Interview with Dave Carey

Author of  The Ways We Choose, Lessons For Life From A POW’s Experience

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

Born and raised in a little town, east of Pittsburg, Jeannette, PA to be exact. Currently I am a Texan, living in Georgetown, TX about 25 miles north of Austin.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

After high school I attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Graduating from the Naval Academy in 1964, I was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy and entered flight training. I earned my wings in March 1966. I was assigned to Attack Squadron 163 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany.

My first deployment to Vietnam was in August 1966. I flew combat missions until the Oriskany had a fire on board. Forty some men were killed in that fire and the ship damaged. We returned to the United States for repairs and redeployed to Vietnam in the early summer of 1967. I was shot down on a combat mission on the 31st of August 1967.

I spent the next five and one half years as a Prisoner Of War (POW) in prisons in and around Hanoi, North Vietnam, including the infamous Hanoi Hilton. [That, by the way is the subject of my book “The Ways We Choose, Lessons For Life From A POW’s Experience. More on that subject later.]

When I returned from Vietnam in March of 1973, I stayed in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, CA. I flew from Miramar Naval Air Station for the next 10 years, had command of two squadrons, including the Navy’s adversary squadron VF 126. My last tour was as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Amphibious School in Coronado, CA.

I retired from the Navy as a Captain in 1986, stayed in San Diego and went into business for myself as a professional speaker, consultant, personal coach and trainer. My focus is on how people work together. I am a keynote motivational speaker. I typically use my POW experience as an analogy for the challenges we all face in our jobs and our lives – dealing with change, and uncertain future, defining our goals, handling the pressure in our lives, coping with difficult decisions, etc.

As a consultant and trainer I work on people issues. Leadership, teamwork, organizational effectiveness, to name a few.

In 2003 I moved from San Diego to Georgetown, TX and after 10 years in Texas I declared myself a Texan!

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

As a professional speaker, I had been asked numerous times if I had a book – so I finally decided to write one. The Ways We Choose, Lessons For Life From A POW’s Experience was first published in 2000. It is in its fourth printing though 3 different publishers.

It is a more detailed and expanded accounting of my POW experience, and what I believe can be learned from it.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

If you are living life my book is for you. I guarantee it!

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

It has been my experience that everyone connects. I have spoken to everyone from high school students to business groups to associations to attorneys, to doctors, etc. etc. I write about the choices we have to make in our jobs and our lives, some of which are critical and life changing.

The framework I use from my experience is directly relatable to audiences of every type. I talk, and write, about choosing to “choosing to do your best & do what you have to do day in and day out; choosing to grow through all of our work and lives; choosing to keep our sense of humor; choosing to keep the faith – in ourselves, in each other, in our country & in God.”

Those choices are universally applicable!

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I learned that writing is, at its core, a discipline. I believe that everyone has at least one book in them – it’s the discipline of sitting in front of a keyboard and writing it that separates writers from non-writers.

If you could, what advice would you give to past self yourself before embarking on this journey?

I would have done it much sooner.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

As many as is possible. It has a universal appeal, and applicability!

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Well having two publishers go bankrupt didn’t help. And BTW, they didn’t go bankrupt because of my book!

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I don’t consider that I am exceptionally talented or knowledgeable. I was put in a unique position and God has shown me how to use it to help people and witness for my faith.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Lack of discipline!

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I think that I have several more books in me. They mostly revolve around the consulting and training part of my business. I have had wonderful opportunities to work with many types of companies and businesses. Team work and leadership are subjects that I am interested in and with which I have considerable experience & expertise. One of these days….

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I originally use a hybrid publisher, then a boutique publisher (the same principal started the second company.) Currently, my book is with Xulon Press.