Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Wingman-Miss-Universe-Explore-Homefront-ebook/dp/B0GTK14XSR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dr. Kevin P. Wallace
Van of Valor
(208) 590-5766
Manteo.Creative.SPOT@gmail.com
New Book Reveals Untold Story of Marine Aviator and Miss Universe, Offering a Fresh Perspective on the Vietnam War Era
NORTH PORT, Fla. (March 16, 2026) – A remarkable true story that has remained untold for over half a century is finally being brought to light. *A Wingman for Miss Universe*, a new book by cultural anthropologist and author L. Wright Wallace, will be published on April 21, 2026, by WW Consulting Solutions. The narrative explores a profound encounter between a Marine fighter pilot and a beauty queen, set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Vietnam War—and it was born here on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
In the summer of 1967, First Lieutenant Dennis Peek, a Marine Corps aviator, was reassigned as an escort to Miss USA, Sylvia Hitchcock, at the Miss Universe pageant. From this collision of two disparate worlds—the military and the glamour of the pageant stage—an unlikely and powerful connection was forged. Before shipping out to Vietnam, Peek gifted Hitchcock his aviator wings, asking her to remember the men serving. Months later, Hitchcock received word he had been Killed in Action.
*A Wingman for Miss Universe* is not a conventional love story, but a poignant narrative about the weight of a promise, the humanity behind the uniform, and how a single, fleeting encounter can shape a life. It follows Hitchcock’s fifty-year journey to honor the memory of a man she knew for only days, a journey that would redefine her understanding of patriotism and sacrifice.
“This is a story about the quiet heroes’ wars left behind,” said author L. Wright Wallace. “Through the trust of the Peek family, we are honored to share Dennis’s story and offer a new lens through which to view the homefront of the Vietnam War era.”
L. Wright Wallace is a cultural anthropologist and historian whose work focuses on preserving the stories of veterans and their families. Her extensive Van of Valor project has involved traveling over 27,000 miles to conduct more than 317 interviews with Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. It was during this research that she first encountered the anecdote that would become *A Wingman for Miss Universe*. Wallace, who grew up as an “Army BRAT,” has deep roots in the region—the Van of Valor is now an official symbol of the City of North Port, and she is proud to call this community home.
Book Information:
– Title: *A Wingman for Miss Universe: Explore the Homefront of the Vietnam War through the Eyes of Miss Universe*
– Author: L. Wright Wallace
– Publisher: WW Consulting Solutions
– Publication Date: April 21, 2026
– Format: Paperback & eBook
The author and the Van of Valor team are available for interviews and comments upon request. For media inquiries, review copies, or to schedule an interview with L. Wright Wallace, please contact Dr. Kevin P. Wallace using the information above.
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