The Book of Me, Written By You - Prompt 11: Military

The Book of Me, Written By You
Prompt 11: Military

 

 

[I am third from right; leaders of RBS Express radar train]

"The Book of Me, Written By You" is a GeneaBloggers project created by Julie Goucher of the Anglers Rest blog. The concept: a series of blogging and writing prompts that help family historians capture their own memories and write about themselves.


Prompt 11: Military
This week’s prompt is Military
    •    Did you join the military?
    ◦    Were you encouraged or discouraged?



I participated in the Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) at Iowa State University, as an integral part of my college/university education. It was an intentional choice. My parents weren't particularly thrilled about the choice, but did not discourage it. My Dad always said: "If you choose to do something, do it well." I did that. I was among the top small handful of leaders throughout my ROTC experience.


My three-year active duty Air Force experience began in July 1961.
See some of it here: http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/search/label/Air%20Force

    •    Did a family member?

My uncle (mother's brother) served in Army Intelligence, part of Occupation Forces in Japan, immediately following World War II - see here and here, for example.
Also, brother-in-law went through same Air Force ROTC program I did, four years ahead of me.

    ◦    Regular or for a particular incident
I served three years of regular service during time of Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis - got out just before Viet Nam Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions passed Congress.

[RBS Express train, on location in rural Nevada]

    •    Did you or your family serve overseas in the line of Service either during a war or a posting

I served in remote locations in the USA only.

    •    Any thoughts, photographs, memories relevant
See links above for a few examples. Also, this post, just earlier this week. The following is the radar "workroom" from the RBS Experess  - our local detachment was similar - in a semi-trailer, rather than a railroad car.

[Airmen at work in radar "workroom" on the RBS Express]

Families are Forever!

75 Years Ago This Week - My first appearances in Mom's Diary!

75 Years Ago This Week

My first appearances in Mom's Diary!

Boy Baby Rattle

75 Years Ago This Week began March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were preparing to get married later in the month. I'm continuing this meme, from time to time, as issues warrant.

On Thursday, November 3, 1938, Mom wrote:

Made pancakes for breakfast. It was raining. I threw up in morning. Did dishes & separator & went in to town. Pete got his hair cut & we ate dinner with the folks. Came home early & did up the chores, ate supper & went to bed.

On Tuesday, November 15, 1938, Mom wrote:

Really sick in morning and at Noon. Pete here to dinner. Felt OK after dinner. Washed hair, made cookies. Scalloped spuds for supper. Pete here early. Pete shaved while I did the dishes. Read & listened to the radio awhile and then went to bed early.

My comments:

I was born on July 1, 1939, about eight months hence... what do you think?

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Air Force Transfer - 1963

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

Air Force Transfer

1963 - 50 Years Ago

Lt. Bill Smith, at work in radar trailer

The Coon Rapids Enterprise
Thursday, October 31, 2013, page 5

50 Years Ago
October 17, 1963

First Lt. William L. Smith has been transferred to St. George, Utah from Winslow, AZ, as part
of Detachment 9, 11th Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron (Saco USAF).

Lt. Smith is second in command of the 80-man unit whose mission is to score electronically simulated bomb runs by Strategic Air Command B-58, B-52 and B-47 bombers. During the coming months, Lt. Smith will be engaged in training twenty-five new men in all phases of the detachment operations.

Lt. and Mrs. Smith and their daughter, Annette, 3, will make their home in St. George, Utah.

Lt. Smith is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leverne Smith of Coon Rapids. Mrs. Smith is the former Nancy Bolger. Both graduated from the Coon Rapids High School in 1957.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Scarecrows are Halloween

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

Scarecrows are Halloween

Scarecrow image courtesy of Annette Lamb, Wayne County, Utah, Scarecrow Week fesitivities.

Bonus feature:

Halloween excerpt from "Christmas at the Homeplace," (just released), Chapter 4, Thursday, October 31 (Halloween), 1996:

    "The Homeplace Country Inn was tastefully decorated for the annual Halloween observance. Pumpkins lined the porch that was now the entrance to the Inn. A scarecrow sat prominently on the rocking chair near the entrance. The Heritage Room was decorated with fall colored leaves, corn shocks, with black cats and half moons on the walls. Some of the staff members were dressed as witches, others as ghosts.
Especially since the renovations were completed, the Inn had been a popular venue for families to bring their children for Tricks and Treats in the evening with two or three simple game events available and safe and reliable treats for all. During the day, these activities were being set up and each of the employees had specific responsibilities that they enjoyed carrying out, getting into the spirit of the season.

...

She (Karen) circulated around the reception area, checked the front porch, and then went to the Heritage Room where the Halloween reception proper was all set up. Four young ladies were already on hand and making final preparations for the early arrivals. Some families always seemed to prefer to arrive “too early” and she didn’t want to be there to greet them. She’d come back out about 6:15 to greet and help out as the bulk of the visitors arrived. She did enjoy seeing how the youngsters dressed up each year."


Families are Forever!  ;-)

The Book of Me, Written By You - Prompt 9: Halloween

The Book of Me, Written By You

Prompt 9: Halloween

"The Book of Me, Written By You" is a GeneaBloggers project created by Julie Goucher of the Anglers Rest blog. The concept: a series of blogging and writing prompts that help family historians capture their own memories and write about themselves.
 
Prompt 9: Halloween
Have you ever participated in a Halloween event?

Rarely, but yes, a significant one - must have been 1973. I was a personal assistant to Governor Robert D. Ray of Iowa, and then Deputy Commissioner, Iowa Department of Social Services. The governor hosted a Halloween in the Governor's Mansion, Terrace Hill.

Guess you can see I dressed as the Lone Ranger, my wife was an Indian Princess; Annette was a Skeleton, an Allison and Arrion were witches.

It was a great experience, once, but not something we had any desire to duplicate. We are definitely not "party animals!"
 - though it is hard to tell from this photo... we seem to be having a great time! ;-)


Families are Forever!

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - One Hundred Days

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - One Hundred Days

My wife, Nancy, and daughter, Annette, put the finishing touches on this book this week, culminating several years of research, writing, and creative design into one final product (not available yet, but we'll let you know when it is). Now available at Amazon.com.

... and, here is the back cover... love the "turn of the century" GAR Band - Norman was Flag Man.

Oh, ok... a few words... how about a Book Trailer, as well:

... Still not available, for a few days...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

The Book of Me, Written By You - Prompt 8: Time Capsule

The Book of Me, Written By You

Prompt 8: Time Capsule

"The Book of Me, Written By You" is a GeneaBloggers project created by Julie Goucher of the Anglers Rest blog. The concept: a series of blogging and writing prompts that help family historians capture their own memories and write about themselves.

Prompt 8: Time Capsule

I'm going to treat this one very lightly. I do so many things to preserve what I think is important, taking the time, right now, to talk about, in this format, simply doesn't fit. Sorry, if this offends anyone. I think we each have a prompt or two that "doesn't fit." This is one for me.

Just a few words, in general. As far as personal things, and physical things, we are exceptionally fortunate that our three daughter are our best friends. We all talk about things such as this fairly often. There are/should be no surprises and hopefully no mis-understandings. Besides that, we've already downsized to very little, anyway!  ;-)

I continue to write, and I expect my various writings to be my legacy… to the extent there may be one.

Have a great weekend!  ;-)


Families are Forever!