Daryl Riersgard Knihy

This collection of short stories covers many stages of Daryl Riersgard's life. The narrative begins with a memorable and harrowing tale of being shot down over a mountain top landing zone in Vietnam-the fiery crash resulted in tearing the helicopter into two pieces. The collection ends with a retelling of his thoughtful relocation to South Texas as he begins to settle into the final phase of retirement. Woven in between are stories of family, ranch life, ancestry, spiritual development, military life, and other adventures. This book offers an honest look into the vibrant life of a man who was raised on the land, took to the skies, and returned to the land. Through it all, he continues to look for the good in life, believing that indeed he, and others, can get lucky and stay lucky. Daryl Riersgard has lived a life filled with good luck. He started out as a farm boy with a dream to become a military pilot. That dream came true during the later years of the Vietnam war, where he served as a helicopter pilot. After 20 years in Marine aviation, he moved to law enforcement for 16 years. Finally, life got quieter when he relocated to a remote ranch in Northern Nevada. That phase lasted until life-changing events prompted him to move to South Texas for a better climate and a real retirement.

Martin Creek combines nuanced observations of geography, wildlife, and climate with social commentary, tales of cowboys and ranchers, and introspective musings into one diverse volume. Reirsgard chronicles transforming raw land into a simple but functional ranch over twenty-one months. Through rich detail, he draws you into the landscape and local culture, exploring the region's history from days of mining camps to ranching to corporate agriculture. He shows us northern Nevada's wildlife—hawks, wild turkeys, owls, bighorn sheep, bobcats—through thoughtful reflections. In writing about nature, the challenges of developing a ranch on rocky ground, and by sharing insights about himself, Daryl Reirsgard offers us a book that is intelligent yet heartwarming, and a pleasure to read.