Long-time Massapequa Park resident David Oser recently published his first book, a novel entitled Paid-in-Full.

Oser's work captures the sensitivity of mothers, fathers, wives and children of those who are Missing-in-Action (MIA) from war. In the novel, Skip Hoffman, missing during World War II as a result of a military blunder, lives a secret, tormented existence. His anguish is magnified by an ironic twist of fate when his son is declared MIA in Vietnam.

The piece was partly inspired by signs Oser saw along Sunrise Highway declaring the thoroughfare "The POW/MIA Memorial Highway," as well as the POW/MIA flags that appear throughout the American landscape. It is also based on personal recollections, research and interviews.

"What it focuses on is the families who are still waiting for final word about their MIA friends and relatives," said Oser, who began working on the project after retiring from a career in education in 1996. "It tries to let us not forget the men and women who were lost." He noted that there are approximately 2,000 Americans still MIA from the Vietnam War, 8,000 from the Korean War, and 75,000-80,000 from World War II.

Oser's sensitivity for people developed during his 27 years as a teacher at Northport High School and at Stony Brook University for a dozen of those same years. He and his wife, Rhoda, have three grown children - Allen, Duane, and Miriam. The new author, who has lived in Massapequa Park for 36 years, is also an active member of the Long Island Bulldog Club, which runs shows regularly at the American Legion Hall in Massapequa.

His book is available from local bookstores as well as Internet vendors.