{"product_id":"the-wild-wild-east-from-the-cold-war-to-the-war-on-terrorism-9781680537048","title":"The Wild  Wild East: From the Cold War to the War on Terrorism","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Wild  Wild East recounts the adventures of late-onset Texan and international businessman Tom Meurer over a span of 55 years  from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism. As a freshly commissioned Air Force lieutenant  Tom experienced a build-up to war. But it was only after billionaire H. Ross Perot wooed him into the seemingly starchy world of software engineering that Meurer traveled to wartime Vietnam and Laos  searching for evidence of 1 600 missing U.S. prisoners of war. He found himself negotiating with drug-runners  brothel owners  gold smugglers  and dangerously high-ranking diplomats. What started as a privately funded international spy-ring  ended with a privately funded tickertape parade and star-studded weekend reception in San Francisco. Years later  he returned to Vietnam  looking for oil instead of prisoners. Between trips to Southeast Asia  Meurer began working with the Nixon White House as a presidential advance man. Beyond the obvious challenges of anti-war and civil rights protests  Meurer recounts the perils of camera angles  college football fans  bathroom visits  exotic helicopter rides  and the devastating 1970 Peruvian earthquake  which killed more than 80 000 people. Meurer tells of his longtime friendship and business career with Ray Hunt  of Hunt Oil Company  and the game-changing discovery of oil in Yemen  a country storming out of the 14th century. Ever the fish-out-of-water  he describes his travels  negotiations  and business developments in Red China as it began to turn capitalist in 1979. Through his role in Chinese oil exploration  private equity  personal friendships  and the nascent beef industry  Meurer witnessed the Peoples Republic of Chinas meteoric rise over the following 35 years. Along the way  we find him pranking communist border guards  breaking out of curfew-imposed war zone hotels and into U.S. embassies  nearly crash landing in Siberia  arrested for jogging in Albania  vacationing with the family in Karl-Marx-Stadt  and ingesting unspeakably exotic foods. He watched leaders  luminaries  lending practices  and landscapes change and change again (and then again)  while collecting hotel soap  memberships to airline VIP lounges  and frequent flyer miles. He often found himself in rooms with presidents  prime ministers  sheikhs  and village chiefs as history was happening. In true Forest Gumpian fashion  The Wild  Wild East is a study in best-case scenario of wit  energized wonder  proximity to wealth. Through the opportunities presented by Perot and Hunt  Dallas billionaires who were employers but became dear family friends  Meurer found himself living his best life  one of worldwide adventure while simply having fun  making an honest living  and helping the truest of people and best of friends. These are stories of one mans life  the career  adventures  and impressive people  friends  axioms  discoveries  events  cultures  and institutions he encountered along the way.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45647582724149,"sku":"ByrdShop_1680537040","price":39.57,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781680537048.jpg?v=1781694125","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-wild-wild-east-from-the-cold-war-to-the-war-on-terrorism-9781680537048","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}