[June 20, 2023] Picking Cotton. My first real job was picking cotton at my Grandpappy’s home in southeast Arkansas. I learned many valuable lessons, including that I was not cut out to be a cotton picker. I was ten years old in the Summer of 1962 when I picked cotton for the first time. A “real” job meant… Read More »
[June 18, 2023] Happy Father’s Day to all those who make a difference to their children. Here, I deviate from the commercial, modernist Father’s Day idea. We should not celebrate Fathers … well, in the strict sense of the word. We should be celebrating Dads. Dads are those who raise their children. To be a father is easy.… Read More »
[June 17, 2023] Work or Lazy. I was young, but I was an adult. Now was the time I chose Army life over railroad work. It was a time to choose between two radically different paths in life, one that would mean the life I know today, the other the way of my father. There was one other… Read More »
[June 14, 2023] I attended a Flag Day luncheon of local Veterans and their spouses two days ago. Annually, we kick off the Summer on the nearest Monday with a luncheon to celebrate our national flag, Old Glory. The event was unique because everyone there was an American Patriot and loved our nation and flag. Attending such an… Read More »
Edit [June 11, 2023] The funeral yesterday was conducted with just the right amount of planning to make it one of the best attended that I’ve seen in a long time. Many from the community were there to give their respects to the family of PFC Hartmann. There was no political grandstanding or long speeches. It was full… Read More »
[June 9, 2023] Family. Family. Family. I’ll update my letters to my granddaughter in an ongoing series for future reading. My granddaughter is the oldest of my grandchildren and the only girl. And she is a very active child and smart as a whip. Today’s topic is family. Regular readers know my stance on families and will not… Read More »
[June 6, 2023] Codenamed Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied France had long been coming. Success was an outgrowth of the many leadership lessons from the failures at Dunkirk and other battlefields. Those lessons were hard-earned and cost the lives of tens of thousands of military and civilians. Yet, what did the military and civilian leadership gain from… Read More »
[June 3, 2023] Summer jobs, side jobs, and odd jobs. This article is my latest update to letters to my granddaughter. Growing up in the 1950s was good for me. By now, you know that we were rich (by local standards), and that meant my parents were married, my dad had a steady job on the railroad,… Read More »
[June 1, 2023] Did you ever see the face of a troop in a combat zone who sees, for the first time, a young beautiful Red Cross Donut Dolly? That troop is magically transformed from a mentally hardened, physically grubby and weary Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman or Coastie into a smiling, joking, happy, jolly, friendly person you… Read More »
[May 29, 2023] From the stories told by my parents, my first doggie – Rusty – was my forever companion. He was there when I was born and lived with us for many years. I’m convinced our close, very close bond was the reason for many decades of wonderful relationships with animals throughout my lifetime, in particular, pet… Read More »