Allen spent almost eight years in Southeast Asia flying helicopters with the United States Marine Corps and later with Air America. During more than two decades of flying, he accumulated thousands of hours in both airplanes and helicopters.

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For more than forty years, he worked in the oil and gas industry while continuing to write about aviation, history, and international affairs.

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Allen published his first book, Honor Denied, in 2011. It was republished in 2022. He served on the Board of Directors of the Air America Association and has written numerous articles for the Association.

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Allen is currently the Air America Association Historian.

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"Writing Above the Rice brought back memories of my years as a Marine aviator and later with Air America. Brian Vincent is fictional—but I understand him."

—Allen Cates