A Howland native who has distinguished himself through his military career, has released his book "Guardian Angel: Life and Death Adventures with Pararescue, the World's Most Powerful Commando Rescue Force.''
The book was released in September by Casemate Publishers.
William Sine, a retired Air Force senior master sergeant, is the author of the non-fiction book which is a Military Book Club selection. He is the son of Helen Giancarlo of Howland and graduated from Howland High School in 1975 before serving 28 years as a USAF pararescueman. Sine is currently the flight chief at the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Largely unknown outside the secretive special operations community, pararescuemen, also known as PJs, have saved more than 40,000 lives since their inception in 1947. The book tells how they form an ultra-elite commando force of less than 600 men in their mission to save lives. PJs live their motto "These Things We Do, That Others May Live,''
Sine's decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart for his heroism.
Howland trustees named July 10 in Howland as ''Master Sergeant William Sine Day.'' Trustees honored Sine who served 21 years in the Armed Forces and was a superintendent of the Pararescue Team of the 41st Rescue Squadron and has participated in numerous space shuttle rescue standby activities
While he was in Saudi Arabia to perform a rescue mission, Sine was in a building where a terrorist explosion occurred took the lives of 19 Americans and injured hundreds. Sine helped attend to others who were wounded in the explosion.
He assumed his duties wth the 38th Rescue Squadron Operations Superintendent in May 2001 and exercised a central leadership role in forging the Air Force's first and largest pararescue squadron.
Sine's name is listed at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Warren.