Phil's book: Running from the Fire describes in “you are there” detail how a young man growing up in 2 cultures tries to find exactly where he fits in. He’s a minority (a Russian Jew) doing everything he can do to fit into an even smaller minority; an East LA “cholo” or a street tough. The story chronicles the many challenges and changes he faces in order to survive being targeted as a little, skinny, Jewish kid with glasses into an affable, street wise, playful, albeit confused individual.

The book begins with the main character trying to adjust to school using his own merits only to be challenged by the differences between his family and his peer group. He struggles with the many difficulties he must make as he gets older, gets his teenage girlfriend pregnant, puts the baby up for adoption, is drafted into the army and finds himself in the middle of the Central Highlands of Vietnam as a medic. He ultimately survives that experience only to find himself adjusting to the many social changes going on in America in 1968 when he returns to East LA.

Running from the Fire takes the reader, through human circumstance and humor, going from one situation to another and seeing exactly what it is like finding yourself in a mixture of remarkable social conditions. The book covers includes memoirs, travel and the Vietnam war that younger generations as well as Baby Boomers today are interested in the similarities with the war in Iraq and looking back at their own experience with Vietnam and the societal changes taking place today including health, history, humor, psychology and self help.

Running from the Fire is approximately 86,000 words and includes many tragic-comedy events where the reader gets to feel what it is like to be caught between two worlds.

There are 150,000 troops in Iraq today. Conventional wisdom as to how, when and what they will be like once they come back home is a question only time will answer. Running from the Fire details what happened to many of the troops who served in Vietnam. There were 500,000 US troops in Vietnam at the height of the War. The war lasted 15 years. In that time 55,000 were killed in country. Running from the Fire describes what happened to one of the men who was sent there.

My parents emigrated from Russia and lived on Llano Del Rio, the most successful utopian socialist community experiment in the US. Aldous Huxley, the author, also lived at the community.*

When Llano Del Rio fell apart, my grandfather went back to Russia and the rest of the family moved to East LA. My father had to quit school in the 7th grade and raise his four younger brothers and sisters. I am his youngest child, who grew up in East LA and became a Jewish “cholo” (or pachuco, low rider or street tough). I became completely immersed in the Mexican subculture where I wasn’t really accepted completely by either the Jewish or the Mexican community.

I was drafted and sent to Vietnam as a medic with the First Cavalry Division. I survived that, came home to California in The Summer of Love and all the changes taking place in society in the 60’s.

I went to school at East LA College and Cal State LA, receiving a BA in sociology. I was a social worker in Ventura for 3 years, left for Northern California and went to Cal State, Chico for 2 years taking writing and art classes.

I took a writing scholarship from Schiller College (A German school off the coast of Greece - on Paros Island).

I managed Chico Natural Foods Co-op for 4 years and began making Senor Felipe’s Organic Salsas in 1980, which at times, has been available nationally in many natural food stores.

I ran the English Resource Library at Chico High School for 2 years until I began doing my radio show on KZFR, Chico Community Radio 90.1 FM. I produce and program “L.A. Sounds with Sr Felipe”; a show playing do-wop, rhythm & blues, soul, Latin and cholo music as well as social commentary and my readings.

I’ve done many readings of my writing in various locations, I’ve also published a number of articles in various publications for the past couple years and for the past several weeks I’ve been reading a book I’ve written (that covers some “you are there” multiculturalism in East LA, some history of the war in Vietnam and some history of Llano Del Rio) titled “Running from the Fire” and “Finding My Birthson at 35 Years Old” on KZFR, 90.1 FM, Chico.

*If you would like more information about Llano Del Rio just check online for Llano Del Rio. My grandfather, Meyer Elkins, was the official photographer for the community.