Don Bendell

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Don Bendell, (b. January 8, 1947), is an American author of three military thriller novels about the Global War on Terrorism, four autobiographical Vietnam Era books, six science fiction novels (written under the pen name of Ron Stillman), and ten historical Westerns – the "Colt" series-- written from 1993-2000. He was born in Akron, Ohio, and now lives on a small horse ranch outside Florence, Colorado.

As an author of 25 books, Bendell draws his characters and storylines from a vivid imagination and personal life experience. A former United States Army Special Forces captain, he served in Vietnam 1968-1969, including a tour on a Green Beret A-team (Dak Pek) in Vietnam, and was in the Top Secret Phoenix Program. In the early 80s, he wrote, produced, directed, and co-starred in a low-budget, martial arts/action movie THE INSTRUCTOR. He also moved to Colorado in the early 80s becoming a big game outfitter for a time and furthering his tracking skills gained through decades of bowhunting, scouting, Special Forces experience, and spending lots of days and nights in the wilderness. As a volunteer tracker, he has tracked children lost in the mountains, trailed cop-killers, and helped recover the bodies of lost hikers.

Bendell is a master instructor in 4 martial arts, has over 4 decades of experience, and is a 1995 inductee into the International Karate Hall of Fame[citation needed], and owns karate schools in southern Colorado called Bendell Karate. He says he still teaches to keep his sanity as an author. Bendell's online editorials have been widely published in newspapers and magazines, and circulated by millions all over the world on the Internet[citation needed]. He has been interviewed on Fox News Live and on many radio shows, and speaks all over the country. He has also been very instrumental in exposing phony wannabe war heroes, such as former Atlantic City Mayor Bob Levy[citation needed].

Bendell is currently writing a series of three novels, which are contemporary military thrillers about modern-day Delta Force called the DETACHMENT DELTA series. His current trilogy of military thrllers the CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DETACHMENT series is now complete with the third book BAMBOO BATTLEGROUND in release worldwide. The second book in the series BROKEN BORDERS was released in the winter of 2006.

He is the father of 6 grown children, has 6 grandchildren, a business degree from Colorado Christian University, and loves bowhunting for big game, fishing, dancing, sports, poetry, and the Denver Broncos. 2 of his sons are currently also in the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets).

When asked about his occupation, Don usually grins and replies, "I am an American cowboy."

Contents

[edit] Code of the West

Bendell applies his version of the “Code of the West” to his Westerns and his life:

  • Cowboys should treat women like ladies, period.
  • Cowboys fight fair, and only when they have to, and when they do have to fight, they win, period.
  • You know exactly where you stand with a cowboy. There are no gray areas, only black and white, but not when it comes to skin color.
  • A cowboy is only as good as his word.
  • A cowboy protects his family, spread, and community.
  • A cowboy will fight for, and take care of orphans, widows, and those who are oppressed.
  • A cowboy will go out of his way to avoid a fight and is always willing to share his grub, campfire, and water.
  • A cowboy believes in his God, and he believes in America and will fight and die to protect either.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Colt series

Westerns, "Colt" series, of which four were nominated for the prestigious Western Writers of America’s SPUR Award, are:

  • Chief of Scouts (1993)
  • Horse Soldiers (1993)
  • Colt (1994)
  • Coyote Run (1994)
  • Warrior (1995)
  • Justis Colt (1996)
  • Eagle (1997)
  • Matched Colts (1998)
  • Blazing Colts (1999)
  • War Bonnet (2000)

All published by Signet Westerns (Penguin)

[edit] Current series

  • Criminal Investigation Detachment (2005)
  • Broken Borders (2006)
  • Bamboo Battleground (2007)

[edit] Vietnam Era books

  • Crossbow (1990)
  • The B-52 Overture (1992)
  • Valley of Tears (1992)
  • Snake-Eater (1994)

[edit] Science Fiction

(pen name "Ron Stillman" – but just first six books in series were written by Bendell)

  • Tracker (1990)
  • Green Lightning (1990)
  • Blood Money (1991)
  • Black Phantom (1991)
  • Firekill (1991)
  • Death Hunt (1991)

[edit] Poetry

SONGS OF THE WARRIOR (1999)