Dave Jankowski

Dave Jankowski is a retired U. S. Air Force fighter pilot and Northwest Airlines captain. He is an ardent fly-fisherman, fly tyer, and bamboo rod maker. With a passion for veterans, he participates in Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and its affiliate, Bamboo Bend, where he serves as lead instructor. He lives in Traverse City, Michigan, with his wife, Mary. They enjoy a long marriage, have four grown daughters, and eight grandchildren who all love to go to “Grampy’s Cabin” on Michigan’s famed Au Sable River.

Rod Jenkins

Rod Jenkins, aka Bald Eagle, is a retired Airline Pilot and former Air Force pilot. In retirement he has pursued his interest in art. Watercolor painting and drawing have been his main interests. He has witnessed many of the stories in this book and been a character in a few.

Rod has enjoyed all things fly fishing for more than 50 years. He enjoys fly tying, bamboo rod making, and time spent sharing these skills with anyone interested. One of his greatest joys is being an instructor in the Project Healing Waters/Bamboo Bend School that teaches military veterans how to make a bamboo fly rod.

Rod resides in Southeast Michigan with his wife of 47 years. Living nearby are his two children and three grandchildren. Rod’s “main mission” today is to spend time with his family making memories that will be part of stories for years to come.