David, 2007 was a pretty big year for you. Tell us about it. I wrote a book titled “The Student Council,” which I finished in December 2005, just a month before I left for basic training. From the advice and urging of my sergeant I sent the book to publishing companies at the beginning of the year. It was picked up and printed in March and in May it was released for online audiences.

You mean, it’s an online book? No, it’s available in paperback. What I mean is that right now you can only buy it at places like Amazon.com, Borders.com, and other online companies.

What’s it about? “The Student Council” is the story of the fourteen British Columbian teens that, in the late 1990s, rebuilt the notorious Chanesworth crime family. It’s “Goodfellas” meets “Cruel Intentions.”

What motivated you? Aside from always being interested in the mafia, I came up with the idea in 1999 when I was struggling as an actor in British Columbia and I was frustrated that Canadian actors were having a tough time getting parts in a Canadian province while so many Americans were getting these jobs. One reason was because Americans were much more adept at performing different accents and dialects. I wrote a story that reads like a screenplay based in a Canadian province. If it ever becomes a movie, a Canadian actor will be the most logical fit into the lead.

What kind of money are we talking? Ten percent from each book and then, after 10,000 copies are sold, I make 12.5 percent from each copy.

So you joined the Army after finishing a book? Why? Because I wanted to serve this country. I was not born in the United States but I moved back and forth between countries since I was 12. I am also an actor and I got really tired of other actors and actresses saying, “I don’t support the war, but I support the troops.” I wanted to show that I supported the troops by becoming one, not by speaking boring cliches.

And your job as a medic accomplishes that goal? Exactly. I joined the Army as a medic because I knew that I could directly impact the lives of other servicemembers by helping them get back to health.

What was your best day in the Army? My first days in the emergency room at Yongsan, a civilian came in with an aortic rupture. My job was simple, to hold his hand and help him calm him. He had a 50-50 chance at living. It was so satisfying to learn a few weeks later that he made it.

What acting jobs have you had? I’ve mainly done a whole slew of local and national commercials, including for Dell Computers, Dairy Queen, and Disney to name a few. I can be seen in “The Butterfly Effect” with Ashton Kutcher, and I was a body double in “Smallville.”

What was Ashton Kutcher like? His intelligence surprised me. He was a bio-chemical engineer in college before leaving for acting. He recited the Greek alphabet for us. He also produces his own projects which motivates me to do the same.

Best mafia movie? “GoodFellas,” because it is a hard core movie that is surrounded by a good love story.

Best actor? Christian Bale. He fully commits to his role and of the 21 movies he’s been in he’s done 19 different accents. When you watch one of his movies you forget that you are watching him. Al Pacino is great, but he has never been as diverse as Bale is.

What makes a good author? Someone who layers their story and understands irony.

What makes a good actor? Someone who gets lost in their role no matter how uncomfortable they may be.

Know someone whose accomplishments, talents, job, hobby, volunteer work, awards or good deeds qualify them for 15 minutes of fame? How about someone whose claim to glory is a bit out of the ordinary — even, dare we say, oddball? Call Paul Newell at Stars and Stripes with the person’s name and contact information at DSN 229-3158 or e-mail him at: newellp@pstripes.osd.mil

Pfc. David Dasilma

Age: 27

Title: Health care specialist, 121st Combat Support Hospital

Location: Yongsan Garrison, South Korea

Pacific readers: Know someone whose accomplishments, talents, job, hobby, volunteer work, awards or good deeds qualify them for 15 minutes of fame? How about someone whose claim to glory is a bit out of the ordinary — even, dare we say, oddball? Call Paul Newell at Stars and Stripes with the person’s name and contact information at DSN 229-3158 or e-mail him at: newellp@pstripes.osd.mil.