Charles H. Meacham was born and raised in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, in a hunting and fishing lodge hand-built by his father. As a "free-range" child, he hiked, camped, fished, and hunted his way through childhood and adolescence. At age seventeen, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served with the elite Marine Raiders Special Operation Force in WWII, surviving brutal campaigns at Bougainville/Puruata, Emirau, Guam, and Okinawa. After the war, Charles went on to catalyze his experiences and adventurous spirit, along with a biology degree specializing in fish and game, to become a vital force in the American fisheries industry. This autobiographical memoir chronicling Charles Meacham's military, professional, and family endeavors over the course of nearly a century is a remarkable and valuable snapshot of a period of American history full of heroism, adventure, and pioneering spirit. In these pages, you'll meet a man who lived life to its fullest, served his nation well, and left a powerful legacy to his family, community, and countrymen.