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Author notes;
David Pelzer was born in California. He survived what is reported to be the third worst case of child abuse in California state history. The victims of the other two cases are dead.

At the age 12, Pelzer's teachers risked their careers to notify the authorities and saved his life. He was removed from his home and his abusive mother, and made a ward of the court. He was placed in foster care until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 18. While in the service, Pelzer achieved the rank of Sargent and was hand-picked to midair refuel the highly secretive SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 Stealth Fighter, which played a major role in Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm.

Pelzer's has received personal commendations from Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. In 1990, he was the recipient of the J. C. Penney Golden Rule Award, making him the California Volunteer of the Year. In 1993, Pelzer was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans, in the same ranks as John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Anne Bancroft, Orson Welles, Walt Disney, and Nelson Rockefeller. In 1994, Pelzer was the only American to be honored as one of The Outstanding Young Persons of the World. He also carried the coveted Centennial flame for the 1996 Olympics.

David Pelzer is the author of two books about his childhood experiences, A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy, from Omaha Press, 1993 and 1994. Both A Child Called "It," and Help Yourself have both been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Pelzer is one of the only authors to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times Best Sellers List and the first author to have three books simultaneously on this list in trade paperback. He is also the only author to have four #1 International Best Sellers.

Pelzer's life story has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show - Spirit Segment, The Montel Williams Show, Sally Jesse, Leeza Gibbons, and Barbara Walter's The View. Pelzer offers programs for corporate groups, human services, and youth-at-risk. He has had experience as a: Juvenile Hall Counselor, Youth Service Worker, Troy State University--human services studies, National Advisor--Missing Youth Foundation, Board of Directors--Foster Care ILP, and Certified Correctional Custody Program Facilitator.

(Bowker Author Biography) Dave Pelzer is the New York Times bestselling author of A Child Called "It," The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave. He travels throughout the nation offering keynotes on overcoming obstacles. He has appeared on Montel and Leeza.

(Publisher Provided)