Colonel and Mrs. Calvin Stokes, USMC (Retired), board American Airlines Flight 77 departing Washington Dulles International to fly to Los Angeles. They've just left their son Cal after a short visit in Charlottesville, VA, where he is attending the University of Virginia. A loving family, none of the three are prepared for the events that will soon unfold.
'God-Speed' is a short story outlining an event that was briefly mentioned in the first novel of the Corps Justice Series, "Back to War". Approx. 5,000 words.
Note from author: This short story is based on actual events from 9/11. The proceedings detailed from on board the aircraft are fictional in nature.
C. G. Cooper is the USA TODAY and AMAZON BESTSELLING author of the CORPS JUSTICE novels, several spinoffs and a growing number of stand-alone novels.
One of his novels, CHAIN OF COMMAND, won the 2020 James Webb Award presented by the Marine Heritage Foundation for its portrayal of the United States Marine Corps in fiction. Cooper doesn't chase awards, but this one was special.
Cooper grew up on a steady diet of Dungeons & Dragons and the travels of a Navy family.
Upon graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Foreign Affairs, Cooper was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps and went on to serve six years as an infantry officer. C. G. Cooper's final Marine duty station was in Nashville, Tennessee, where he fell in love with the laid-back lifestyle of Music City.
His first published novel, BACK TO WAR, came out of a desire to link back to his time in the Marine Corps. That novel, written as a side project, spawned many follow-on novels, several exciting spinoffs, and catapulted Cooper's career.
Cooper lives just south of Nashville with his wife, three children, and their German shorthaired pointer, Liberty, who's become a popular character in the Corps Justice novels.
We remember where we were when "mom & dad" Stokes & fellow passengers of flgt 77 experienced 9-11
Since the War of 1812, there had never been an experience remotely comparable to the horror & tragedies experienced on our American soil September 11, 2001. Having already read 5 of the first 7 Crops Justice Books, this short, (probably not as fictional as presented) account of Cal Stokes' parents provided for me a validation of frequent references to the strength and heroism of Cal's genetic/parental foundation...At the same time I was emotionally transported to that fateful day--to the helplessness and impotence that I felt as the reality and horror unfolded as the news described, first New York, then the Pentagon, and finally the (at the moment) unclear meaning of an airplane crash in a remote area of rural Pennsylvania..."Let's Roll!"
I have read all of Cooper's books to date and can't say enough about them. They are the best I have read in a long time and I really love the Daniel Briggs series their the best too. Please keep up the great writing C. G. your right up their with Robert B. Parker
This short story seemed to be a fictional account of what might have happened on the plane that went into the Pentagon along the lines of what the passengers on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania did. I'm ambivalent about the story. On one hand, I have an instinctive desire not to fictionalize 9/11, but on the other hand, it's a nice thought that people on board did something, whether or not it was successful.
Final hour of Cal's parents life before their hijacked plane crashes into the Pentagon. Col. Stokes leaves an incredibly moving voice mail message for Cal that brought a tear to my eye. I'm glad Cooper also included the bare facts of flight 77 and the number of passengers, crew, and people in the Pentagon who died on 9/11.
I goofed & thought the book, "Running" was the prologue to this series, Corps Justice & I was wrong. I looked all over Mr. Cooper's website & couldn't find any order to where these two books fit into the reading order, but now I know. Read this book first & then "Running." Mr. Cooper has done a great job giving some info for the series. It is short, but the details are good. The story overall was kind of sad (you'll understand why I say this when you read it), but it helps to lay the groundwork for the series. I'm definitely ready to hit book 1, "Back to War."
I think I can speak for most people when it comes to saying I remember where I was when I heard the news of the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001. I remember the helplessness I felt. The anguish, the pain for those we lost and how I as an American became pissed at the senselessness of such cowardly acts that tried to tear the great United States of America apart. This short story, 'God-Speed' took me back to that day. For such a short story it had a huge impact. I think C.G. Cooper did an amazing job at bringing life and meaning of a man, Calvin Stokes Sr., that I've read about in the 'Corps Justice Series' and how he molded his company and family. A great read.
This is a small tiny novella which starts the whole idea of the Corps Justice stories.
The book is based upon Cal's mother and father just prior to 9/11 through to 9/11 when they are killed. Although it's short but sweet, it packs a punch. It shows just how much skill, bravery and love Cal's father and mother both have.
I found it interesting as my parents are much different than Cal's. My father would have lost it if we showed as much emotion as Cal's mother had.
Depressing, to soon to write a fiction about an event so tragic to our country.
Please it's not something I want to read for entertainment. This was a tragic event, not something to be fictionalized for entertainment. Write about how we got Bin Laden (even though it was done by U.S. Army Delta forces,)😉 not Marines, a service force I have many friends who served with and I admire greatly. Nick
This story is a fictional spin-off of what happened on 9/11 when the planes were hijacked at flown in to world trade center and Pentagon this is the story of those passengers who after finding out about the world trade center being flown into try to stop the hijackers from doing the same to other monuments or buildings.
Mr and Mrs Calvin Stokes are getting ready to board a flight to Los Angeles. Calvin, who is a retired USMC Colonel noticed that they pulled a couple Saudi Arabian men to the side because they kept setting off an alarm as they tried to board the plane! Shortly after boarding the plane they are on was high jacked! To find out what happens to flight 77 you need to read this book GOD SPEED!!!
On 9/11/2001 I was in Massachusetts getting ready to flip a coin on if we are going to NY or to Maine we it said Maine and as we walked into Wal-Mart it was on the news the towers had be hit with planes. The worst thing is no one said a thing and we All started crying. Never forget!
Colonel Calvin Stokes United States Marine Core retired. He and his wife are on a flight to Washington D.C. 9/11. Hijacked. There's another Marine on board. Their not going g down without a fight.
A freebie short. The writer places us aboard one of the ill-fated flights on 9/11. The situation is fore-shadowed from the opening pages. The style is military in nature the timing of each episode heading each section.
I this story is not the end,but the beginning. Every time I read or hear about the brave actions of Americans under the cloud of death, the more I know bravely and heroism is everyone and with ordinary people that
This story is based on actual events from 9/11, but the characters, etc. are fiction. I only wish that it was nonfiction, you will understand what I mean, when you read the story.
The story grabbed my interest right from the beginning. I love reading series. This is a great introduction to the Corp Justice series. Can't wait to read the series.
Love, family and happy ending, is what makes me enjoy a book and writer. This writer has all those in most every book I have read . highly recommend his books
Great story about Col Calvin Stokes and the other Marines who perished on Flight 77 when it crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11/2001. Thanks for giving them a voice besides the reported news feeds. God bless our military, past and present.
But I wanted it to be much longer. Novellas have their place but with an author like C.G. Cooper, it doesn't meet the basic need for our nearly insatiable thirst for this story.