December 31, 2009 — I think a good topic for my final blog of 2009 is to make some resolutions for the coming new year. One hears so much about resolutions sometimes...things like oh you shouldn't make resolutions you can't keep and resolutions can be a good thing because it's like setting goals. I think the latter is true. But before I write my new year resolutions I want to honor my Mother in this final 2009 blog.
Yesterday was Mom's birthday. She was born in 1904. She was a great Mom and loved her family dearly. To so many in our family she was known as Granny B...having so many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. There is a closeness in our family that sometimes is hard to explain. Actually it needs no explanation as it is shown almost daily. All of us owe that closeness to my Mother. It is from her that we have learned to love and care about one another. No greater gift could be given by a mother then this love and caring. Happy Birthday Mom!
Now about those resolutions. I make these knowing full well that there will be much work to be done on my part to carry them through. I accept that challenge.
Resolution #1 - I resolve to take better care of my health...without good health I have nothing.
Resolution #2 - I resolve to be a better husband and friend to my wife Karen (no more Wanda). Without her life would not be near as full as it is nor will be.
Resolution #3 - I resolve to grab each moment that I can to be with those in my family...to share our joys and our woes.
Resolution #4 - I resolve to spend as much time with my grandchildren as I can, so they will know me and I will know them.
Resolution #5 - I resolve to be a loving and caring friend with those that are in my life.
Resolution #6 - I resolve to love and care for our dog MollyB and our cat Boots. They need us and we need them...they give us great joy.
Pretty simple reolutions really. I've got the talkin' done...now it is time for action. This is GOOD STUFF as my brother John would say and I look forward to 2010 with great anticipation...it's what really matters!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas 2009
December 25, 2009 — There is magic in this night and there has been since the birth of Christ over 2000 years ago. The magic and beauty of a Christmas season shines in all our faces and is in all of our families. It is especially so in the children...it is such a joy to see the happiness and excitement they feel. It is such a blessing.
The following is something I have written and of course you will immediately recognize from where it comes. I am not a poet and certainly Clement Moore does not need any improvement on what he wrote in 1822. It is, however, an expression of what I am feeling this blessed night.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas In Our Little House
'Twas the night before Christmas in our little house,
I'd finished my chores and had kissed the spouse.
And now snuggled in bed like a big sleepy head,
MollyB was with me having just been fed.
I slipped into a light sleep and began to dream,
Dreaming of all sorts of wonderful things.
And then I was nudged by a faint little sound,I
thought maybe my son was up and moving around.
But no it couldn't be that I thought to myself,
He'd been asleep for an hour...or was it three.
Then the sound came again and MollyB's ears perked up,
I was alerted now by my good little pup.
As I arose to go look MollyB beat me there,
And when I got there all I could do was just stare.
The fireplace was all aglow with red and white,
it was really an eerie sight.
I looked at the tree and it was sparkling all covered in snow,
Just how did that happen I wanted to know.
So I said to my pup, "let's just go outside and have a look,"
I kept thinking to myself I had read this in a book.
The night was quiet and not a soul to be seen,
and I looked at Molly and knew her senses were keen.
We then both looked to the sky above,
To the stars burning bright and the one in the East,
Shining a dome of light that has never ceased.
Then our gaze turned to the moon and a silhouette that passed,
Of a man in a sleigh behind his reindeer not moving to fast.
And his "Ho-HO-Ho Merry Christmas" gave us no doubt,
St. Nick had come to visit our little house.
Then off in the distance MollyB and I heard,
A Dickens like voice clearly saying each word.
"God Bless Us...Everyone."
And May God Bless you and your house...Merry Christmas! It's what really matters!
Terry
The following is something I have written and of course you will immediately recognize from where it comes. I am not a poet and certainly Clement Moore does not need any improvement on what he wrote in 1822. It is, however, an expression of what I am feeling this blessed night.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas In Our Little House
'Twas the night before Christmas in our little house,
I'd finished my chores and had kissed the spouse.
And now snuggled in bed like a big sleepy head,
MollyB was with me having just been fed.
I slipped into a light sleep and began to dream,
Dreaming of all sorts of wonderful things.
And then I was nudged by a faint little sound,I
thought maybe my son was up and moving around.
But no it couldn't be that I thought to myself,
He'd been asleep for an hour...or was it three.
Then the sound came again and MollyB's ears perked up,
I was alerted now by my good little pup.
As I arose to go look MollyB beat me there,
And when I got there all I could do was just stare.
The fireplace was all aglow with red and white,
it was really an eerie sight.
I looked at the tree and it was sparkling all covered in snow,
Just how did that happen I wanted to know.
So I said to my pup, "let's just go outside and have a look,"
I kept thinking to myself I had read this in a book.
The night was quiet and not a soul to be seen,
and I looked at Molly and knew her senses were keen.
We then both looked to the sky above,
To the stars burning bright and the one in the East,
Shining a dome of light that has never ceased.
Then our gaze turned to the moon and a silhouette that passed,
Of a man in a sleigh behind his reindeer not moving to fast.
And his "Ho-HO-Ho Merry Christmas" gave us no doubt,
St. Nick had come to visit our little house.
Then off in the distance MollyB and I heard,
A Dickens like voice clearly saying each word.
"God Bless Us...Everyone."
And May God Bless you and your house...Merry Christmas! It's what really matters!
Terry
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Some Kids Are Imps and Some Parents Are The Problem
December 23, 2009 — I have helped raise a few kids in my day. I have done some good things in doing so and then there were some things I did not do correctly. I don't recall being a parent that was constantly haranguing my children about this, that, or the other thing. What I mean here is that it is always important to teach a child what is right and wrong and what is and is not acceptable behavior. Correcting a child or haranguing them for being a child however is not important nor the thing to do and it absolutely irks me to no end when I see a parent do that.
I very recently encountered a parent that harangues his children just because that what the child is doing at a particular moment irritates them. The children were just being...well children...playing outside and having a good time. Maybe it was that they were laughing too loud or running too fast or climbing into the back of a parked pickup...it irritated this parent and he had to correct them at every move. Earlier the parent had mentioned that his "demon" child was back from a week long visit to his Aunt's house. This child is certainly not a demon, an imp sometimes and what child isn't, and I know that the parent does not really think of the child that way. It was just the parents way of saying that his vacation from not having to feel the need to constantly correct the child was over. This parent needs to go take a long look in the mirror and he will see where the problem lies.
Another issue arises here that just irks me. When I have talked with this parent about child rearing, I have often times heard "...my Dad was that way and therefore that's the way I am." The next time I hear this I am going to ask this parent or whoever that if their father had been Jack the Ripper would they feel a need to be Jack the Ripper II. I can't tell you how many times I have heard this and it makes me sick. Come on parent take responsibility for your own actions and don't hang the blame on your Dad or your Mom. What a cop out!
We all have the right and responsibility to raise our children. Hopefully we do so in a solid family manner and give emphasis to good moral and social behavior. The parent I have been describing certainly has that capability and does some things as a parent really well. I just hope they will let their children be children and do less haranguing on them just because it irritates them...it's what really matters!
I very recently encountered a parent that harangues his children just because that what the child is doing at a particular moment irritates them. The children were just being...well children...playing outside and having a good time. Maybe it was that they were laughing too loud or running too fast or climbing into the back of a parked pickup...it irritated this parent and he had to correct them at every move. Earlier the parent had mentioned that his "demon" child was back from a week long visit to his Aunt's house. This child is certainly not a demon, an imp sometimes and what child isn't, and I know that the parent does not really think of the child that way. It was just the parents way of saying that his vacation from not having to feel the need to constantly correct the child was over. This parent needs to go take a long look in the mirror and he will see where the problem lies.
Another issue arises here that just irks me. When I have talked with this parent about child rearing, I have often times heard "...my Dad was that way and therefore that's the way I am." The next time I hear this I am going to ask this parent or whoever that if their father had been Jack the Ripper would they feel a need to be Jack the Ripper II. I can't tell you how many times I have heard this and it makes me sick. Come on parent take responsibility for your own actions and don't hang the blame on your Dad or your Mom. What a cop out!
We all have the right and responsibility to raise our children. Hopefully we do so in a solid family manner and give emphasis to good moral and social behavior. The parent I have been describing certainly has that capability and does some things as a parent really well. I just hope they will let their children be children and do less haranguing on them just because it irritates them...it's what really matters!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sometimes It's A Matter of Faith
December 22, 2009 — I have on occasion in this blog written about my youngest son who is 20-yrs old. I have written about some of the trials and tribulations he has put himself and his family through over the last several years. There is no doubt that like so many young people now days he often times displays little knowledge about respect or taking responsibility for his words and deeds. Unfortunately I have seen this all to often in his everyday life. The lack of respect for authority and the thinking he can live by his own rules in everything he does has been most troubling.
I have spoken with him many times on these subjects and to little avail. Those of us that are parents experience this with our children...some more than others. The frustration of it all can become overwhelming and one might get to the point where they throw up their hands and try to commit to an attitude of not caring. I have approached that point many times and then I have gone back to reality and realized something. I know this young man and I know where he comes from.
I saw the reality of that just the other day with my son. We were at my step-sons house having a cookout and enjoying their new baby boy. He is just a little over a week old and is as precious as can be. My son sat for a long while holding his new nephew in his lap as he sat in the family easy chair. His gentleness and handling of the baby was a sight to behold. And it confirmed to me what I have always known and believed...I know my son and I know where he comes from.
Is this a matter of faith? I believe that it is. If we have faith and believe in what we know to be true, then we are never lost in the chaos that sometimes attempts to envelop or lives. It is faith that brings us through the trials and tribulations of life. I saw that so clearly on this particular day. It is this faith that has brought an ease to me in how I feel about the relationship I have with my son... it is what really matters!
I have spoken with him many times on these subjects and to little avail. Those of us that are parents experience this with our children...some more than others. The frustration of it all can become overwhelming and one might get to the point where they throw up their hands and try to commit to an attitude of not caring. I have approached that point many times and then I have gone back to reality and realized something. I know this young man and I know where he comes from.
I saw the reality of that just the other day with my son. We were at my step-sons house having a cookout and enjoying their new baby boy. He is just a little over a week old and is as precious as can be. My son sat for a long while holding his new nephew in his lap as he sat in the family easy chair. His gentleness and handling of the baby was a sight to behold. And it confirmed to me what I have always known and believed...I know my son and I know where he comes from.
Is this a matter of faith? I believe that it is. If we have faith and believe in what we know to be true, then we are never lost in the chaos that sometimes attempts to envelop or lives. It is faith that brings us through the trials and tribulations of life. I saw that so clearly on this particular day. It is this faith that has brought an ease to me in how I feel about the relationship I have with my son... it is what really matters!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Is This The Right Thing To Do?
December 15, 2009 — Anyone that knows me or reads my blog or emails I send occasionally understands that I am pro veteran. I am one of so many that stands up for and strongly supports veterans and the laws and benefits that affect veterans. Well today's edition of the Austin American-Statesman is carrying an article titled "Travis County is looking to set up court for veterans" that caught my eye and raises a few questions. The article describes how county officials are looking at creating a court docket to handle crimes committed by veterans suffering from mental illness and substance abuse that would channel these veterans into treatment and social services instead of sending them to jail. Hmmm...now wait just a minute. Before reading further I suggest you read the American-Statesman article here http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/12/15/1215veterans.html.
First of all, who would be the authority that identifies that a veteran committed a crime because of mental distress/illness or substance abuse caused by their military service? Would it be the Veterans Administration (VA), county health officials, the individuals military health record...who? There is recent evidence (Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Hood, Texas) that military medical personnel and even the VA do not fully understand and correctly identify those that suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or the use of illegal drugs to "self medicate." The system they work under often times does not readily allow them to effectively identify and treat those that are suffering. Manpower is an issue here and there is possibly too much "rubber stamping" going on to keep the flow of patients moving. Furthermore, how is someone in the military suffering from PTSD any different from a teenager dealing with the stresses of peer pressure or an adult that has lost their job and is stressed? To me there is no difference. For those that "self medicate" (a politically correct term for doing drugs), I have no sympathy. The body of evidence on what happens when one abuses drugs is huge and very clear and has been for a long time.
What crimes would be handled by such a court? Only misdemeanors? Could a veteran that committed a felony such as sexual abuse or burglary or car theft end up in this court because it was deemed that they committed the crime because they were mentally stressed or on drugs? This is dangerous ground here. There needs to be clear evidence that whatever crimes are handled by a court such as this are not repeated by an individual and the treatment and/or social services received were the reason that it was so and not because the individual was incarcerated. The above article presents no such evidence.
The Statesman article cites a 90-day study conducted through a Travis County program called "Veterans Intervention Project." This was a "self-reporting through questionnaires" study that reported various statistics on veterans jailed during the period of the study. The most significant statistic of this limited study is that only 35% of those veterans eligible to receive help from the VA for mental health and substance abuse issues had done so. The study noted that one reason for this is the stigma in the military against seeking mental health help. I am sure this is true, but the problem goes much deeper. There apparently is still a huge mistrust of the VA among Vietnam veterans especially. How do I know this? By talking with vets at VA clinics and VA hospitals here in Texas. This mistrust is due primarily because of past problems vets have had with the VA such as delays in getting treatment, mistakes made in treatment, and also because the vet himself is not yet over the war in Vietnam. This is an education problem and there needs to be ways of better educating veterans and the general population on what the VA is doing to improve (they are making great strides) and more importantly what treatment and services are available.
So the county is just beginning to talk about this court. No money to fund such a court has been identified and that is going to be a bone to chew. I personally have no problem with some of my county tax dollars being used for such a court, but then again I am a veteran. My neighbor next door could take issue however. That again is an education issue and the county would do well to lay that ground work down early.
I am in favor of such a court being established as long as it is carefully administered with strong, competent oversight, i.e. no "rubber stamping." Maj. Darren Long of the Travis County Sheriff Office and a member of a veterans task force stated it rather clearly in the last paragraph of the article when he said there needs to be more understanding of the issues facing veterans, especially those fresh from combat tours. "We come across them when they are in a mental health crisis," he said. "We owe it to them. They take care of us and our freedoms. Now it's our turn to take care of them when they come back home." It's what really matters!
First of all, who would be the authority that identifies that a veteran committed a crime because of mental distress/illness or substance abuse caused by their military service? Would it be the Veterans Administration (VA), county health officials, the individuals military health record...who? There is recent evidence (Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Hood, Texas) that military medical personnel and even the VA do not fully understand and correctly identify those that suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or the use of illegal drugs to "self medicate." The system they work under often times does not readily allow them to effectively identify and treat those that are suffering. Manpower is an issue here and there is possibly too much "rubber stamping" going on to keep the flow of patients moving. Furthermore, how is someone in the military suffering from PTSD any different from a teenager dealing with the stresses of peer pressure or an adult that has lost their job and is stressed? To me there is no difference. For those that "self medicate" (a politically correct term for doing drugs), I have no sympathy. The body of evidence on what happens when one abuses drugs is huge and very clear and has been for a long time.
What crimes would be handled by such a court? Only misdemeanors? Could a veteran that committed a felony such as sexual abuse or burglary or car theft end up in this court because it was deemed that they committed the crime because they were mentally stressed or on drugs? This is dangerous ground here. There needs to be clear evidence that whatever crimes are handled by a court such as this are not repeated by an individual and the treatment and/or social services received were the reason that it was so and not because the individual was incarcerated. The above article presents no such evidence.
The Statesman article cites a 90-day study conducted through a Travis County program called "Veterans Intervention Project." This was a "self-reporting through questionnaires" study that reported various statistics on veterans jailed during the period of the study. The most significant statistic of this limited study is that only 35% of those veterans eligible to receive help from the VA for mental health and substance abuse issues had done so. The study noted that one reason for this is the stigma in the military against seeking mental health help. I am sure this is true, but the problem goes much deeper. There apparently is still a huge mistrust of the VA among Vietnam veterans especially. How do I know this? By talking with vets at VA clinics and VA hospitals here in Texas. This mistrust is due primarily because of past problems vets have had with the VA such as delays in getting treatment, mistakes made in treatment, and also because the vet himself is not yet over the war in Vietnam. This is an education problem and there needs to be ways of better educating veterans and the general population on what the VA is doing to improve (they are making great strides) and more importantly what treatment and services are available.
So the county is just beginning to talk about this court. No money to fund such a court has been identified and that is going to be a bone to chew. I personally have no problem with some of my county tax dollars being used for such a court, but then again I am a veteran. My neighbor next door could take issue however. That again is an education issue and the county would do well to lay that ground work down early.
I am in favor of such a court being established as long as it is carefully administered with strong, competent oversight, i.e. no "rubber stamping." Maj. Darren Long of the Travis County Sheriff Office and a member of a veterans task force stated it rather clearly in the last paragraph of the article when he said there needs to be more understanding of the issues facing veterans, especially those fresh from combat tours. "We come across them when they are in a mental health crisis," he said. "We owe it to them. They take care of us and our freedoms. Now it's our turn to take care of them when they come back home." It's what really matters!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A Different Christmas Poem...A Veterans Perspective
December 8, 2009 — There are a number of different articles, poems, etc making the rounds on the Internet at this time of year that point to the sacrifices are armed forces make for our freedoms. Some are factual and some present some individuals view of what it must be like for the men and women that are making those sacrifices. Certainly A Different Christmas Poem is one of those that fits in one of these categories.
Snopes.com provides what one could say is the truth about this particular poem. What they have to say can be found here http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/glurge/different.asp. Regardless of who wrote this poem what is important is what it has to say and what it depicts. Read the poem (Snopes.com) for I believe it has deep meaning for those that wear the uniform of our armed forces and those that have worn the uniform and can proudly call themselves veterans.
During Christmas time 1970 my flight crew was in Utapao, Thailand flying missions in support of the war in Vietnam. Beginning on Dec 18th we flew eight straight 12-hour missions...the last ending on Christmas Day that year. There were 12 of us in that flight crew and we had a closeness of a family especially being away from our own loved ones at that time of year. Did we view our duty as the soldier depicted in the poem? While I cannot speak for the others, I can say with all honestly that I did not...at least not in that perspective. We knew we had a job to do and we did it. It kept us strong in purpose and in our togetherness. Could we have held the exact perspective of that lonely soldier standing guard on Christmas Eve? Yes we could have and maybe we did.
When I read A Different Christmas Poem the memories of Christmas 1970 came flooding back to me. On Dec 18th my daughter Kelly was born. I was notified of her birth by American Red Cross telegram after landing from our mission on the 23rd. I was so proud and happy. My crew, my extended family helped me celebrate. It was not until the following May that I first got to hold her. My story is not unique as we all have read or heard of the all too many similar stories. My point is that the poem and my own real life events helped me put this in the perspective of that lonely soldier.
There should be no doubt in any of our minds that this Christmas Eve there will be thousands and thousands of service men and women standing that lonely vigil. They are indeed lonely and scared. There should be no doubt that they want more than anything to be home with their families and loved ones and yet they stand that watch and do their duty. Regardless of your religious and political beliefs I ask that you remember these young men and women and if you pray or whatever guidance you seek...you ask that their safety be first...that they are held out of harms way...and that they soon return safely home. It's what really matters!
Snopes.com provides what one could say is the truth about this particular poem. What they have to say can be found here http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/glurge/different.asp. Regardless of who wrote this poem what is important is what it has to say and what it depicts. Read the poem (Snopes.com) for I believe it has deep meaning for those that wear the uniform of our armed forces and those that have worn the uniform and can proudly call themselves veterans.
During Christmas time 1970 my flight crew was in Utapao, Thailand flying missions in support of the war in Vietnam. Beginning on Dec 18th we flew eight straight 12-hour missions...the last ending on Christmas Day that year. There were 12 of us in that flight crew and we had a closeness of a family especially being away from our own loved ones at that time of year. Did we view our duty as the soldier depicted in the poem? While I cannot speak for the others, I can say with all honestly that I did not...at least not in that perspective. We knew we had a job to do and we did it. It kept us strong in purpose and in our togetherness. Could we have held the exact perspective of that lonely soldier standing guard on Christmas Eve? Yes we could have and maybe we did.
When I read A Different Christmas Poem the memories of Christmas 1970 came flooding back to me. On Dec 18th my daughter Kelly was born. I was notified of her birth by American Red Cross telegram after landing from our mission on the 23rd. I was so proud and happy. My crew, my extended family helped me celebrate. It was not until the following May that I first got to hold her. My story is not unique as we all have read or heard of the all too many similar stories. My point is that the poem and my own real life events helped me put this in the perspective of that lonely soldier.
There should be no doubt in any of our minds that this Christmas Eve there will be thousands and thousands of service men and women standing that lonely vigil. They are indeed lonely and scared. There should be no doubt that they want more than anything to be home with their families and loved ones and yet they stand that watch and do their duty. Regardless of your religious and political beliefs I ask that you remember these young men and women and if you pray or whatever guidance you seek...you ask that their safety be first...that they are held out of harms way...and that they soon return safely home. It's what really matters!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Abilene High School Eagle Football: On To State
December 5, 2009 — As I was checking the scores online of the Texas High School football playoff games played Friday night, I briefly read an article about the local high school powerhouse, the Lake Travis High School Rebels, and how they had just won their 44th game in a row. They are indeed a very good football team and as the consecutive win record shows they have been one for some time now. That number "44" immediately brought back in my mind another consecutive win streak for a Texas high school football team...a streak of "49" consecutive wins by the Abilene High Eagles of 1954-57.
The Eagle football teams of this era were coached by Chuck Moser. Beginning in 1953 through 1959, Coach Moser was "The Coach" and became a legend in those few years in Texas high school football along with the likes of Coach Gordon Wood at Brownwood, Texas high school. He had succeeded another legend at Abilene High Coach P.E. Shotwell. What made these men legends and reach the success they did in their profession? It was nothing less than taking a group of young men and instilling in them the true value of hard work...believing in your school...having fun...and having faith in God. Coach Moser instilled this also in the community. In his seven years as the coach his win/loss record was 78-7. He moved on to become the Abilene School District Athletic Director.
Abilene High's win streak started in 1954 with a regular season win over Borger High School 34-7. The streak included all regular season and state playoff games from that point in 1954 to the 1957 state 4A semi-final game against the Highland Park High School Scotties of Dallas, Texas. That game ended in a tie on the scoreboard 20-20. The first tie breaker used at that time was what was known as penetrations...that being when your offense moved the ball inside the opponents 20-yard line. Highland Park advanced to the state final game (which they won) by winning on penetrations 5-3. It was a great football game played in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. It was heartbreaking for those of us in the stands that were Eagle fans. I remember that my brother and I were just so sick and disappointed. It was the end of what at that time was recognized as the longest high school football win streak ever in the nation.
I wish I could remember all of the players from those great Abilene High Eagle teams. There were so many good players. Some I will never forget...the backfield of QB-Harold "Hayseed" Stephens, HB-Jimmy Carpenter, HB-Glenn Gregory, and FB-James Welch. Then there was an End by the name of Twyman Ash...geesh what a great name. The QB Stephens had his leg broken in the final regular season game of 1956, so the QB duties fell on a young man named Gervis Galbrieth...and he filled the bill well and on into the next season. The offensive line was made up of great players and unfortunately their names escape me now. If you wanted to know who played defense you only had to wait until the other team got the ball and the Eagle offense became the defense. There were few, if any, one-way players in those days. In 1999 the Dallas Morning News designated the Abilene High Eagle football teams of 1954-57 as The Team of the Century.
Abilene High played in District 1-4A in these years...4A being the highest classification in the state at the time. For a look at what schools were included visit this website http://www.fridaynighthistory.com/abilene.html. This district became known as "The Little Southwest Conference." The now defunct NCAA Southwest Conference was made up of the major universities in the state plus the University of Arkansas and the conference was noted for its rough and tumble football. It was the same in District 1-4A and therefore the moniker. District alignment in the state of Texas is controlled by the University Interscholastic League (UIL) which governs academic, athletic, and music competition for high schools in the state. For background on the UIL I invite you here http://www.uil.utexas.edu/.
The district winner in football at the time was awarded the district victory bell. This was a good size bell mounted on a two-wheel cart complete with a handle for rotating the bell or a bell team member could grab the clapper and clang away. Ever present on the sideline at the following years football games, one could hear the bell from miles away. When I think of Eagle football, the sound of that victory bell comes through loud and clear. Oh the number of times I stood on the front porch of my Mom's house and heard the bell at the game being played in Fair Park Stadium a couple of miles away. It was traditional that the final regular season game was played against the arch rival San Angelo Central High School Bobcats. The game was played on Saturday afternoon and they would start ringing the bell around 8 a.m. and continue until the victory celebration ended. I can hear it now.
One historical record shows that from 1920 through 2000 Abilene High School has won six state football championships and played in eight state title games (http://www.alicecoyote.com/football2/texas_football_state_championshi.htm). There last championship and appearance in the title game was in 1956. So what about the Eagle football team of today? There record is 13-0 having just defeated last night Arlington, Texas Bowie High School 35-7 in one of the 5A Divison II quarterfinal games. Next weekend they will play in one of the 5A Division II semi-final games...for the 14th time in school history. Win that one, and they should, then it is the state title game. Coach Moser and the Eagles of 1954-57 have to be smiling and proud of these Eagles.
I am not a graduate of Abilene High. I graduated from "the other high school" Abilene Cooper which opened in 1961. I am the only member of my family that resided or currently resides in Abilene that did not go to AHS. I've taken a lot of good natured ribbing over the years on this fact. What I do have is a healthy respect for Abilene High School Eagle football and its history. So, to the Warbirds of today I say ON TO STATE...its what really matters!
* Some material for this blog was obtained from the linked web sites and the online editions of the Austin American-Statesman and the Abilene Reporter News.
The Eagle football teams of this era were coached by Chuck Moser. Beginning in 1953 through 1959, Coach Moser was "The Coach" and became a legend in those few years in Texas high school football along with the likes of Coach Gordon Wood at Brownwood, Texas high school. He had succeeded another legend at Abilene High Coach P.E. Shotwell. What made these men legends and reach the success they did in their profession? It was nothing less than taking a group of young men and instilling in them the true value of hard work...believing in your school...having fun...and having faith in God. Coach Moser instilled this also in the community. In his seven years as the coach his win/loss record was 78-7. He moved on to become the Abilene School District Athletic Director.
Abilene High's win streak started in 1954 with a regular season win over Borger High School 34-7. The streak included all regular season and state playoff games from that point in 1954 to the 1957 state 4A semi-final game against the Highland Park High School Scotties of Dallas, Texas. That game ended in a tie on the scoreboard 20-20. The first tie breaker used at that time was what was known as penetrations...that being when your offense moved the ball inside the opponents 20-yard line. Highland Park advanced to the state final game (which they won) by winning on penetrations 5-3. It was a great football game played in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. It was heartbreaking for those of us in the stands that were Eagle fans. I remember that my brother and I were just so sick and disappointed. It was the end of what at that time was recognized as the longest high school football win streak ever in the nation.
I wish I could remember all of the players from those great Abilene High Eagle teams. There were so many good players. Some I will never forget...the backfield of QB-Harold "Hayseed" Stephens, HB-Jimmy Carpenter, HB-Glenn Gregory, and FB-James Welch. Then there was an End by the name of Twyman Ash...geesh what a great name. The QB Stephens had his leg broken in the final regular season game of 1956, so the QB duties fell on a young man named Gervis Galbrieth...and he filled the bill well and on into the next season. The offensive line was made up of great players and unfortunately their names escape me now. If you wanted to know who played defense you only had to wait until the other team got the ball and the Eagle offense became the defense. There were few, if any, one-way players in those days. In 1999 the Dallas Morning News designated the Abilene High Eagle football teams of 1954-57 as The Team of the Century.
Abilene High played in District 1-4A in these years...4A being the highest classification in the state at the time. For a look at what schools were included visit this website http://www.fridaynighthistory.com/abilene.html. This district became known as "The Little Southwest Conference." The now defunct NCAA Southwest Conference was made up of the major universities in the state plus the University of Arkansas and the conference was noted for its rough and tumble football. It was the same in District 1-4A and therefore the moniker. District alignment in the state of Texas is controlled by the University Interscholastic League (UIL) which governs academic, athletic, and music competition for high schools in the state. For background on the UIL I invite you here http://www.uil.utexas.edu/.
The district winner in football at the time was awarded the district victory bell. This was a good size bell mounted on a two-wheel cart complete with a handle for rotating the bell or a bell team member could grab the clapper and clang away. Ever present on the sideline at the following years football games, one could hear the bell from miles away. When I think of Eagle football, the sound of that victory bell comes through loud and clear. Oh the number of times I stood on the front porch of my Mom's house and heard the bell at the game being played in Fair Park Stadium a couple of miles away. It was traditional that the final regular season game was played against the arch rival San Angelo Central High School Bobcats. The game was played on Saturday afternoon and they would start ringing the bell around 8 a.m. and continue until the victory celebration ended. I can hear it now.
One historical record shows that from 1920 through 2000 Abilene High School has won six state football championships and played in eight state title games (http://www.alicecoyote.com/football2/texas_football_state_championshi.htm). There last championship and appearance in the title game was in 1956. So what about the Eagle football team of today? There record is 13-0 having just defeated last night Arlington, Texas Bowie High School 35-7 in one of the 5A Divison II quarterfinal games. Next weekend they will play in one of the 5A Division II semi-final games...for the 14th time in school history. Win that one, and they should, then it is the state title game. Coach Moser and the Eagles of 1954-57 have to be smiling and proud of these Eagles.
I am not a graduate of Abilene High. I graduated from "the other high school" Abilene Cooper which opened in 1961. I am the only member of my family that resided or currently resides in Abilene that did not go to AHS. I've taken a lot of good natured ribbing over the years on this fact. What I do have is a healthy respect for Abilene High School Eagle football and its history. So, to the Warbirds of today I say ON TO STATE...its what really matters!
* Some material for this blog was obtained from the linked web sites and the online editions of the Austin American-Statesman and the Abilene Reporter News.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Whatever Happened To Unity?
December 3, 2009 — United We Stand...Divided We Fall. I am not sure where that comes from, but it is so true...and even more so in today's times. Whatever happened to the unity we felt as a country immediately following 9/11? Where has the resolve as a nation to fight terrorism gone? It's gone far away and partly caused by the writings of such people as George F. Will the noted Op-Ed columnist of the Washington Post.
Mr. Will's response http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120202044.html to the President's speech is just bottom line wrong! While Will makes some very good points in his article, to me it represents all that is negative and does nothing for the sake of unity...something that is sorely need in this country right now. My case in point is what he writes in the past two paragraphs:
"A case can be made for a serious -- meaning larger and more protracted -- surge. A better case can be made for a radically reduced investment of resources and prestige in that forlorn country. Obama has not made a convincing case for his tentative surgelet."
"George Orwell said that the quickest way to end a war is to lose it. But Obama's halfhearted embrace of a half-baked nonstrategy -- briefly feinting toward the Taliban (or al-Qaeda, or a "syndicate of terror") while lunging for the exit ramp -- makes a protracted loss probable."
Surgelet indeed (how quaint)...Mr. Will seems to have all the answers. Using such words and terms as "radically reduced investment", the aforementioned "surgelet", "halfhearted embrace of a half-baked nonstrategy" and "protracted loss probable" are sickening and just flat out wrong. While we may not always agree with the President and his administration on many political issues, and I certainly fall into that category, his speech on Tuesday was NOT half-baked nor delivered halfheartedly. Failure has not been proven.
Mr Will earlier in his article indicated he seemed to know where al Qaeda resides and in what numbers. Maybe he is in the wrong business and should become an intelligence consultant for DoD and make the really big bucks. Now there's a thought...indeed he should be onsite in Afghanistan.
After the President's speech, Gen. McChrystal conferred with his commanders and his troops telling them he was more confident than ever that they could now get the job done. Interviews with troops themselves show that they are now more hopeful that they can get home sooner. Are these points lost on Mr. Will? Indeed they are!
Will's article was written for one reason and one reason only and that is sensationalism. Let's keep stirring the pot. Well George, I use to have respect for your writing, however that respect has been seriously diminished because of this drivel. To be crude for a moment...you can STUFF IT George! As I stated earlier, I do not support this President and his administration on many issues, but on this issue I stand firmly behind him and Gen. McChrystal until, and if, they prove otherwise...it's what really matters.
Mr. Will's response http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120202044.html to the President's speech is just bottom line wrong! While Will makes some very good points in his article, to me it represents all that is negative and does nothing for the sake of unity...something that is sorely need in this country right now. My case in point is what he writes in the past two paragraphs:
"A case can be made for a serious -- meaning larger and more protracted -- surge. A better case can be made for a radically reduced investment of resources and prestige in that forlorn country. Obama has not made a convincing case for his tentative surgelet."
"George Orwell said that the quickest way to end a war is to lose it. But Obama's halfhearted embrace of a half-baked nonstrategy -- briefly feinting toward the Taliban (or al-Qaeda, or a "syndicate of terror") while lunging for the exit ramp -- makes a protracted loss probable."
Surgelet indeed (how quaint)...Mr. Will seems to have all the answers. Using such words and terms as "radically reduced investment", the aforementioned "surgelet", "halfhearted embrace of a half-baked nonstrategy" and "protracted loss probable" are sickening and just flat out wrong. While we may not always agree with the President and his administration on many political issues, and I certainly fall into that category, his speech on Tuesday was NOT half-baked nor delivered halfheartedly. Failure has not been proven.
Mr Will earlier in his article indicated he seemed to know where al Qaeda resides and in what numbers. Maybe he is in the wrong business and should become an intelligence consultant for DoD and make the really big bucks. Now there's a thought...indeed he should be onsite in Afghanistan.
After the President's speech, Gen. McChrystal conferred with his commanders and his troops telling them he was more confident than ever that they could now get the job done. Interviews with troops themselves show that they are now more hopeful that they can get home sooner. Are these points lost on Mr. Will? Indeed they are!
Will's article was written for one reason and one reason only and that is sensationalism. Let's keep stirring the pot. Well George, I use to have respect for your writing, however that respect has been seriously diminished because of this drivel. To be crude for a moment...you can STUFF IT George! As I stated earlier, I do not support this President and his administration on many issues, but on this issue I stand firmly behind him and Gen. McChrystal until, and if, they prove otherwise...it's what really matters.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
President Obama's Speech at U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
December 2, 2009 — The long awaited response by the President on the war in Afghanistan was delivered last night at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. The text of his message can be read here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34231058/ns/politics-white_house/ and I would recommend that it be read by every American. A video of the speech can be linked from this page also. It was, in my opinion, a very good speech and can be broken up basically in six major areas. Each of these I will discuss below. If nothing else, this President is an excellent orator.
Part 1 - History
The President clearly defined what caused us to enter into the war in Afghanistan. How the brutality of the acts of 9/11 brought forth a resolve in America to fight back against terrorism and put an end to it at every turn. He reminded us of our resolve by stating..."Just days after 9/11, Congress authorized the use of force against al Qaeda and those who harbored them - an authorization that continues to this day."
He continued with the historical perspective by discussing the war in Iraq and how it has taken away from resources for the war in Afghanistan. I felt this was a clandestine effort to take a slap at the previous administration. He did not dwell on this point, but it was included and while it may yet prove to be true I will leave that for the military historians to vet out in the years to come.
His presentation of the history behind our involvement in Afghanistan was clear, concise, and well done.
Part 2 - The Review Process
The area the President has taken the most criticism for by his critics, including me, is why he has taken so long to answer directly the request of his military commanders in the field. He noted the situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated and acknowledged that Gen. McChrystal found "that the security situation is more serious than he anticipated. In short: the status quo is not sustainable. " More importantly the President told the Corps of Cadets this:
"As cadets, you volunteered for service during this time of danger. Some of you have fought in Afghanistan. Many will deploy there. As your Commander-in-Chief, I owe you a mission that is clearly defined, and worthy of your service. That is why, after the Afghan voting was completed, I insisted on a thorough review of our strategy. Let me be clear: there has never been an option before me that called for troop deployments before 2010, so there has been no delay or denial of resources necessary for the conduct of the war. Instead, the review has allowed me ask the hard questions, and to explore all of the different options along with my national security team, our military and civilian leadership in Afghanistan, and with our key partners. Given the stakes involved, I owed the American people - and our troops - no less."
He then went on to say this:
"This review is now complete. And as Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan."
In my book he gets a BRAVO for this although I do not agree with the setting of an arbitrary withdrawal timeline. When in a time of war has withdrawal deadlines been set? He later when on to say "...we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground." A good point!
The President stated he did not take this decision lightly and provided the reasons why...the burden it was causing on our military and their families, the disunity of the people in America over the war and our loss of resolve that was so strong immediately after 9/11.
It was clear in the speech that the President recognizes the threat of terrorism is as strong or stronger today as it was at the time of 9/11. It is also apparent from the speech of his resolve to fight terrorism during his presidency.
For myself, I now have a better understanding of why his review took so long.
Part 3 - Objectives
The President clearly defined three objectives for the action that he is taking and how those objectives will be met:
1) Increased military action against the Taliban and al Qaeda.
2) Pursue a more effective civilian strategy in Afghanistan through the UN and our other allies.
3) Strengthen our relationship with Pakistan.
Objective #1 is best left to the military commander's in the field and I believe and hope it is the President's intention to do so. NATO countries must take on more responsibility and commitment so that the burden is not solely on our military and their families.
Objective #2 is a tough one. In my opinion, the UN and some of our other allies are forever reluctant to take a strong stand through concrete action in addressing problems in our world. They are strong in word...but are lacking in action. We must demand there affirmative action in meeting this second objective. They are affected by terrorism as much as we are and must take responsibility for stopping it wherever it occurs.
Objective #3 can only be accomplished if we and other nations quit treating Pakistan with kid gloves. They either become part of the solution to the problem or suffer the consequences for being a part of the problem.
Part 4 - Answering the Critics
The President answered three points that his critics, again myself included, have called him to account on. These are:
1) Comparison of this war to the Vietnam War.
2) Maintain the status quo; stay, but no more troops.
3) Opposition to a timeline.
He answers these starting on page 4 of the above linked article. I can agree with his answer to #1 as along as he and his administration stay out of making tactical military decisions. I agree with all the points he made in answering #2. I oppose a timeline, but do understand that from the standpoint of making it clear to the Afghans that at some point this all ends and they have to take responsibility for their own security. But what about al Qaeda? What if we have not completed the job of making them ineffective when the timeline end arrives? Would this all be for naught then? It would be such a terrible waste and tragedy that surpasses the events of 9/11 that started it all.
Part 5 - A Call for Responsibility and Unity
The President could not have made it more clear to the Afghan people when he looked directly into the camera and told them that our commitment in their country is not boundless. He was clear on what is expected from the Afghan government and that we will move forward to forge a partnership and not as a patron.
He was clear to the American people that now is the time to better understand the importance of all of this, how it affects us economically, how the threat of terrorism has not gone away and the threat must be answered, and how it is through the strength of unity that we stand tall in the world and can shoulder our burdens and carry on successfully.
Part 6 - Conclusion
The conclusion of his speech is noteworthy and provided here:
"It is easy to forget that when this war began, we were united - bound together by the fresh memory of a horrific attack, and by the determination to defend our homeland and the values we hold dear. I refuse to accept the notion that we cannot summon that unity again. I believe with every fiber of my being that we - as Americans - can still come together behind a common purpose. For our values are not simply words written into parchment - they are a creed that calls us together, and that has carried us through the darkest of storms as one nation, one people.
America - we are passing through a time of great trial. And the message that we send in the midst of these storms must be clear: that our cause is just, our resolve unwavering. We will go forward with the confidence that right makes might, and with the commitment to forge an America that is safer, a world that is more secure, and a future that represents not the deepest of fears but the highest of hopes. Thank you, God Bless you, God Bless our troops, and may God Bless the United States of America."
All-in-all I believe this to be a speech clear in purpose and statement and a resolve to support our military as it wages this fight against terrorism. It further demonstrates why we as Americans should stand together in this fight. Together as one people...it's what really matters!
Part 1 - History
The President clearly defined what caused us to enter into the war in Afghanistan. How the brutality of the acts of 9/11 brought forth a resolve in America to fight back against terrorism and put an end to it at every turn. He reminded us of our resolve by stating..."Just days after 9/11, Congress authorized the use of force against al Qaeda and those who harbored them - an authorization that continues to this day."
He continued with the historical perspective by discussing the war in Iraq and how it has taken away from resources for the war in Afghanistan. I felt this was a clandestine effort to take a slap at the previous administration. He did not dwell on this point, but it was included and while it may yet prove to be true I will leave that for the military historians to vet out in the years to come.
His presentation of the history behind our involvement in Afghanistan was clear, concise, and well done.
Part 2 - The Review Process
The area the President has taken the most criticism for by his critics, including me, is why he has taken so long to answer directly the request of his military commanders in the field. He noted the situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated and acknowledged that Gen. McChrystal found "that the security situation is more serious than he anticipated. In short: the status quo is not sustainable. " More importantly the President told the Corps of Cadets this:
"As cadets, you volunteered for service during this time of danger. Some of you have fought in Afghanistan. Many will deploy there. As your Commander-in-Chief, I owe you a mission that is clearly defined, and worthy of your service. That is why, after the Afghan voting was completed, I insisted on a thorough review of our strategy. Let me be clear: there has never been an option before me that called for troop deployments before 2010, so there has been no delay or denial of resources necessary for the conduct of the war. Instead, the review has allowed me ask the hard questions, and to explore all of the different options along with my national security team, our military and civilian leadership in Afghanistan, and with our key partners. Given the stakes involved, I owed the American people - and our troops - no less."
He then went on to say this:
"This review is now complete. And as Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan."
In my book he gets a BRAVO for this although I do not agree with the setting of an arbitrary withdrawal timeline. When in a time of war has withdrawal deadlines been set? He later when on to say "...we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground." A good point!
The President stated he did not take this decision lightly and provided the reasons why...the burden it was causing on our military and their families, the disunity of the people in America over the war and our loss of resolve that was so strong immediately after 9/11.
It was clear in the speech that the President recognizes the threat of terrorism is as strong or stronger today as it was at the time of 9/11. It is also apparent from the speech of his resolve to fight terrorism during his presidency.
For myself, I now have a better understanding of why his review took so long.
Part 3 - Objectives
The President clearly defined three objectives for the action that he is taking and how those objectives will be met:
1) Increased military action against the Taliban and al Qaeda.
2) Pursue a more effective civilian strategy in Afghanistan through the UN and our other allies.
3) Strengthen our relationship with Pakistan.
Objective #1 is best left to the military commander's in the field and I believe and hope it is the President's intention to do so. NATO countries must take on more responsibility and commitment so that the burden is not solely on our military and their families.
Objective #2 is a tough one. In my opinion, the UN and some of our other allies are forever reluctant to take a strong stand through concrete action in addressing problems in our world. They are strong in word...but are lacking in action. We must demand there affirmative action in meeting this second objective. They are affected by terrorism as much as we are and must take responsibility for stopping it wherever it occurs.
Objective #3 can only be accomplished if we and other nations quit treating Pakistan with kid gloves. They either become part of the solution to the problem or suffer the consequences for being a part of the problem.
Part 4 - Answering the Critics
The President answered three points that his critics, again myself included, have called him to account on. These are:
1) Comparison of this war to the Vietnam War.
2) Maintain the status quo; stay, but no more troops.
3) Opposition to a timeline.
He answers these starting on page 4 of the above linked article. I can agree with his answer to #1 as along as he and his administration stay out of making tactical military decisions. I agree with all the points he made in answering #2. I oppose a timeline, but do understand that from the standpoint of making it clear to the Afghans that at some point this all ends and they have to take responsibility for their own security. But what about al Qaeda? What if we have not completed the job of making them ineffective when the timeline end arrives? Would this all be for naught then? It would be such a terrible waste and tragedy that surpasses the events of 9/11 that started it all.
Part 5 - A Call for Responsibility and Unity
The President could not have made it more clear to the Afghan people when he looked directly into the camera and told them that our commitment in their country is not boundless. He was clear on what is expected from the Afghan government and that we will move forward to forge a partnership and not as a patron.
He was clear to the American people that now is the time to better understand the importance of all of this, how it affects us economically, how the threat of terrorism has not gone away and the threat must be answered, and how it is through the strength of unity that we stand tall in the world and can shoulder our burdens and carry on successfully.
Part 6 - Conclusion
The conclusion of his speech is noteworthy and provided here:
"It is easy to forget that when this war began, we were united - bound together by the fresh memory of a horrific attack, and by the determination to defend our homeland and the values we hold dear. I refuse to accept the notion that we cannot summon that unity again. I believe with every fiber of my being that we - as Americans - can still come together behind a common purpose. For our values are not simply words written into parchment - they are a creed that calls us together, and that has carried us through the darkest of storms as one nation, one people.
America - we are passing through a time of great trial. And the message that we send in the midst of these storms must be clear: that our cause is just, our resolve unwavering. We will go forward with the confidence that right makes might, and with the commitment to forge an America that is safer, a world that is more secure, and a future that represents not the deepest of fears but the highest of hopes. Thank you, God Bless you, God Bless our troops, and may God Bless the United States of America."
All-in-all I believe this to be a speech clear in purpose and statement and a resolve to support our military as it wages this fight against terrorism. It further demonstrates why we as Americans should stand together in this fight. Together as one people...it's what really matters!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
November 26, 2009 — It's Thanksgiving Day and I am in Searcy, Ark and sitting here at my laptop tapping away. MollyB, my Golden Retriever, and I drove up yesterday and it was a good day for travel. The weather was clear as a bell...not to cold...and definitely not too hot. MollyB has much to learn about traveling, but being as young as she is I could not expect her to do everything perfect. All-in-all she is a good traveler and will only get better.
I like to come to Searcy every Thanksgiving to be with my son, his wife, and my grandchildren. It is always a special time for us. My daughter-in-law has a large family here and we all get together at her folks house. It is always a grand time of family being together. Wanda never gets to come on these little trips as she is always home working so we can buy more beans. Doesn't seem fair to her, but she is okay with it and it is the way it is. We will be in Memphis, Tenn this New Year at my niece's and look forward to that trip.
In thinking back over this past year I have much to be thankful for. There have been some trials and tribulations to be sure, but most importantly there have been all the good things. I have had the opportunity to spend time with both my sisters...something I have not been doing as much as I'd like...but I am thankful we were together. I am thankful that I decided not to go back to work full time and to do substitute school teaching. It's been a good experience so far. I am thankful that a four-legged blonde headed girl dog has come into my life. She is a challenge, but one that Wanda and I have gladly accepted...we love her dearly and our cat Boots also. I am thankful for all the veterans and their families in this country...those veterans that stood guard so we can remain a free and great country. I am thankful for those men and women that stand guard today...in far away places and in harms way...for their families that bare the burden of the dangers their loved ones face day to day. I pray God keeps them all safe.
Most of all I am thankful for my wonderful family and my friends. There just isn't anything more important in this life...it's what really matters!
I like to come to Searcy every Thanksgiving to be with my son, his wife, and my grandchildren. It is always a special time for us. My daughter-in-law has a large family here and we all get together at her folks house. It is always a grand time of family being together. Wanda never gets to come on these little trips as she is always home working so we can buy more beans. Doesn't seem fair to her, but she is okay with it and it is the way it is. We will be in Memphis, Tenn this New Year at my niece's and look forward to that trip.
In thinking back over this past year I have much to be thankful for. There have been some trials and tribulations to be sure, but most importantly there have been all the good things. I have had the opportunity to spend time with both my sisters...something I have not been doing as much as I'd like...but I am thankful we were together. I am thankful that I decided not to go back to work full time and to do substitute school teaching. It's been a good experience so far. I am thankful that a four-legged blonde headed girl dog has come into my life. She is a challenge, but one that Wanda and I have gladly accepted...we love her dearly and our cat Boots also. I am thankful for all the veterans and their families in this country...those veterans that stood guard so we can remain a free and great country. I am thankful for those men and women that stand guard today...in far away places and in harms way...for their families that bare the burden of the dangers their loved ones face day to day. I pray God keeps them all safe.
Most of all I am thankful for my wonderful family and my friends. There just isn't anything more important in this life...it's what really matters!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What If...
November 18, 2009 — The "What if" in life can be a bit silly to even think about at times. I mean it's usually about something that hasn't happened so why deal with it...right? Well I propose that maybe they are worth dealing with sometimes as they may cause one to stop and think a situation completely through or help them realize that what they have is really good stuff. That was the case for me just the other day.
It was about 4:30 p.m. this past Monday that I was coming home from the VA Medical Center in Temple, Texas. I had entered the area of Austin on I-35 that one with a sane mind or no other recourse enters at that time of day...rush hour. It was total grid lock and I mean total. I'd inch forward a bit and then stop a couple of minutes as the traffic slooooooooooooooooowly moved along. This is when Wanda gave me a ring on the phone. I figured she wanted to remind me about picking up the things she needed to fix dinner after getting off work. When I answered Wanda said "Terry, I am on my way home and I need to go to the hospital." Wanda never starts out a phone call with me using my name (she usually starts with "Honey") and the way she said my name I new instantly that something had happened to somebody and it probably wasn't good. In a split second or so there were any number of things that ran through my thoughts. She explained that she had been hurt at work...a heavy box had fallen as she moved a ladder and it knocked her over ending with her hitting her head on a metal table nearby. This took about 15 seconds to explain and again a multitude of thoughts ran through my brain. I mean head injuries are often times not good. My initial response on the phone was "are you alright." Wanda replied she was, but needed to go to the ER. Now Wanda is not one to ever complain about aches and pains as she has experienced much in her life. So when she does it raises a red flag for me.
Thank goodness a friend was there to get her from work and then to the ER. Her boss wanted to call an ambulance, but of course Wanda refused. I was in no position to get to her quickly being stuck in the "Austin I-35 Parking Lot." An hour later I get to the ER and she is holding an ice bag on a nasty lump over her right eye brow. A CT scan revealed no serious damage so they sent her on the way with an Rx for pain and nausea.
In thinking over this incident the past day or so the "what if" has cropped up in my mind. Here is someone I care so deeply about and we have such a good relationship and we depend on each other. What if she wasn't there...what if there wasn't the teasing we do with each other daily...what if she wasn't there to rub lotion on my bad foot, to look after our dog and cat, to look after her grandchildren and so many, many other things. What if she wasn't there so we could tell each other that we love and care about each other. These are the "what ifs" that are worth contemplating. They cause me to pause and reflect just how important these things are. Oh, I would get by without Wanda. Life would have to go on, but that life would be less fulfilling without her by my side and it's what really matters.
It was about 4:30 p.m. this past Monday that I was coming home from the VA Medical Center in Temple, Texas. I had entered the area of Austin on I-35 that one with a sane mind or no other recourse enters at that time of day...rush hour. It was total grid lock and I mean total. I'd inch forward a bit and then stop a couple of minutes as the traffic slooooooooooooooooowly moved along. This is when Wanda gave me a ring on the phone. I figured she wanted to remind me about picking up the things she needed to fix dinner after getting off work. When I answered Wanda said "Terry, I am on my way home and I need to go to the hospital." Wanda never starts out a phone call with me using my name (she usually starts with "Honey") and the way she said my name I new instantly that something had happened to somebody and it probably wasn't good. In a split second or so there were any number of things that ran through my thoughts. She explained that she had been hurt at work...a heavy box had fallen as she moved a ladder and it knocked her over ending with her hitting her head on a metal table nearby. This took about 15 seconds to explain and again a multitude of thoughts ran through my brain. I mean head injuries are often times not good. My initial response on the phone was "are you alright." Wanda replied she was, but needed to go to the ER. Now Wanda is not one to ever complain about aches and pains as she has experienced much in her life. So when she does it raises a red flag for me.
Thank goodness a friend was there to get her from work and then to the ER. Her boss wanted to call an ambulance, but of course Wanda refused. I was in no position to get to her quickly being stuck in the "Austin I-35 Parking Lot." An hour later I get to the ER and she is holding an ice bag on a nasty lump over her right eye brow. A CT scan revealed no serious damage so they sent her on the way with an Rx for pain and nausea.
In thinking over this incident the past day or so the "what if" has cropped up in my mind. Here is someone I care so deeply about and we have such a good relationship and we depend on each other. What if she wasn't there...what if there wasn't the teasing we do with each other daily...what if she wasn't there to rub lotion on my bad foot, to look after our dog and cat, to look after her grandchildren and so many, many other things. What if she wasn't there so we could tell each other that we love and care about each other. These are the "what ifs" that are worth contemplating. They cause me to pause and reflect just how important these things are. Oh, I would get by without Wanda. Life would have to go on, but that life would be less fulfilling without her by my side and it's what really matters.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Two Really Nice Days
November 12, 2009 — The past few days have brought home to me just why I am proud to be an American. On Tuesday I joined with three other members of my Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post and one member of our Ladies Auxiliary in visiting one of the local elementary schools. The purpose of our visit was to talk to all the 4th and 5th graders of the school about what it means to be a veteran. Each time I have gone into a classroom either as a teacher or as a student I have come away having learned something. That's the idea right? Well our visit to this school was no different.
VFW members visiting classrooms in their communities during the month of November each year is a VFW program called Veterans in the Classroom. My VFW Post has been participating in this for years. Each member has the opportunity to speak about whatever veteran topic they desire. It's always interesting to hear what other members have to say. I spoke with the kids on two specific subjects: (1) the meaning of Veterans Day to me, and (2) about the POW/MIA issue. It is sometimes difficult for veterans to speak using words the kids can understand. All of us try very hard to do so because we learn from the teachers and administrators that are also there that this important to the kids to help them understand better what they are talking about and learning in their classes.
So what else did I learn on this day? Well after each of us speaks we then field questions from the kids. There are the usual questions such as "what kind of plane did you fly" and "how long was the war"...that sort of thing. But on this day we had more comment than question from the kids...comments such as "my Grandfather was in WWII", "my Uncle Bob was in the Army and went to Vietnam", and my Great Uncle Joe did this or that while he was in the Navy. Wow, I learned that there is indeed good discussion going on in families of these children about their heritage and what it all means. These kids are bright and thirsty for knowledge and they remember. It warmed my heart and helped me to stand taller as a veteran.
Yesterday I participated with other members of our VFW Post in the annual Veterans Day parade here in Austin. Nearly every veterans organization in the city joins in this event along with so many community groups and city, county, and state organizations like the city fire and police departments. The parade runs up Congress Ave from the Ann Richards bridge over the Colorado River to the foot of the state capital. It's amazing to me the number of people that line the parade route and applaud, wave flags, hold thumbs up as each group passes by. Again, it made me proud to be an American...to be a veteran. The parade is concluded by a ceremony held on the grounds of the capital where the all to politically charged speeches are made and then ceremonial wreaths are laid at the foot of a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The members of our VFW then go to the Post Home for an Open House and a lunch. When our Post Commander returned from the ceremony at the capital he remarked that the speeches were a bit long and each speaker made a proclamation that this was Veterans Day etc, etc. The Commanders thought to that was he did not need to know this as it was proclaimed Veterans day long ago...a funny thought.
So, a really great two days. I have another opportunity to go to a school on Friday as part of Veterans in the Classroom. And, I will have many more opportunities to stand tall as a veteran... helping other veterans and their families and helping in our community...it's what really matters.
VFW members visiting classrooms in their communities during the month of November each year is a VFW program called Veterans in the Classroom. My VFW Post has been participating in this for years. Each member has the opportunity to speak about whatever veteran topic they desire. It's always interesting to hear what other members have to say. I spoke with the kids on two specific subjects: (1) the meaning of Veterans Day to me, and (2) about the POW/MIA issue. It is sometimes difficult for veterans to speak using words the kids can understand. All of us try very hard to do so because we learn from the teachers and administrators that are also there that this important to the kids to help them understand better what they are talking about and learning in their classes.
So what else did I learn on this day? Well after each of us speaks we then field questions from the kids. There are the usual questions such as "what kind of plane did you fly" and "how long was the war"...that sort of thing. But on this day we had more comment than question from the kids...comments such as "my Grandfather was in WWII", "my Uncle Bob was in the Army and went to Vietnam", and my Great Uncle Joe did this or that while he was in the Navy. Wow, I learned that there is indeed good discussion going on in families of these children about their heritage and what it all means. These kids are bright and thirsty for knowledge and they remember. It warmed my heart and helped me to stand taller as a veteran.
Yesterday I participated with other members of our VFW Post in the annual Veterans Day parade here in Austin. Nearly every veterans organization in the city joins in this event along with so many community groups and city, county, and state organizations like the city fire and police departments. The parade runs up Congress Ave from the Ann Richards bridge over the Colorado River to the foot of the state capital. It's amazing to me the number of people that line the parade route and applaud, wave flags, hold thumbs up as each group passes by. Again, it made me proud to be an American...to be a veteran. The parade is concluded by a ceremony held on the grounds of the capital where the all to politically charged speeches are made and then ceremonial wreaths are laid at the foot of a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The members of our VFW then go to the Post Home for an Open House and a lunch. When our Post Commander returned from the ceremony at the capital he remarked that the speeches were a bit long and each speaker made a proclamation that this was Veterans Day etc, etc. The Commanders thought to that was he did not need to know this as it was proclaimed Veterans day long ago...a funny thought.
So, a really great two days. I have another opportunity to go to a school on Friday as part of Veterans in the Classroom. And, I will have many more opportunities to stand tall as a veteran... helping other veterans and their families and helping in our community...it's what really matters.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Tragedy at Fort Hood
November 7, 2009 — I am just beside myself when I think about the events of this past Thursday afternoon at Fort Hood, Texas. The agony of the victims and now the agony of their families that will last a lifetime. What a shame...what a waste!
This deranged killer, a psychiatrist, and one that needed one of his own badly, indiscriminately took the lives of 13 and possibly more heroes. All apparently because he could not reconcile in his own head about religion, his beliefs, and war. Well, if he lives and I hope he does so that justice can be done, then I hope that justice is swift and final and they send this bastard to meet his Allah!
There will be an untold number of stories about the victims of this tragedy. At least I hope that is the case. One never knows about our media though. The victims are the heroes here. The police officer that took this bastard down is a hero. It is to these heroes that we owe the fact that we must never forget them. It is to these victims families that we owe our thoughts and prayers over the coming days as they struggle to deal with their loss and pain. It is to the community of Fort Hood and Killeen, Texas that we pay honor and grieve with them over this great loss. We must never forget!
These are the heroes that pay the price for our freedoms...for the everyday right to do as we please within the law and society. These are the heroes that say we will not stand for terrorism in this world and we will fight it to the death. These are the heroes that willingly put our country above self...that live and walk the walk. We must never forget...it's what really matters!
This deranged killer, a psychiatrist, and one that needed one of his own badly, indiscriminately took the lives of 13 and possibly more heroes. All apparently because he could not reconcile in his own head about religion, his beliefs, and war. Well, if he lives and I hope he does so that justice can be done, then I hope that justice is swift and final and they send this bastard to meet his Allah!
There will be an untold number of stories about the victims of this tragedy. At least I hope that is the case. One never knows about our media though. The victims are the heroes here. The police officer that took this bastard down is a hero. It is to these heroes that we owe the fact that we must never forget them. It is to these victims families that we owe our thoughts and prayers over the coming days as they struggle to deal with their loss and pain. It is to the community of Fort Hood and Killeen, Texas that we pay honor and grieve with them over this great loss. We must never forget!
These are the heroes that pay the price for our freedoms...for the everyday right to do as we please within the law and society. These are the heroes that say we will not stand for terrorism in this world and we will fight it to the death. These are the heroes that willingly put our country above self...that live and walk the walk. We must never forget...it's what really matters!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Travels With My Niece and Daisy Jane — Part 5
November 6, 2009 — This will be the last time I do a cut and paste from my Facebook account to this blog. I just have a lot to do right now and will do a recount of my trip here in this blog later.
Home Again
I arrived home yesterday around 5 p.m. and I must say that there is no place like home. Dorothy had it right! My dog MollyB greeted me with many licks and much pawing. I missed her a bunch and Karen took good care of her and our cat Boots...she always does.
While I could spend time recounting the past 10 days, I will wait for when I have more time and it all sinks in. For now I'll just say that the trip was simply terrific. My niece Tamara is a great travel companion (among many other things) and I thank her for everything. Daisy Jane was the best damn black dog in the world. She and I have a great appreciation for junk food. However, I don't think I will be receiving a Christmas card from her vet this year for fattening Daisy up on this stuff. She was the most patient dog with us humans and our silly ways.
So it is back to being at home and all the wonderful things about being here with Karen, MollyB, and Boots...it's what really matters!
Home Again
I arrived home yesterday around 5 p.m. and I must say that there is no place like home. Dorothy had it right! My dog MollyB greeted me with many licks and much pawing. I missed her a bunch and Karen took good care of her and our cat Boots...she always does.
While I could spend time recounting the past 10 days, I will wait for when I have more time and it all sinks in. For now I'll just say that the trip was simply terrific. My niece Tamara is a great travel companion (among many other things) and I thank her for everything. Daisy Jane was the best damn black dog in the world. She and I have a great appreciation for junk food. However, I don't think I will be receiving a Christmas card from her vet this year for fattening Daisy up on this stuff. She was the most patient dog with us humans and our silly ways.
So it is back to being at home and all the wonderful things about being here with Karen, MollyB, and Boots...it's what really matters!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Travels With My Niece and Daisy Jane — Part 4
November 5, 2009 — I am still lazy so what follows is my posting on Facebook of yesterdays events.
St. Augustine Florida and The World Galf Hall of Fame
Yesterday we toured the oldest city in the country St. Augustine, Florida. It was established by the Spaniards in 1565. In 1763 the British took control of the city and the Spaniards fled mostly to Cuba to return to control the city starting in 1784. In 1821, with Spain having trouble controling it's colonies, they lost interest in St, Augsutine and the Adams-Onis Treaty peaceably turned control of the city over to the United States. These facts are from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Augustine,_Florida.
We toured the old city area which is full of historic spots mostly related to various buildings. It is all very quaint and interesting. There is of course a lot of the usual tourist stuff one has to put up with. It all made for some good photos that are posted separately.
After seeing the old city it was off to the World Golf Hall of Fame (WGH). I have been seeing the promos by Arnold Palmer and Gary Player on the Golf Channel for several years now and when they say "...You just got to go" I found out why yesterday. The place is fabulous! The entire first floor is a tribute to Bob Hope who gave so much to the game of golf. A golf club in his hand became a central prop in his tours to visit troops during many Christmas seasons. I had the pleasure of seeing one of these shows in 1969 while I was deployed with my squadron to Southeast Asia. Mr. Hope and his troupe brought home to us all at a time when we needed it most. The WGH paid tribute to this and many other aspects of Bob Hopes life.
The second floor of the WGH is full of displays about the game from it's very beginning to the most recent (this past Monday) induction ceremony. It is a wonderfuol display of actual equipment, photos, video, and the placques of all the members of the hall. There is an impressive display and documantation of Bobby Jones famed Grand Slam. As an amateur, Bobby Jones was the greatest golfer of his time. He never turned professional. In 1930 he won all four major tournaments and is a feat not yet repeated. He retired from competition at the age of 28.
And so my dream was fulfilled and it was so worth it all. Golf to me is as my golf idol Arnold Palmer has said: "Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated....It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening — and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented." If you play the game you know what he is saying here. It is a great game.
Well the road trip ends to day. I will depart Jacksonville at 1 p.m., go through Tampa, and then on to Austin arriving home at 5:15 p.m. if Southwest is on time. I am anxious to see Karen, MollyB, and Boots. I am grateful for the time I have spent with my niece Tamara and her dog Daisy Jane. We have had great fun together...it's what really matters.
St. Augustine Florida and The World Galf Hall of Fame
Yesterday we toured the oldest city in the country St. Augustine, Florida. It was established by the Spaniards in 1565. In 1763 the British took control of the city and the Spaniards fled mostly to Cuba to return to control the city starting in 1784. In 1821, with Spain having trouble controling it's colonies, they lost interest in St, Augsutine and the Adams-Onis Treaty peaceably turned control of the city over to the United States. These facts are from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Augustine,_Florida.
We toured the old city area which is full of historic spots mostly related to various buildings. It is all very quaint and interesting. There is of course a lot of the usual tourist stuff one has to put up with. It all made for some good photos that are posted separately.
After seeing the old city it was off to the World Golf Hall of Fame (WGH). I have been seeing the promos by Arnold Palmer and Gary Player on the Golf Channel for several years now and when they say "...You just got to go" I found out why yesterday. The place is fabulous! The entire first floor is a tribute to Bob Hope who gave so much to the game of golf. A golf club in his hand became a central prop in his tours to visit troops during many Christmas seasons. I had the pleasure of seeing one of these shows in 1969 while I was deployed with my squadron to Southeast Asia. Mr. Hope and his troupe brought home to us all at a time when we needed it most. The WGH paid tribute to this and many other aspects of Bob Hopes life.
The second floor of the WGH is full of displays about the game from it's very beginning to the most recent (this past Monday) induction ceremony. It is a wonderfuol display of actual equipment, photos, video, and the placques of all the members of the hall. There is an impressive display and documantation of Bobby Jones famed Grand Slam. As an amateur, Bobby Jones was the greatest golfer of his time. He never turned professional. In 1930 he won all four major tournaments and is a feat not yet repeated. He retired from competition at the age of 28.
And so my dream was fulfilled and it was so worth it all. Golf to me is as my golf idol Arnold Palmer has said: "Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated....It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening — and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented." If you play the game you know what he is saying here. It is a great game.
Well the road trip ends to day. I will depart Jacksonville at 1 p.m., go through Tampa, and then on to Austin arriving home at 5:15 p.m. if Southwest is on time. I am anxious to see Karen, MollyB, and Boots. I am grateful for the time I have spent with my niece Tamara and her dog Daisy Jane. We have had great fun together...it's what really matters.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
NAS Jax
November 4, 2009 — NAS Jax is the short and usual way of referring to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. NAS Jax is home to the remaining east coast Navy Patrol Squadrons (VP) and a host of helicopter squadrons and other units. The base has been in existence since 1940 and it has served the country well in all these years.
Yesterday I was able to see a sight I have been familiar with for over 40 years and that is a P-3 Orion patrol aircraft taking off and landing here at NAS Jax. I know exactly what was most likely going on in that aircraft as it flew in the pattern here at Jax. Some young pilot was going through one of his or her syllabus flights that would lead him or her to the next level of qualification in the aircraft. There were most likely four other crew onboard...pilot/instructor, flight engineer, and two aft observers. I cannot count the many, many times I have flown in a P-3 doing what they were most likely doing yesterday. All total I have about 6000 flight hours in the P-3 in a flying career that lasted from 1965 to 1986.
Today I want to go to the Air terminal for just a short while where I can get a good look at some young pilot learning to fly the P-3. It is a marvelous airplane that has been in service since 1962 and will go out of service in 2012 when the Boeing P-8 Poseidon comes on active duty. At that time the grand ol' P-3 will go to the bone yard, but my memories will live on forever...it's what really matters!
Yesterday I was able to see a sight I have been familiar with for over 40 years and that is a P-3 Orion patrol aircraft taking off and landing here at NAS Jax. I know exactly what was most likely going on in that aircraft as it flew in the pattern here at Jax. Some young pilot was going through one of his or her syllabus flights that would lead him or her to the next level of qualification in the aircraft. There were most likely four other crew onboard...pilot/instructor, flight engineer, and two aft observers. I cannot count the many, many times I have flown in a P-3 doing what they were most likely doing yesterday. All total I have about 6000 flight hours in the P-3 in a flying career that lasted from 1965 to 1986.
Today I want to go to the Air terminal for just a short while where I can get a good look at some young pilot learning to fly the P-3. It is a marvelous airplane that has been in service since 1962 and will go out of service in 2012 when the Boeing P-8 Poseidon comes on active duty. At that time the grand ol' P-3 will go to the bone yard, but my memories will live on forever...it's what really matters!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Travels With My Niece and Daisy Jane - Part 3
November 3, 2009 — Yesterday we travelled from Athens, Ga to the Andersonville, Ga National Historic Site. What a day it was. What follows is a posting I made on my Facebook account.
Andersonville National Historic Site
The Andersonville, Ga Historical Site consists of three parts: (1) The Civil War Prison site (2) The Cemetery, and (3) the National POW Museum. Each in its own is a humbling experience to visit, but to take in all three is awesome.
One can drive around the perimeter of the 26.5 acre prison stockade and if you purchased an audio CD to listen to as you drive it explains what you are looking at in some eight stops along the drive. The CD provides excellent detail of what the 45,000 Union prisoners experienced during the 14 month period the prison was in operation (1864 into 1865). The stockade was built to contain only 10,000 prisoners. There were no enclosed accommodations for the prisoners held at Andersonville, officially known as Camp Sumter, and the conditions were horrible to say the least. The site was chosen because it was far from battlefield action and there was railroad access. The following is taken from the historical site brochure: "There were over 13,000 Union soldiers that died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure." The dead were kept in a Death House until they could be moved to the burial ground.
The Andersonville National Cemetery was established July 26, 1865 and initially held the remains of dead prisoners from the nearby stockade. By 1868 another 800 Union soldiers were buried having died in hospitals, other prisoner of war camps (there were 3 prisons run by the Confederates and 5 by the Union), and on the battlefields of central and southwest Georgia. This swelled the number of interments to some 13,800 some 500 of which were unknowns. Today the cemetery contains over 18,000 graves as other veterans from other wars have been added. It is an active National Cemetery. Containing 18 separate sections of row upon row of white grave markers are a humbling site to behold. The flag of our country flies proudly throughout the cemetery to honor the fallen that have found their final resting place here.
The prison closed in May 1865. At the end of the war Confederate Capt. Henry Wirz, the stockade commander, was arrested and charged with conspiring with Confederate officials to destroy the lives of Union soldiers and "murder, in violation of the laws of war." No conspiracy existed, but the rage felt in the North over the conditions at Andersonville demanded retribution. Capt. Wirz was tried by a military tribunal, found guilty, and hanged on November 10, 1865 in Washington, D.C. His main defense was that he was only following orders...that he did not have the goods and the means to provide the prisoners with what they needed and what would be considered humane treatment. That must have been true as the South was starving at this time. Much has been argued since the time of the Civil War as to how much of the terrible prison conditions at Andersonville was Capt. Wirz fault. The Daughters of the Confederacy erected a monument to Wirz that stands today in the town of Andersonville.
* Most of the above was taken directly from the Andersonville National Historical Site brochure.
The following is directly quoted from the Andersonville National Historical Site brochure: " Andersonville National Historic Site is the only National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Congress stated the park's purpose as providing 'an understanding of the overall prisoner of war story of the Civil War, to interpret the role of prisoner of war camps in history, to commemorate the sacrifice of Americans who lost their lives in such camps, and to preserve the monuments located within the site.' In 1998 the National Prisoner of War Museum opened at Andersonville, dedicated to the men and women of this country who suffered captivity. Their story is one of sacrifice and courage." The museum upholds its purpose and so much more.
From the time of the Revolutionary War to the War on Terrorism there is information displayed about known POWs from the wars this country has been involved in. Clearly laid out, the exhibits detail the experience of POWs, their suffering, the gruesome details of actions by their captors, and the suffering of families who waited for their return to freedom. And their return to freedom is also shown. It is an awesome experience to see and hear. There are many video vignettes, interviews with actual POWs, and countless static displays all very well documented. One cannot help but have tears in your eyes as you view some of this museum. The sacrifices of the men and women whose stories are told here bring to mind one word...courage. They are proof that freedom is not free...that so few of us in this country have little inkling of what it takes to be able to enjoy the freedoms we have. It was an honor to be in that museum yesterday. It gives me the resolve to never forget the motto of the POW/MIA..."Your Are Not Forgotten."
Andersonville National Historic Site
The Andersonville, Ga Historical Site consists of three parts: (1) The Civil War Prison site (2) The Cemetery, and (3) the National POW Museum. Each in its own is a humbling experience to visit, but to take in all three is awesome.
One can drive around the perimeter of the 26.5 acre prison stockade and if you purchased an audio CD to listen to as you drive it explains what you are looking at in some eight stops along the drive. The CD provides excellent detail of what the 45,000 Union prisoners experienced during the 14 month period the prison was in operation (1864 into 1865). The stockade was built to contain only 10,000 prisoners. There were no enclosed accommodations for the prisoners held at Andersonville, officially known as Camp Sumter, and the conditions were horrible to say the least. The site was chosen because it was far from battlefield action and there was railroad access. The following is taken from the historical site brochure: "There were over 13,000 Union soldiers that died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure." The dead were kept in a Death House until they could be moved to the burial ground.
The Andersonville National Cemetery was established July 26, 1865 and initially held the remains of dead prisoners from the nearby stockade. By 1868 another 800 Union soldiers were buried having died in hospitals, other prisoner of war camps (there were 3 prisons run by the Confederates and 5 by the Union), and on the battlefields of central and southwest Georgia. This swelled the number of interments to some 13,800 some 500 of which were unknowns. Today the cemetery contains over 18,000 graves as other veterans from other wars have been added. It is an active National Cemetery. Containing 18 separate sections of row upon row of white grave markers are a humbling site to behold. The flag of our country flies proudly throughout the cemetery to honor the fallen that have found their final resting place here.
The prison closed in May 1865. At the end of the war Confederate Capt. Henry Wirz, the stockade commander, was arrested and charged with conspiring with Confederate officials to destroy the lives of Union soldiers and "murder, in violation of the laws of war." No conspiracy existed, but the rage felt in the North over the conditions at Andersonville demanded retribution. Capt. Wirz was tried by a military tribunal, found guilty, and hanged on November 10, 1865 in Washington, D.C. His main defense was that he was only following orders...that he did not have the goods and the means to provide the prisoners with what they needed and what would be considered humane treatment. That must have been true as the South was starving at this time. Much has been argued since the time of the Civil War as to how much of the terrible prison conditions at Andersonville was Capt. Wirz fault. The Daughters of the Confederacy erected a monument to Wirz that stands today in the town of Andersonville.
* Most of the above was taken directly from the Andersonville National Historical Site brochure.
The following is directly quoted from the Andersonville National Historical Site brochure: " Andersonville National Historic Site is the only National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Congress stated the park's purpose as providing 'an understanding of the overall prisoner of war story of the Civil War, to interpret the role of prisoner of war camps in history, to commemorate the sacrifice of Americans who lost their lives in such camps, and to preserve the monuments located within the site.' In 1998 the National Prisoner of War Museum opened at Andersonville, dedicated to the men and women of this country who suffered captivity. Their story is one of sacrifice and courage." The museum upholds its purpose and so much more.
From the time of the Revolutionary War to the War on Terrorism there is information displayed about known POWs from the wars this country has been involved in. Clearly laid out, the exhibits detail the experience of POWs, their suffering, the gruesome details of actions by their captors, and the suffering of families who waited for their return to freedom. And their return to freedom is also shown. It is an awesome experience to see and hear. There are many video vignettes, interviews with actual POWs, and countless static displays all very well documented. One cannot help but have tears in your eyes as you view some of this museum. The sacrifices of the men and women whose stories are told here bring to mind one word...courage. They are proof that freedom is not free...that so few of us in this country have little inkling of what it takes to be able to enjoy the freedoms we have. It was an honor to be in that museum yesterday. It gives me the resolve to never forget the motto of the POW/MIA..."Your Are Not Forgotten."
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Travels with my Niece and Daisy Jane - Part 2
November 1, 2009 — Since I last blogged here our trip has taken us to Pensacola, Fla and then on to Athens, Ga. We arrived in Pensacola late afternoon on Thursday. Got settled in the hotel and spent a quite evening resting. The next morning we drove out to NAS Pensacola and the National Naval Air Museum. I was astonished at the size of the museum and it's exhibits. I kept hearing from those that had been there that if takes a few days to really see all that is there. I know now how true that is.
It is an impressive museum if you care about aviation and particularly Naval aviation. It clearly depicts the history of Naval aviation from it's beginnings to the present and includes everything imaginable. The displays are laid out so cleanly and the documentation for each is so complete so that there is no doubt what you are viewing. There are many kiosks and of course an IMAX theater. The museum also has on display over 60 aircraft located externally and you can take a bus tour of those if you like.
I am very proud of my part in Naval aviation and as I viewed the museum I was constantly reminded of the great sacrifices made by so many to make Naval Air what it is today. Oft times you can see a bumper sticker on a car that says "Fly Navy"...there is no better way to go.
My niece and I had lunch at the O'club as it was the only one open for such. There is much history in there also. I marveled at the young men and women that came in for lunch knowing that they are future pilots and NFO's (Naval Flight Officer)...they are the future of Naval Air. We then went to the Chief's club after it opened at 1400. There was not much happening there, but did have a good talk with a Marine GySgt and a few other Marines that came in. Nice bunch of guys. I got caught up somewhat on how things are now in the Navy. It is a different Navy then when I retired over 20-yrs ago and then again some things never change. It was a great day and good to be back aboard a naval sir station.
We were up early on Saturday and headed for Athens, Ga to visit my sister and her husband. Raining just about all of the way, the drive from Pensacola to Athens took us through the heart of southeastern Alabama to Montgomery and then on to Atlanta, Ga and another 50 miles or so to Athens. All of it a very nice drive even with the rain. Of course Daisy Jane was her usual patient dog that she has been this entire trip. She is a very good traveler.
My sister and her husband have a beautiful home here in Athens. Her husband has done most of the landscaping as he is a well known botanist (I believe that is his expertise) here in Georgia. I hope to learn some things about taking care of roses. We look forward to spending a quite Sunday with them and then going to Andersonville, Ga on Monday. This coming Thursday is my sister's birthday so we celebrate it a little early today...it's what really matters!
It is an impressive museum if you care about aviation and particularly Naval aviation. It clearly depicts the history of Naval aviation from it's beginnings to the present and includes everything imaginable. The displays are laid out so cleanly and the documentation for each is so complete so that there is no doubt what you are viewing. There are many kiosks and of course an IMAX theater. The museum also has on display over 60 aircraft located externally and you can take a bus tour of those if you like.
I am very proud of my part in Naval aviation and as I viewed the museum I was constantly reminded of the great sacrifices made by so many to make Naval Air what it is today. Oft times you can see a bumper sticker on a car that says "Fly Navy"...there is no better way to go.
My niece and I had lunch at the O'club as it was the only one open for such. There is much history in there also. I marveled at the young men and women that came in for lunch knowing that they are future pilots and NFO's (Naval Flight Officer)...they are the future of Naval Air. We then went to the Chief's club after it opened at 1400. There was not much happening there, but did have a good talk with a Marine GySgt and a few other Marines that came in. Nice bunch of guys. I got caught up somewhat on how things are now in the Navy. It is a different Navy then when I retired over 20-yrs ago and then again some things never change. It was a great day and good to be back aboard a naval sir station.
We were up early on Saturday and headed for Athens, Ga to visit my sister and her husband. Raining just about all of the way, the drive from Pensacola to Athens took us through the heart of southeastern Alabama to Montgomery and then on to Atlanta, Ga and another 50 miles or so to Athens. All of it a very nice drive even with the rain. Of course Daisy Jane was her usual patient dog that she has been this entire trip. She is a very good traveler.
My sister and her husband have a beautiful home here in Athens. Her husband has done most of the landscaping as he is a well known botanist (I believe that is his expertise) here in Georgia. I hope to learn some things about taking care of roses. We look forward to spending a quite Sunday with them and then going to Andersonville, Ga on Monday. This coming Thursday is my sister's birthday so we celebrate it a little early today...it's what really matters!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Travels with my Niece and Daisy Jane - Part 1
October 29, 2009 — Well my great adventure of the fall of 2009 is underway. My niece, her dog Daisy Jane, and I left Austin a bit earlier than expected on Monday. It was almost 4 a.m. when I woke them up along with Wanda and announced that we had better get started ahead of approaching storms. It was good that we did as there was significant rain. We stayed out of most of it until we reached the Houston area where it stormed and we had to deal with rush hour traffic. My niece did a great job of getting us through it all and we headed on towards New Orleans.
We left the Interstate (I-10) at Lake Charles, La and traveled the rural highways all the way to New Orleans. You really do see a lot more by getting off the Interstate as my niece had been proclaiming. It took a total of 12-hours to reach New Orleans, but we saw a lot of things that otherwise would have been missed had we not gone through southern Louisiana. I thought they grew a lot of sugar cane in Hawaii, but that is the major crop around these parts.
(I started this blog in the early morning hours of our last day in New Orleans and have since traveled to Pensacola, Fla. so I am switching to past tense.)
I was very impressed with New Orleans. I thought I would find a dingy city with a lot of "crud" hanging around, but that is certainly not the case. It is very easy to get around by auto except for parking so we did a lot of sightseeing from the car. Our hotel was about a mile (maybe less) from the French Quarter so of course we explored Bourbon St and the surrounding area. I love the narrow streets and overhanging balconies. My niece has been to New Orleans several times before and was an excellent tour guide.
One of the best parts was the French Market area at one end of the French Quarter. It is alongside the Mississippi River and there was so much to see. I enjoyed the Cafe du Monde and the delicious beignets (a French pastry). They were exactly as my niece said they would be. We did some shopping at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and had lunch there. All of it good stuff!
The first day we traveled south out of New Orleans paralleling the river to the farthest point south you can go in Louisiana by car. It was some 140 miles round trip and about half of that there just wasn't much to see. Down near the end of the road there were a number of heliports where oil rig workers are ferried to the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. There were a ton of pickup trucks parked in the parking lots of these heliports.
Our second day we spent as described above and also drove through the Garden District. This area of New Orleans is filled with very old style southern homes. Very expansive and beautiful. I believe I got some good pictures. We then traveled around via the Interstate to the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain and then took the causeway across the lake back to the city. That is a distance of 24 miles. Lake Pontchartrain is the second largest saltwater lake in America and has an average depth of 12-14 feet. Amazing!
All-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed the sites of New Orleans and look forward to when I might return. So we left for Pensacola this morning and arrived about 4:30 p.m. We again stayed off I-10 most of the way and drove along the beach through Mississippi and Alabama. We stopped at a casino and of course my niece walked out of the place flush with cash. Me I got a little return. Tomorrow I intend to see the National Naval Air Museum. I spent a good deal of my adult life in Naval aviation and it means so much to me...it's what really matters!
We left the Interstate (I-10) at Lake Charles, La and traveled the rural highways all the way to New Orleans. You really do see a lot more by getting off the Interstate as my niece had been proclaiming. It took a total of 12-hours to reach New Orleans, but we saw a lot of things that otherwise would have been missed had we not gone through southern Louisiana. I thought they grew a lot of sugar cane in Hawaii, but that is the major crop around these parts.
(I started this blog in the early morning hours of our last day in New Orleans and have since traveled to Pensacola, Fla. so I am switching to past tense.)
I was very impressed with New Orleans. I thought I would find a dingy city with a lot of "crud" hanging around, but that is certainly not the case. It is very easy to get around by auto except for parking so we did a lot of sightseeing from the car. Our hotel was about a mile (maybe less) from the French Quarter so of course we explored Bourbon St and the surrounding area. I love the narrow streets and overhanging balconies. My niece has been to New Orleans several times before and was an excellent tour guide.
One of the best parts was the French Market area at one end of the French Quarter. It is alongside the Mississippi River and there was so much to see. I enjoyed the Cafe du Monde and the delicious beignets (a French pastry). They were exactly as my niece said they would be. We did some shopping at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and had lunch there. All of it good stuff!
The first day we traveled south out of New Orleans paralleling the river to the farthest point south you can go in Louisiana by car. It was some 140 miles round trip and about half of that there just wasn't much to see. Down near the end of the road there were a number of heliports where oil rig workers are ferried to the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. There were a ton of pickup trucks parked in the parking lots of these heliports.
Our second day we spent as described above and also drove through the Garden District. This area of New Orleans is filled with very old style southern homes. Very expansive and beautiful. I believe I got some good pictures. We then traveled around via the Interstate to the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain and then took the causeway across the lake back to the city. That is a distance of 24 miles. Lake Pontchartrain is the second largest saltwater lake in America and has an average depth of 12-14 feet. Amazing!
All-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed the sites of New Orleans and look forward to when I might return. So we left for Pensacola this morning and arrived about 4:30 p.m. We again stayed off I-10 most of the way and drove along the beach through Mississippi and Alabama. We stopped at a casino and of course my niece walked out of the place flush with cash. Me I got a little return. Tomorrow I intend to see the National Naval Air Museum. I spent a good deal of my adult life in Naval aviation and it means so much to me...it's what really matters!
Monday, October 26, 2009
I Am Really Angry
October 26, 2009 — I can't remember when I have been as angry as I am right now. I mean really angry. For a long time now my youngest son has been on a path to self destruction. Strong words huh? Well it is the truth. He quit school (finally went back and graduated this summer), got into drugs which he was doing long before he quit school, made really bad choices in his friends, got into serious trouble with the law, and so much more.
He has absolutely no respect for anything. He uses people constantly for his own selfish needs and this is where I am drawing the line. Wanda and I have tried to help him in many ways, but with all of that he has consistently shown that he does not care what we think or feel just as long as he gets his way. Wanda has gone out on a limb to help him get a job, something he sorely needs, where she works and now he is trashing that. How is that you say? Well he went to work when scheduled for about two weeks, but when he started getting money in his pocket he has shown up late for work or called in. He did that today so he could go with his friends to a concert. He also failed to follow through with something I had asked him to do for me today...all because he wanted to be with his friends.
Well that's it for me and Wanda. He will not disrespect her. Her reputation at work has been laid on the line for him and he cares not a bit for that. It is time for tough love...I guess. It is time to say to him that since he does not want to take responsibility for himself and his actions then it is time for us to say that we can't help you anymore. This will be hard for me...it is not something I like doing with my children, but I cannot go on with him like this. Yes, it's time for tough love...it's what really matters!
He has absolutely no respect for anything. He uses people constantly for his own selfish needs and this is where I am drawing the line. Wanda and I have tried to help him in many ways, but with all of that he has consistently shown that he does not care what we think or feel just as long as he gets his way. Wanda has gone out on a limb to help him get a job, something he sorely needs, where she works and now he is trashing that. How is that you say? Well he went to work when scheduled for about two weeks, but when he started getting money in his pocket he has shown up late for work or called in. He did that today so he could go with his friends to a concert. He also failed to follow through with something I had asked him to do for me today...all because he wanted to be with his friends.
Well that's it for me and Wanda. He will not disrespect her. Her reputation at work has been laid on the line for him and he cares not a bit for that. It is time for tough love...I guess. It is time to say to him that since he does not want to take responsibility for himself and his actions then it is time for us to say that we can't help you anymore. This will be hard for me...it is not something I like doing with my children, but I cannot go on with him like this. Yes, it's time for tough love...it's what really matters!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Taking Care of Myself
October 25, 2009 — I could spend hours blogging about the subject. I don't think that is really necessary as the subject is really pretty basic. Taking care of myself has two fundamental parts: (1) my physical health, and (2) my emotional health.
The first part I have done plenty of blogging about. I am making progress in taking care of my physical health and while it is not without obstacles, I know the progress is there. There are many successes and some setbacks. In both the successes and the setbacks I am gaining valuable experience that will help me to continue to move in a positive direction. If I do not keep moving positively forward, I will amplify the problems in taking care of my emotional health.
Taking care of emotional health can be an exhausting experience. There are so many little things in attending to my emotional health that it can become overwhelming...that is until I break the emotion down to the very basic facts. Rome wasn't built in a day and it is foolish for me to think that I can take care of all my emotional needs in a day...so to speak. It just does not work when I try to do so in that way.
However, when I break an issue down to the fundamental facts...throw out the BS...and deal with it straightforwardly and truthfully I find out that I emerge on the other side a much more healthy emotional person. I emerge as a husband, father, grandfather, family member, and friend that I want and should be.
The two parts of taking care of myself have one very strong need. They both require that in doing the work necessary to be healthy that I do so in the light of truth. For a long time I have thought that the inscription on the Tower Building on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin read..."Seek ye the truth and the truth shall make you free", but the inscription is "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." To me it is a seeking...to me truth is the foundation of our lives...to me it's what really matters!
The first part I have done plenty of blogging about. I am making progress in taking care of my physical health and while it is not without obstacles, I know the progress is there. There are many successes and some setbacks. In both the successes and the setbacks I am gaining valuable experience that will help me to continue to move in a positive direction. If I do not keep moving positively forward, I will amplify the problems in taking care of my emotional health.
Taking care of emotional health can be an exhausting experience. There are so many little things in attending to my emotional health that it can become overwhelming...that is until I break the emotion down to the very basic facts. Rome wasn't built in a day and it is foolish for me to think that I can take care of all my emotional needs in a day...so to speak. It just does not work when I try to do so in that way.
However, when I break an issue down to the fundamental facts...throw out the BS...and deal with it straightforwardly and truthfully I find out that I emerge on the other side a much more healthy emotional person. I emerge as a husband, father, grandfather, family member, and friend that I want and should be.
The two parts of taking care of myself have one very strong need. They both require that in doing the work necessary to be healthy that I do so in the light of truth. For a long time I have thought that the inscription on the Tower Building on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin read..."Seek ye the truth and the truth shall make you free", but the inscription is "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." To me it is a seeking...to me truth is the foundation of our lives...to me it's what really matters!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Reaching Out To Needy Vets
October 23, 2009 — Recently a social worker at a local nursing home contacted the commander of my VFW Post asking if any Post member might be willing to come talk with several wheelchair bound vets residing at her facility. She explained that these guys were lonely and in need of contact with someone that understood their military past and could share experiences with them. When the Post Commander announced this need to our membership I immediately thought back to what I had been telling myself and that is just why am I member of this great organization that professes to honor the dead by helping the living if I don't live that in my own life? I told the commander that I would be happy to go and talk with these gentleman and find out if there was anything we could do as a VFW Post to help improve their situation. Yesterday, accompanied by my niece, I made that visit.
Several things were readily apparent from my visit. First of all while these guys were wheelchair bound from strokes, they were both lucid and could articulate what their needs were and they were not many. They needed the kind of companionship and camaraderie our Post membership could provide. With Veterans Day approaching and the fact that our Post has an Open House on that day, I invited both vets to join me at the Post for the festivities and they both gladly accepted. One of the vets also stated he had been a member of the VFW previously in another town here in Texas. I asked if he was interested in being reinstated as a VFW member in our Post and his answer was yes. He seemed to be the most needy and wanting of the comradeship. The other vet wanted help with asking the VA to reevaluate his medical condition and what caused it because he did feel he was getting the proper disability previously awarded to him. Our Post has the resources and the know how of who to contact to help this vet in dealing with the VA.
On a very personal note I must confess that what I did yesterday in visiting these vets I would not have done 10 years ago. Back then I did not care so much. I am so glad I have grown past that. When I left the nursing home it was with a very good feeling that now I could live up to what I truly believe in and that is honoring the dead by helping the living. To be sure, I will do everything I can to help these vets. I will leave no stone unturned...it's what really matters!
Several things were readily apparent from my visit. First of all while these guys were wheelchair bound from strokes, they were both lucid and could articulate what their needs were and they were not many. They needed the kind of companionship and camaraderie our Post membership could provide. With Veterans Day approaching and the fact that our Post has an Open House on that day, I invited both vets to join me at the Post for the festivities and they both gladly accepted. One of the vets also stated he had been a member of the VFW previously in another town here in Texas. I asked if he was interested in being reinstated as a VFW member in our Post and his answer was yes. He seemed to be the most needy and wanting of the comradeship. The other vet wanted help with asking the VA to reevaluate his medical condition and what caused it because he did feel he was getting the proper disability previously awarded to him. Our Post has the resources and the know how of who to contact to help this vet in dealing with the VA.
On a very personal note I must confess that what I did yesterday in visiting these vets I would not have done 10 years ago. Back then I did not care so much. I am so glad I have grown past that. When I left the nursing home it was with a very good feeling that now I could live up to what I truly believe in and that is honoring the dead by helping the living. To be sure, I will do everything I can to help these vets. I will leave no stone unturned...it's what really matters!
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Most Incredible Week
October 19, 2009 — I am going to be having the most incredible week coming up. In fact the next 18 days or so have a great possibility of being incredible. Well why is that you might ask?
My niece from North Carolina is here visiting. She came in on Saturday having traveled from Lubbock, Texas (yes it should be in your rear view mirror) where she and Daisy Jane (her dog) had spent Friday night. My niece is approaching the end of a two month plus trip that started in Kentucky, on to Missouri, and then picking up the Lewis and Clark Trail and their Corps of Discovery in Omaha, Neb and following it through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, to it's end near Portland, Ore. Then it was back to Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico and visits to National Parks and then on to Austin. I will travel with her next week to New Orleans, Pensacola, Fla, Andersonville and Athens, Ga, and then Jacksonville, Fla. There will be much to blog about on the way. By the time my niece returns to her home in North Carolina she and Daisy will have traveled well over 10K miles exploring America.
I have another niece from North Carolina who is working a job assignment in San Antonio so she joined us over the weekend and then we will see her in San Antone on Tuesday. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Family is the foundation for everything in life. I am blessed to be part of a good family. We are spread all across this great country of ours and we have many and diverse interest. The bottom line though is that we are family...it's what really matters!
My niece from North Carolina is here visiting. She came in on Saturday having traveled from Lubbock, Texas (yes it should be in your rear view mirror) where she and Daisy Jane (her dog) had spent Friday night. My niece is approaching the end of a two month plus trip that started in Kentucky, on to Missouri, and then picking up the Lewis and Clark Trail and their Corps of Discovery in Omaha, Neb and following it through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, to it's end near Portland, Ore. Then it was back to Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico and visits to National Parks and then on to Austin. I will travel with her next week to New Orleans, Pensacola, Fla, Andersonville and Athens, Ga, and then Jacksonville, Fla. There will be much to blog about on the way. By the time my niece returns to her home in North Carolina she and Daisy will have traveled well over 10K miles exploring America.
I have another niece from North Carolina who is working a job assignment in San Antonio so she joined us over the weekend and then we will see her in San Antone on Tuesday. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Family is the foundation for everything in life. I am blessed to be part of a good family. We are spread all across this great country of ours and we have many and diverse interest. The bottom line though is that we are family...it's what really matters!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Troop Morale In Afghanistan
October 16, 2009 — This article http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-10-15-commander-letter-to-troops_N.htm?csp=34 on usatoday.com is about one military commander's attempt to help with improving his troops morale by writing a personal letter to them that was published in his unit's newsletter and he does this every month. It is an outstanding example of good leadership.
Apparently Col. David Haight, of the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat team, recognizes that his troops need to know why they are doing what they are doing. A soldiers need to know the whys and wherefores of what they are doing is nothing new. It was that way in Vietnam and I venture to say it was that way in Korea and in WWII. I know from personal experience that the flight crews I was a part of during my 22+ years in the Navy always performed better and our morale was high when our leaders took the time to explain why we were doing some of the things we did.
It appears that the low morale reported in Col. Haight's command is a two-fold issue. How could it not be disheartening and a morale crasher when you see two of your buddies killed by someone you thought was a friend, but turned on you after five years? How could it not be disheartening for a soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq or anywhere else for that matter to see, hear, and read the stories on CNN or published in the Stars and Stripes or broadcast on AFRTS about what the Obama administration is doing with their ongoing debate on what to do militarily from a strategic and even tactical viewpoint in Afghanistan? Why do we do these things to the men and women of our armed forces? Why?
We have learned nothing from the experiences of Vietnam. We are still trying to fight and control a battlefield from the halls of the White House and the halls of Congress. Vietnam proved that without a doubt you cannot do that and expect your fighting forces not to have low morale which places them in even more grave danger.
I have talked with many veterans over the last few months, most of them Vietnam vets, and what is going on angers them greatly and awakens the nightmares they have had all these years. They are disgusted and they know what is going on is what happened to them and they know it is dead wrong.
We must stop this total disregard for our troops. It is a sickening madness and dishonors those that have already paid the ultimate price for their service to fight the War on Terrorism and it dishonors those that are fighting on regardless of the stupidity of our political...ahem...leaders. We must not do to these men and women what we did to those that served in Vietnam...we must give them the tools and the support needed to win the battle and come home...it's what really matters!
Apparently Col. David Haight, of the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat team, recognizes that his troops need to know why they are doing what they are doing. A soldiers need to know the whys and wherefores of what they are doing is nothing new. It was that way in Vietnam and I venture to say it was that way in Korea and in WWII. I know from personal experience that the flight crews I was a part of during my 22+ years in the Navy always performed better and our morale was high when our leaders took the time to explain why we were doing some of the things we did.
It appears that the low morale reported in Col. Haight's command is a two-fold issue. How could it not be disheartening and a morale crasher when you see two of your buddies killed by someone you thought was a friend, but turned on you after five years? How could it not be disheartening for a soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq or anywhere else for that matter to see, hear, and read the stories on CNN or published in the Stars and Stripes or broadcast on AFRTS about what the Obama administration is doing with their ongoing debate on what to do militarily from a strategic and even tactical viewpoint in Afghanistan? Why do we do these things to the men and women of our armed forces? Why?
We have learned nothing from the experiences of Vietnam. We are still trying to fight and control a battlefield from the halls of the White House and the halls of Congress. Vietnam proved that without a doubt you cannot do that and expect your fighting forces not to have low morale which places them in even more grave danger.
I have talked with many veterans over the last few months, most of them Vietnam vets, and what is going on angers them greatly and awakens the nightmares they have had all these years. They are disgusted and they know what is going on is what happened to them and they know it is dead wrong.
We must stop this total disregard for our troops. It is a sickening madness and dishonors those that have already paid the ultimate price for their service to fight the War on Terrorism and it dishonors those that are fighting on regardless of the stupidity of our political...ahem...leaders. We must not do to these men and women what we did to those that served in Vietnam...we must give them the tools and the support needed to win the battle and come home...it's what really matters!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Busy, Busy...Or Why I Haven't Had Time To Blog
October 13, 2009 — This month has been a busy one so far. I am not taking the time to blog much right now as there is so much going on...not an excuse just a fact.
I continue to have medical issues that crop up. For instance, the other day as I was substitute teaching and I noticed some problem with my "plumbing system" (if you know what I mean). I went to the VA clinic the next day and sure enough a urine test confirmed there was a problem I needed to have looked at immediately. So Wanda and I had to make a quick trip to the VA hospital at Temple, TX that afternoon and I had my bladder scoped out. Nothing wrong there, so they have scheduled a CT scan to look at my kidneys and put me on some antibiotics.
Then for longer that I can remember I have had problems with my feet. It started way back in my Navy days and I have had them looked at I don't know how many times both while I was in the Navy and since I have been out. Nothing that has been done has ever made any difference. So, I go again today to see a VA podiatrist. I am hoping some measure of relief can be found as they are really getting to be a "pain in the foot" so to speak.
Tomorrow I will have a CT scan done to look at the nodules in my chest that were discovered back in June. It has been the plan all along by my pulminologist to do a CT scan at this time to see if there has been any growth or major change. I am anxious for this to happen, the CT I mean, and to know what is going on.
So the parts seem to continue to wear out. I guess that is to be expected as you grow older. Outside my medical issues I have begun developing a web site for my VFW Post. I am not a professional web site designer/developer, but I do view it as a hobby and it's something I love to do. I will be advertising the site here in the blog when it is complete and online.
Well there just hasn't been much time left to blog. That's okay though as I was getting way to political there for awhile and bit on the grumpy side. I've told myself all along that this blog needs to be about those things in my life that really matter. I think I have been doing justice to that so far and I don't want to get off task...it's what really matters!
I continue to have medical issues that crop up. For instance, the other day as I was substitute teaching and I noticed some problem with my "plumbing system" (if you know what I mean). I went to the VA clinic the next day and sure enough a urine test confirmed there was a problem I needed to have looked at immediately. So Wanda and I had to make a quick trip to the VA hospital at Temple, TX that afternoon and I had my bladder scoped out. Nothing wrong there, so they have scheduled a CT scan to look at my kidneys and put me on some antibiotics.
Then for longer that I can remember I have had problems with my feet. It started way back in my Navy days and I have had them looked at I don't know how many times both while I was in the Navy and since I have been out. Nothing that has been done has ever made any difference. So, I go again today to see a VA podiatrist. I am hoping some measure of relief can be found as they are really getting to be a "pain in the foot" so to speak.
Tomorrow I will have a CT scan done to look at the nodules in my chest that were discovered back in June. It has been the plan all along by my pulminologist to do a CT scan at this time to see if there has been any growth or major change. I am anxious for this to happen, the CT I mean, and to know what is going on.
So the parts seem to continue to wear out. I guess that is to be expected as you grow older. Outside my medical issues I have begun developing a web site for my VFW Post. I am not a professional web site designer/developer, but I do view it as a hobby and it's something I love to do. I will be advertising the site here in the blog when it is complete and online.
Well there just hasn't been much time left to blog. That's okay though as I was getting way to political there for awhile and bit on the grumpy side. I've told myself all along that this blog needs to be about those things in my life that really matter. I think I have been doing justice to that so far and I don't want to get off task...it's what really matters!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Early Substitute Teaching Returns
October 8, 2009 — I've really been enjoying my work so far as a substitute teacher. It seems to be much as thought it would be...working when I want to...picking where it is I want to work, e.g., elementary level, middle school, or high school and since I am doing this in two separate school districts I have a choice there also. Each of these advantages, I'll call them, has presented me the opportunity to form some early opinions about what is happening in the education of children in Texas and I'd venture to say across the country. There are two early opinions I have and I shall endeavor to clearly express them and stay on topic.
First, there are are major differences in the socio-economics of the two districts. One is in an area of white upper middle class families living in very upscale neighborhoods and I'll call it D#1. The other district (D#2) covers a wide area of largely Hispanic families ranging from very low to middle class on the socio-economic scale. Secondly, there is a disparity I believe in the professional educators in one of these districts. The largely Hispanic D#2 has upper level administrators and teachers that are white. Is this because the pool of professional educators that are of Hispanic origin is small? Probably, but I have no published analysis to back up that thought. Not to surprisingly the administrators and teachers in the more affluent D#1 district are also white. One could say that this probably causes problems in the education of the kids in D#2, but then again maybe not. Especially when one sees that good teachers don't care what your ethnic makeup or social status is (although they are generally sensitive to the issue)...they just want to help the student learn and they work hard at doing so. If we have a shortage of say doctors that practice Family medicine in this country, then just as importantly there might be a shortage of minority professional educators and we should be devoting resources to correct that disparity. Finally, the student population in numbers are comparable in each of the two districts.
What about the students themselves in these two districts? What about the differences in grade level? The second question could be easily addressed by thinking about the age differences involved when considering grade level, but there is more to it than just age differences. I have done an elementary 5th grade class job assignment and I did not care for it much primarily because of the methods involved in teaching. The class I had was doing math and science on the day I was there and I just did not care for the pace of the lesson plan I was given. Middle school students (6th-8th grade here in Texas) in both D#1 and D#2 I am finding out seem to be much more attentive. They are out of the elementary school mode and expanding their horizons and are more eager to learn. They have not yet experienced many of the things one does as a teenager. It has been a pleasure to teach in these schools. The high school student is altogether another challenge. In D#1 the high school group is very polite and respectful (and I'll have more to say about respect in a moment) and the students almost across the board want to learn. At one of the high schools in this district they profess that all but three of their graduating seniors in the class of 2008 are enrolled in an institution of higher learning. If this is true, then I believe that is very significant. In D#2 the students whether Hispanic, white, or other are generally not very interested in being at school for any other reason then the social aspects. Yes, there are those students in D#2 that do care and are good students that work hard, but they are the minority. A case in point is a two day assignment I took for a Junior year English class in D#2. On the first day the students were to watch part of the made for TV movie Of Mice and Men and complete a movie guide for turn-in at the end of the period. I had to constantly remind some students in each period to stay awake (even at 2 p.m. in the afternoon). The second day the classes were to listen to an audio book reading of Chapter 4 of Of Mice and Men, follow along in their own copy of the book, and again complete a worksheet for turn-in. There were some students that did not bother to even open their book. Some did not write a word on the handout given to them and one industrious young man hurriedly copied the answers from a fellow student and turned in his handout. I noted this on my report to the teacher. I have found none of these sorts of things so far in D#1.
So what does this all mean? Does socio-economic status affect learning and more directly attitude. Not to surprisingly it does. There are no differences in the teachers between these two districts and there are basically no differences that I have encountered in the material being taught or the way that it is taught. So where is the problem? It is I believe in the home. The parents play a critical role here and all to often they want to point their finger at the school and say it is the schools fault (meaning the teachers) that their child is failing. This simply is not true in my opinion. The parents in my opinion just do not care and do not want to take responsibility for their part in their child's education.
The most significant attribute, good or bad, of a student in these two districts is the one of respect. It is most noticeably visible when it comes time to rise out of their seat, hold their hand over their heart, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. In D#1, absolutely across the board, the students show great respect for the flag and our country. In D#2 that is not the case. In the aforementioned English class, on day one I was at the teachers desk in the back of the room when the the pledge was recited (or not) and I thought that not many were saying the pledge. On day two I purposely positioned myself in the classroom where I could face the flag and also see the students and out of 29 people in that room that morning I was the only one that recited the pledge. What is this saying for this group of America's youth and more importantly what sort of value is being placed on love of country and respect in their own home. Not much can be said I am afraid and it is disheartening.
While some of my comments here may seem racially tainted or biased I make no apology for that because it is not true. These are observations that I have made and know to be true as my eyes have seen them and my brain has processed the thoughts created by those observations.
So, those are the early returns on my experiences as a substitute teacher. I am sure I will have more in this blog on this subject as the year progresses. One thing is for sure it is presenting me with some great challenges and also the opportunity for me to learn. In very teaching situation that I have been involved with in my adult life, I have come away having learned something myself. I will work hard at this teaching...these young people are our future...they are what is important. It's what really matters!
First, there are are major differences in the socio-economics of the two districts. One is in an area of white upper middle class families living in very upscale neighborhoods and I'll call it D#1. The other district (D#2) covers a wide area of largely Hispanic families ranging from very low to middle class on the socio-economic scale. Secondly, there is a disparity I believe in the professional educators in one of these districts. The largely Hispanic D#2 has upper level administrators and teachers that are white. Is this because the pool of professional educators that are of Hispanic origin is small? Probably, but I have no published analysis to back up that thought. Not to surprisingly the administrators and teachers in the more affluent D#1 district are also white. One could say that this probably causes problems in the education of the kids in D#2, but then again maybe not. Especially when one sees that good teachers don't care what your ethnic makeup or social status is (although they are generally sensitive to the issue)...they just want to help the student learn and they work hard at doing so. If we have a shortage of say doctors that practice Family medicine in this country, then just as importantly there might be a shortage of minority professional educators and we should be devoting resources to correct that disparity. Finally, the student population in numbers are comparable in each of the two districts.
What about the students themselves in these two districts? What about the differences in grade level? The second question could be easily addressed by thinking about the age differences involved when considering grade level, but there is more to it than just age differences. I have done an elementary 5th grade class job assignment and I did not care for it much primarily because of the methods involved in teaching. The class I had was doing math and science on the day I was there and I just did not care for the pace of the lesson plan I was given. Middle school students (6th-8th grade here in Texas) in both D#1 and D#2 I am finding out seem to be much more attentive. They are out of the elementary school mode and expanding their horizons and are more eager to learn. They have not yet experienced many of the things one does as a teenager. It has been a pleasure to teach in these schools. The high school student is altogether another challenge. In D#1 the high school group is very polite and respectful (and I'll have more to say about respect in a moment) and the students almost across the board want to learn. At one of the high schools in this district they profess that all but three of their graduating seniors in the class of 2008 are enrolled in an institution of higher learning. If this is true, then I believe that is very significant. In D#2 the students whether Hispanic, white, or other are generally not very interested in being at school for any other reason then the social aspects. Yes, there are those students in D#2 that do care and are good students that work hard, but they are the minority. A case in point is a two day assignment I took for a Junior year English class in D#2. On the first day the students were to watch part of the made for TV movie Of Mice and Men and complete a movie guide for turn-in at the end of the period. I had to constantly remind some students in each period to stay awake (even at 2 p.m. in the afternoon). The second day the classes were to listen to an audio book reading of Chapter 4 of Of Mice and Men, follow along in their own copy of the book, and again complete a worksheet for turn-in. There were some students that did not bother to even open their book. Some did not write a word on the handout given to them and one industrious young man hurriedly copied the answers from a fellow student and turned in his handout. I noted this on my report to the teacher. I have found none of these sorts of things so far in D#1.
So what does this all mean? Does socio-economic status affect learning and more directly attitude. Not to surprisingly it does. There are no differences in the teachers between these two districts and there are basically no differences that I have encountered in the material being taught or the way that it is taught. So where is the problem? It is I believe in the home. The parents play a critical role here and all to often they want to point their finger at the school and say it is the schools fault (meaning the teachers) that their child is failing. This simply is not true in my opinion. The parents in my opinion just do not care and do not want to take responsibility for their part in their child's education.
The most significant attribute, good or bad, of a student in these two districts is the one of respect. It is most noticeably visible when it comes time to rise out of their seat, hold their hand over their heart, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. In D#1, absolutely across the board, the students show great respect for the flag and our country. In D#2 that is not the case. In the aforementioned English class, on day one I was at the teachers desk in the back of the room when the the pledge was recited (or not) and I thought that not many were saying the pledge. On day two I purposely positioned myself in the classroom where I could face the flag and also see the students and out of 29 people in that room that morning I was the only one that recited the pledge. What is this saying for this group of America's youth and more importantly what sort of value is being placed on love of country and respect in their own home. Not much can be said I am afraid and it is disheartening.
While some of my comments here may seem racially tainted or biased I make no apology for that because it is not true. These are observations that I have made and know to be true as my eyes have seen them and my brain has processed the thoughts created by those observations.
So, those are the early returns on my experiences as a substitute teacher. I am sure I will have more in this blog on this subject as the year progresses. One thing is for sure it is presenting me with some great challenges and also the opportunity for me to learn. In very teaching situation that I have been involved with in my adult life, I have come away having learned something myself. I will work hard at this teaching...these young people are our future...they are what is important. It's what really matters!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I Am Sick To Death of President Obama
October 6, 2009 — Here it is for all of you that think the current President of the United States rides a white stallion and does everything right for this country. Here is an Associated Press article reported on MSNBC.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33198986/ns/politics-white_house/. It details how Obama's ratings in the polls are on the rise and the war in Afghanistan is declining in popularity.
The poll shows that 56% of those polled approve of Obama's performance and that is up from 50% in September and is the first increase since he took office. I say that 56% of those polled got it WRONG! I am not sure if this President is an ego-maniac or not and I am not qualified to make a call on that really, but he has got to be close. He does everything just at the right moment to ensure that his poll numbers have a chance to "jump" as it is termed in the article above. It would be the right thing to do if they jumped in the tank.
I have never been more sick at my stomach over most of the things this President does then since the resignation and shame of Richard Nixon. Well at least Obama has one outright failure recently and that was his and his wife's bid to convince the IOC to hold the 2016 Olympic games in Chicago. I mean the citizens of Chicago no ill will but I was glad to see the President fall on his face on this issue. While he was off addressing this so very important issue he had his administration tearing apart the Commanding General in Afghanistan and then had his Sec of Def and Sec of State come out over the weekend and announce that it was not right to publicly disagree with this President. In other words they told the General to shut up or else. Well the General will end up getting the ax no doubt and all because he was being a leader and standing up for his troops. All Obama and his troops were and are doing is standing up for the poll numbers. How sickening this all is! How deadly this game is for the lives of our service men and women.
So all you liberals out there keep shining the saddle of the man that rides the white stallion. Keep kissing his ass and then be sure to yell loud and clear when this country goes into the tank and point your finger at all the conservatives. What you should do...what we all should do regardless of our political slant is stand behind our military leaders. What we all should do is make common sense decisions about healthcare reform. What we all should do is forget that we are Dems or Republicans, that we are white or black or Hispanic or Italian or German, that we are young or old, that we are worried about our poll numbers...what we should do is band together and remember we are Americans and we should do the right thing...it's what really matters!
The poll shows that 56% of those polled approve of Obama's performance and that is up from 50% in September and is the first increase since he took office. I say that 56% of those polled got it WRONG! I am not sure if this President is an ego-maniac or not and I am not qualified to make a call on that really, but he has got to be close. He does everything just at the right moment to ensure that his poll numbers have a chance to "jump" as it is termed in the article above. It would be the right thing to do if they jumped in the tank.
I have never been more sick at my stomach over most of the things this President does then since the resignation and shame of Richard Nixon. Well at least Obama has one outright failure recently and that was his and his wife's bid to convince the IOC to hold the 2016 Olympic games in Chicago. I mean the citizens of Chicago no ill will but I was glad to see the President fall on his face on this issue. While he was off addressing this so very important issue he had his administration tearing apart the Commanding General in Afghanistan and then had his Sec of Def and Sec of State come out over the weekend and announce that it was not right to publicly disagree with this President. In other words they told the General to shut up or else. Well the General will end up getting the ax no doubt and all because he was being a leader and standing up for his troops. All Obama and his troops were and are doing is standing up for the poll numbers. How sickening this all is! How deadly this game is for the lives of our service men and women.
So all you liberals out there keep shining the saddle of the man that rides the white stallion. Keep kissing his ass and then be sure to yell loud and clear when this country goes into the tank and point your finger at all the conservatives. What you should do...what we all should do regardless of our political slant is stand behind our military leaders. What we all should do is make common sense decisions about healthcare reform. What we all should do is forget that we are Dems or Republicans, that we are white or black or Hispanic or Italian or German, that we are young or old, that we are worried about our poll numbers...what we should do is band together and remember we are Americans and we should do the right thing...it's what really matters!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Stimmung Und Tanz (Mood and Dance)
October 5, 2009 — The title of this blog article is the title of Oma and the Oompahs latest CD. As I briefly mentioned in an earlier blog, this German band played at the Oktoberfest held in Fredericksburg, TX this past weekend. They have played there for the past 28-years and are booked to play again next year. The band consists of Oma (meaning Grandma in German) who is Pearly Sowell playing an accordion, a drummer, and a tuba player. The tuba player was always Oma's husband, but unfortunately he passed away this past February, so she now uses a young band teacher from Seguine, TX. The drummer was a man that has been with Oma for sometime and is a drug/alcohol counselor in Fredericksburg by profession. The banter between the two helps to make Oma and the Oompahs a great band. By the way Pearly Sowell is 83-years young!
The band plays authentic German music from waltzes, to love songs, to polkas, to bier drinking songs...the words and music are wonderful. Oma takes the time to introduce each song and give a bit of history behind each. She sings almost everyone and does so in German and adds English as appropriate. The audience naturally joins in on almost every song...you just cannot help but do so.
Wanda, my niece, and I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at the Fredericksburg Oktoberfest and especially the hour and a half Oma and the Oompahs show. I had not been to this festival in 20-yrs and Wanda and my niece had never been. They were greatly impressed and had a great time. There was plenty of good food, bier, arts and crafts, and good people.
Oma autographed the CD that Wanda and my niece bought for me. She wrote "Viel Spass, Oma" which means "Have Fun, Oma"...it's what really matters!
The band plays authentic German music from waltzes, to love songs, to polkas, to bier drinking songs...the words and music are wonderful. Oma takes the time to introduce each song and give a bit of history behind each. She sings almost everyone and does so in German and adds English as appropriate. The audience naturally joins in on almost every song...you just cannot help but do so.
Wanda, my niece, and I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at the Fredericksburg Oktoberfest and especially the hour and a half Oma and the Oompahs show. I had not been to this festival in 20-yrs and Wanda and my niece had never been. They were greatly impressed and had a great time. There was plenty of good food, bier, arts and crafts, and good people.
Oma autographed the CD that Wanda and my niece bought for me. She wrote "Viel Spass, Oma" which means "Have Fun, Oma"...it's what really matters!
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