Book excerpt: The memoir as literature is not common, and a rare treat. Once Around The Block is an adventure story, told in a unique voice, by a superb storyteller. The author weaves a narrative from a poignant childhood in Brooklyn, the mysteries of sex, humor and appreciation for every odd situation, including the unimaginable experience of the First Wave D-Day landing and the painful losses of WWII. Staff Sergeant Bernhardt Krein, New York City Firefighter "Barney" Krein, Adventure Traveler Bernie Krein tells compelling, desperate, marvelous tales of surviving and thriving in the world of the recent past.