During the 1960s and 70s our family had many memorable camping experiences. In the summer of 1966 came the first of the family’s camping adventures. We put a trailer hitch on our car and rented a tent trailer. We stayed one night in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, our second night near Raleigh, and then seven […]
My eldest son, also nicknamed Sandy, was born while I was overseas in Korea. It is somewhat sad to think about it, but when Sandy Jr. graduated from high school in 1972 another war was raging, this time in Vietnam. Sandy had a low draft number, so he joined the Air Force shortly after his […]
In November 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated. This event shocked the entire nation and is indelibly written into the memories of those who lived at that time. In the years that followed the firm political foundations and inter-party cooperation that had existed since Pearl Harbor began to crumble. President Kennedy had gotten the United States […]
The following story is primarily for those of you who have some knowledge of guns and the military. As background, let me explain that I was given a rifle at the age of twelve, and, despite my being very nearsighted and wearing eyeglasses, I learned to be quite proficient in its use. When my high […]
The ancient kingdom of Korea had been annexed by Japan in 1910, and it remained under Japanese control until the end of World War II. At that time, Korea was occupied by American and Soviet troops, the Americans in the south and the Soviets in the north. As a presumed temporary measure pending unification, the […]
Sometime during the autumn of 1939, shortly after the outbreak of war in Europe, my family moved to Florida. I believe my father was thinking of retiring there. Anyway, he rented a house in Punta Gorda, on Florida’s gulf coast, and we settled in for what we believed would be a long stay. I was […]
(Little Big Horn Redux). For most of the year 1955 my family and I lived in Lumberton, the largest town and county seat of Robeson County, North Carolina. It was a very interesting place. In 1955 Robeson County’s population was divided in roughly equal numbers between whites, African Americans, and non-reservation American Indians — about […]
What is the truth about race and racism in America? It is a difficult subject, and an honest, in-depth discussion of the issue is usually avoided. Former Attorney General Eric Holder accused us of being a “nation of cowards” for our avoidance of a frank discussion of race in America. Perhaps he was right. Each […]
Many years ago, in ancient China there lived a pottery maker of great renown. He resided in a village in the northern part of the kingdom, but his fame had spread throughout the realm because of his ability to create fine pottery of exquisite beauty. Some of his best work graced the table of the […]
Contrary to the belief of some of our citizens, the United States is not nor was meant to be a democracy. The writers of the Constitution had a very realistic view regarding man’s imperfections, and they tried to set up safeguards against the dangers of excessive executive power, unchecked legislative actions, mob rule, and other […]
