 155:3.7 They learned that, when religion is wholly spiritual in motive, it makes all life more worth
while, filling it with high purposes, dignifying it with transcendent values, inspiring it with superb motives, all the
while comforting the human soul with a sublime and sustaining hope.
True religion is designed to lessen the strain of existence; it releases faith and courage for daily living and
unselfish serving. Faith promotes spiritual vitality and righteous fruitfulness.
P.1727 - §8 / 155:3.8 Jesus repeatedly taught his apostles that no civilization could long survive the loss of the
best in its religion. And he never grew weary of pointing out to the twelve the great danger of accepting religious
symbols and ceremonies in the place of religious experience. His whole earth life was consistently devoted to the
mission of thawing out the frozen forms of religion into the liquid liberties of enlightened sonship
Ever Wonder About Christmas? (Part 1)
3. GABRIEL'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO MARY
1346§4 122:3.1 One evening about sundown, before Joseph had returned home,
Gabriel appeared to Mary by the side of a low stone table and, after she had
recovered her composure, said: "I come at the bidding of one who is my Master
and whom you shall love and nurture. To you, Mary, I bring glad tidings when I
announce that the conception within you is ordained by heaven, and that in due
time you will become the mother of a son; you shall call him Joshua, and he
shall inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on earth and among men. Speak not of this
mat ter save to Joseph and to Elizabeth, your kinswoman, to whom I have also
appeared, and who shall presently also bear a son, whose name shall be John, and
who will prepare the way for the message of deliverance which your son shall
proclaim to men with great power and deep conviction. And doubt not my word,
Mary, for this home has been chosen as the mortal habitat of the child of
destiny. My benediction rests upon you, the power of the Most Highs will
strengthen you, and the Lord of all the earth shall overshadow you."
1346§5 122:3.2 Mary pondered this visitation secretly in her heart for many
weeks until of a certainty she knew she was with child, before she dared to
disclose these unusual events to her husband. When Joseph heard all about this,
although he had great confidence in Mary, he was much troubled and could not
sleep for many nights. At first Joseph had doubts about the Gabriel visitation.
Then when he became well-nigh p ersuaded that Mary had really heard the voice and
beheld the form of the divine messenger, he was torn in mind as he pondered how
such things could be. How could the offspring of human beings be a child of
divine destiny? Never could Joseph reconcile these conflicting ideas until,
after several weeks of thought, both he and Mary reached the conclusion that
they had been chosen to become the parents of the Messiah, though it had hardly
been the Jewish concept that the expected deliverer was to be of divine nature.
Upon arriving at this momentous conclusion, Mary hastened to depart for a visit
with Elizabeth.
1347§1 122:3.3 Upon her return, Mary went to visit her parents, Joachim and
Hannah. Her two brothers and two sisters, as well as her parents, were always
very skeptical about the divine mission of Jesus, though, of course, at this
time they knew nothing of the Gabriel visitation. But Mary did confide to her
sister Salome that s he thought her son was destined to become a great teacher.
1347§2 122:3.4 Gabriel's announcement to Mary was made the day following the
conception of Jesus and was the only event of supernatural occurrence connected
with her entire experience of carrying and bearing the child of promise.
