"Engage" : Odyssey of an Accomplished Role-Player

by David Hamel

"Engage," is a memoir emanating from a long-ago high school senior year report card. Its drama class 'A' grade literally set the stage of how this student managed life's event and challenges through the prism of that platform. He shares a collage of images and captions that captures key life moments flowing from his childhood, to his military service years, and later in life as a successfully experienced role-player.

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2025

About the author

David Hamel is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant having served over 30 years on active duty in aircraft maintenance and as a Director of the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a past Alabama State Commander of the Korea Defense Veterans of America and past Eastern District Commander of AMVETS, North Carolina. He has performed 175 Prisoner of War-Missing In Action (POW-MIA) table presentations and has served as the state POW-MIA Chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Departments of Alabama and North Carolina, and is a past National Aide-de-Camp. Dave is also an Eagle Scout.
Completing his 31 years of marathon running, Dave has finished 131 marathons in all 50 states, and has two finishes in the coveted Boston Marathon. Known as “Scrappy” in the Fort Bragg hockey community, he cross-trains playing aggressive ice hockey.
Dave is a motivational speaker on fitness and self-preservation, and Air Force history and heritage. He has Masters Degrees in Human Resources Development, and Computer Resources and Information Management.
He resides in Spring Lake, North Carolina with his wife Gloria, of 31 years.