One Day One Thought One Lifetime

By Michael Dolkowski

In this heartfelt vivid memoir, Michael K. Dolkowski tells the gripping, true story of his life. He faced and overcame challenges most people never have to endure, with courage, tenacity and a never-failing belief that misfortune can be turned into opportunity. Dolkowski has survived child molestation, the war in Vietnam, being a Jungle POW, multiple cancers and, most recently, pancreatic cancer and has emerged with newfound strength and a zest for life that is an inspiration to all of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Dolkowski
• Release date: Oct 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386500247

Michael Dolkowski

Mr. Dolkowski earned a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and became a successful Entrepreneur operating three companies simultaneously. During his lifetime he has been a Physical Therapist an Artist, Wood Sculptor, Musician, Commercial Fisherman, Protester, Coal Miner, Guest Speaker for Multiple Universities, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Awarded Leader and Innovator Honor by Lawrence Technical University and an expert on Multiple Topics which include Entrepreneurship, Business Ethics, Sustainable Environments, Positive Thought and Life Changes.  He survived the war in Vietnam including being a jungle POW, multiple cancers brought about by Agent Orange used in Vietnam, survived Colon Cancer, Skin Cancers many times and Pancreatic Cancer avoiding mainstay medicine curing himself with Homeopathic treatments and new Immunology therapies. Overcame the physical and mental abuse of child molestation starting in third grade at age six by his Catholic Priest I chose to Write this book so others can accomplish their desires and wishes, I have practiced this thought process and have overcome many obstacles and have been very successful

Book preview

Acknowledgments

This memoir is dedicated to my wife, Dona, children, Todd and Kelley, daughter-in-law, Lisa and son-in-law, Vincent and my grandchildren, Alexander, Maxwell and Hannah.

Without the care and loving I received from Dona when I met and married her, I would not be alive today.  I was fighting colon cancer brought about by my exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange in Vietnam.  Also raising Todd and Kelley gave me hope and created the opportunity to love life for a lifetime.  You see, Agent Orange caused birth defects and sterility and I was unable to have children. So, Dona’s children became my own. I will be forever grateful to them.

Also, to the Old Man, who saved me and taught me never to give in to misfortune. I know wherever you are today you hear my thoughts.

Lastly, I mention Molly, who encouraged me to bring out in more detail the difficult moments of my life story, reminding me the world must know and remember the atrocities that child molestation and war bring.  Child molestation and war atrocities still occur and need to be eradicated to protect our future sons and daughters, and to prove you, a victim, can create fortune out of misfortune.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 The Old Man and the Priest

Chapter 2 Young Entrepreneur

Chapter 3 Training for War

Chapter 4 Fighting in Vietnam

Chapter 5 A Soldier’s Mental State Becomes the Enemy

Chapter 6 Cambodia and Being A Jungle POW

Chapter 7 Home But Not Home

Chapter 8 Coping Through Work and Education

Chapter 9 Adult Entrepreneur

Chapter 10 Artist, Speaker, Cancer Survivor, Life Coach

Chapter 11 How I Became an Artist

Chapter 12 Your Personal Plan

Introduction

This memoir is not intended to make you sad or cry.  Good and bad fortune is part of all of our lives. I have had both during my lifetime and look forward to what my future holds for myself and loved ones. No matter what our circumstances, we can overcome them through critical thought and create a lifetime of success and love by the internal powers given to each of us.

At the end of this book, I will present a road map; no matter what stage you are in life, to follow to change your path to one that leads to a lifetime of peace and gratification.

I start with opening my life and heart to all who read this book.  My friend Molly stated, no matter how hard or painful it is to relive the unfortunate times, there were also great times.  I begin where it all started, my inhumane molestation from our Catholic priest, then meeting a kind Old Man who saved and protected me.  From the teachings of this kind Old Man came the beginnings of never giving in or quitting.  This included fighting for the abused in high school, my entrepreneurship, which led me to create a multi-business enterprise, painful decisions as a soldier and POW, and the long road to recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We Vietnam soldiers never knew this strength existed in us, and didn’t understanding why we struggled to return to our old lives before war came into our worlds.  Finally, the struggle with cancer will be discussed, as it is one so many must face.  Living well, in spite of that struggle can be challenging.

I

The Old Man and the Priest

I really don’t remember a great deal of my childhood except that working was a way to cope and never be overwhelmed by (give in to) continuous nightmares of being molested by a priest from St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church who was held in high regard by my Catholic family.  My family members could not believe that something as horrendous as child molestation by a priest could occur at our Catholic Church and school.

Walking to the Catholic school became a gut-wrenching ordeal.  At my young age, my life was turned upside down.  Someone who I was taught to call Father was hurting me and no one would help.  Hundreds of kids walked this same route to the church, with fear and trepidation of what was waiting inside of the school that day; pain or relief that someone else was chosen for molestation. St. Bartholomew was founded in 1925 and closed in 2008 when parishioners were assigned to St. Rita Roman Catholic Church in what was a massive reorganization of the Archdiocese of Detroit as a result of nearly 1 million residents moving out of the city of Detroit.

I served as an altar boy at age eight.  My father and mother said that the Catholic priest would lower the tuition costs for our family if one of the boys became an altar boy.  I was picked since I was the second oldest and at the time had a keen interest in religion.  This interest came about through my grandmother who was very religious.  She would tell me many stories about angels coming to visit her and how they saved my father during World War II. He was a bomber pilot and a navigator in the Army Air Force. He survived being shot down twice overseas and ultimately was rescued by the French Underground.  I would learn later, firsthand, of his stories, only after returning home from Vietnam.

My father was a firefighter at the time I attended Catholic school, working on the Detroit Fire Boat.  With a family of six children, money was scarce.  I remember dad working odd shifts, days away, days home, though very few details emerged.  On his days off, he would find other jobs, painting homes, washing walls, selling Christmas trees: It was normal for firefighters to have other jobs to make ends meet.

My relationship with the priest began slowly, over several months, before the physical and sexual abuse occurred, as he built trust with my father and mother, our family and me.  My parents felt obligated to him for his part in reducing the tuition for their children and would invite him into our home for dinner.  He would bring gifts for birthdays such as bread and milk and tell my parents I was a good altar boy, apparently so they too would come to trust him. It worked. They just adored him.

In the beginning, the priest taught me music and how to play the guitar.  He brought me model cars to put together, showing me to his room and showcasing