The mother of a Lompoc Air Force Cpt. killed in Iraq writes a book on his life, proceeds will help children of the fallen go to college

Posted: Jul 10, 2012 9:07 AM by KSBY News, Carina Corral
Updated: Jul 10, 2012 9:09 AM

Lompoc mother writes book on son killed in Iraq

Writing a book about the death of a son is something no mother should have to do.

It took Deb Argel-Bastian, of Lompoc, nearly seven, emotional years to complete her book, "Letters for Logan," based on the life of her son, Derek Argel, who was killed on Memorial Day 2005 fighting the war in Iraq. It is a time line of Derek's life told through letters sent to his only son, Logan.

"I call it a living book because stories and letters are still coming in," she said.

The first letter came for ten-month-old Logan the day after the death of his father, Air Force Cpt. Argel.

Now seven-years-old, he only knows his father through stories told and letters written.

"Some of the stories right now are a little bit over his head so his mom is selecting stories right now, but he knows about the book and he is very happy about the book," said Deb who also read an excerpt from the book that is a narrative of Derek's life written by Deb, but told through letters written to Logan. "Derek's life has become an example to me of what is good and decent in the human nature of man," she read.

The letters range from the impact Derek had on others to stories of his childhood and the combat that led to his death.

"They're just invaluable letters to a child that otherwise would not know his father," said Deb.

The book will also be invaluable to other children just like Logan, or America's Little Warriors as Deb calls them, because all proceeds will go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which pays for college or trade school for children of the fallen.

"One of the kids wanted to become a helicopter pilot like his father so they paid for that school," she said.

It will help these kids in their future and, in writing the book, Deb found it healing the wounds from the past. "There's no such thing as closure, that's a word that is not in our vocabulary, but there is healing and there is a way people can help families heal."

One way is to write similar "Letters for Logan."

Another way is to purchase the book to help children of the fallen go to college.

It is available at Barnes and Noble Bookstores or you can ask your local bookstore to order it.

You can also click here to order it on-line at amazon.com.