Foreword Summary and Analysis

The lengthy foreword offers an autobiographical summarization of significant events from Cooper's life experiences. It is a rather haphazard presentation of personal demographics data and anecdotal experiences. The intent of the Preface is twofold—to demonstrate the seriousness of the problem facing the United States of America, and to establish Cooper as a reliable authority and frequent eye-witness to bizarre occurrences presented throughout the text.

Cooper gives a rather complete recounting of his ancestry and offers some basic data about his own life. He was born May 6, 1943, and came from a family with a history of military service. His father was strict; his mother a Southern 'lady.' He was the oldest of three children, with fraternal, twin siblings. He gives brief life histories of his family members including marriages and children. Cooper graduated from Yamato High School, Japan, in...