Author, editor and super salesman “Og” Mandino tells his story this way. "December 12, 1923 was my birthday, born Augustine Mandino.
The nickname "Og" came via my paternal grandfather. I always loved reading and writing and became my high school paper's editor. My main influence, of all people, was my dear mother who always instilled in me the idea that I would be a great writer.
Her inspiration led me to go for my dream of attending the University of Missouri's journalism school. That's when my life took an unexpected, very dark turn.
As I was ready to enter college in 1940, my mother died suddenly, right in front of me, from a massive heart attack as she was preparing my lunch. Completely crushed, I literally lost all desire to go on. I managed to find some work in a paper factory until 1942. Then I joined the United States Army Air Corps where I became a military officer and a bombardier.