11. August 2007 by Elwood.

Wow, it is the 11th already, isn’t it?  How did we settle on this date—the 11th Bomb Squadron similarity?  Nah, musta just been the flying fickle finger of fate.  I digress…

Is everyone else about to die of heat exhaustion?  It hit 105 degrees here yesterday, usually around 103-104 all week.  Still, I think back to the short 3-month tour I had in Kuwait (some of you had much longer tours in the “sand box”!!)  Temps hit 130+ before I left in early June—that will suck the spit right out of your head, won’t it?  Still, every morning this week, I did get out and get the driveway cracks filled and resealed the entire driveway.  20 gallons of sealer.  Usually, by noon or one o’clock, I had to head back inside, but the effort looks great.  I’m going to let it cure then put a second coat on next week.  Then, hopefully, I won’t have to worry about it for a long, long time.

My sister Joy started a project to find out about our family tree.  I fell in as assistant, but she really has the passion and is the driving force.  However, I made the greatest find—another Blackwood who has been working on this for 20 years, and has our Blackwood family history back to 1790.  His name is Harry, and we met at the Spartanburg County Main Library.  There, they have a room dedicated to genealogy.  You must sign in when you visit, and it has census records, land deeds, birth and death records, books of different family histories, etc.  The librarian had given me the tour and I was sitting down at a table contemplating my first move when I heard, “Blackwood?  Is he still here?”  I looked up and the librarian was pointing to me, and a gentleman was looking and grinning at me.  I got up and we shook hands and made introductions.  His grandfather and my grandfather were brothers—I think that makes us fourth cousins or something like that.  We chatted for about a half hour, and he told me that he had all the family on a database for Family Treemaker, which I have just downloaded the beta version of their 2008 edition.  I’m getting together with his next week and will get his info and see how far back we “dirt farmers” go.  He had one interesting story from this so far—another branch of the Blackwood’s produced a governor of South Carolina, I. C. Blackwood (Ibra Charles), around the era of the Depression.  When he would visit Spartanburg, he would send his limousine and pick up our great-grandfather, John Landrum Blackwood, and they would talk for hours while he was here.  About what, I do not know, but it’s interesting that a governor would talk for hours with a poor farmer.  Sis and I will also be looking all other branches of the family, but it’s great to find out more about our past.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you, James, for your father.  And, ouch, about your back.  Are you sure you don’t have kidney stones?  Trust me, the pain is right in your back.  You’re probably the best athlete of all us “old men.”

My best wishes for everyone, and good luck, Chuck, on finding a publisher—I’m sure they’ll be missing out on a great book!
Cheers,

Elwood

Posted in Band of Brothers | Print | No Comments »

11. August 2007 by Bob.

I appreciate the opportunity to get to say hello and read about a few old friends.  I remember almost all the names on the BOB list.

For those of you who do not know, I lost my eyesight in 1999 (blind) and after 2 operations I have become an attorney.  Thanks in part to Chuck, and a Navy WISO who recommended Law school after I lost my sight, I was able to obtain this rehabilitation.

I am currently at the University of Houston Law Center working toward 2 Masters of Law degrees (Health Law; & Intellectual Property and Information Law [IPIL]).  Most places just state IP.  That covers copyright, patents, trademarks and trade secrets.  Graduation and employment will complete my rehabilitation program.

 I just had my first issue reach the Board of Veterans Appeal and in turn be presented to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims.  The Judge commented very favorably on my submission to the Court and chastised the VA for their frivolous claim.  I think this is a good start.

 To be clear, I am leading the life of a student so I really do not want anyone to think I have accomplished anything yet.  I hope in the future to work as a Patent attorney and help veterans with claims and promotion appeals.

I hope everyone is well, thank you for listening and allowing me to say hello. 

Bob
 

Posted in Band of Brothers | Print | No Comments »

11. August 2007 by The Chuck.

My Brothers:

It’s hard to believe it’s been 23 years since President Reagan said, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever.  We begin bombing in five minutes.”  Of course he was joking, but it created great ire for the socialists-type and amusement for the liberty-types. 

 Funny how the socialists have gain ownership over the word “liberal,” when it has its roots in the word “liberty,” which of course is rooted in the word “freedom,” which really means the opposite of socialist ideals.  You know, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  I guess it’s a bit like the totalitarian nations using the word “democratic” in their names.  It would be the same thing is fat people started calling themselves “svelte” and insisted that everyone else should call them the same.  Oh well . . .

 It’s hard to believe it’s only been a month since we last exchanged emails.

 As you know my column about airmen-riflemen was published in the Air Force Times, then in the Army Times and the Marine Corps Times.  Did you catch in the news how the Air Force reversed it position during a 31 July meeting with the House Armed Services subcommittee?  The Air Force wants to get out the very missions that I identified in my column.  Before my column, all I had seen was the Air Force planning to build large schools to training airmen to be infantry riflemen.  Coincidence?   More than likely I’m sure, but it made me smile when I read about it.

 It is remarkable how many emails I received over this.  The reactions are a varied as there are people.  So far, I’ve been able to reply to each person once.  I don’t have to time to respond to their counter-replies, but I read them.

 My daughter starts school at LSUS in a few days.  The main reason we stayed in LA after my retirement was for her to finish school, she did that.  I’ve started putting applications in for “jobs” . . . that’s a four-letter word, isn’t it?

 Of course, with jobs, there comes that thing called “pay-check” . . . which is what I need to do since my kids keep coming up with surprises.  We’re doing fine for now, but one more “incident,” and I’ll have to borrow money, which is a slippery slope.  In the interim . . . I’ve started working as a technical support agent in Shreveport.  
 

Meanwhile, I am still still looking for a publisher for my novel.  It is currently with Broadman and Holman Publishers, they should be either sending me a rejection slip or something more exciting within a month.  Maybe I’ll be rejoicing about a contract in my next letter.  Yeah, right.

 I’m sure all of you were getting the failure notices on Vern’s email.  I try to call him on his old cell number, but alas he doesn’t have that anymore.  I’ll keep including his old address in these monthly communiqués until he lets us know his new address.  I guess he’s busy with the job, running around Europe, and all that.

 It was great hearing from John boy last month.  The pictures added to our joy.   Sherry is a pretty woman, and the house looks wonderful.  John, I enjoyed your comment about “feeling pain a little more” than you did a few years ago.  It took me back to the torturous workouts next to the gym.  The wind-sprints resulted in my legs tightening up on the next day, making it a challenge to walk.  A day or so after that, I remember the klaxon where I tore both my quadriceps during the first few steps toward the truck.  Vern Moore pulled a hamstring at the same time.   I felt that pain for a while.  

 John, you talked about inviting Doug Miller to our group.  Part of membership is the freedom to invite anyone you judge to be worthy.  I recommend you query him offline, so he can decline without appearing to “dis” us . . . that would be embarrassing.  If he wants to, just send him a public email like I did with you . . . like I just did with Bob Goss.   You can modify the text anyway you judge appropriate.  That a way, we’ll all get the new email address, so we can include the new guy in our next email. 

 For a while we had debated what the criteria should be to be in BOB.  We talked about things from the Castle mafia, to the Castle plus 11th clan, to the B-52 tribe . . . and the best way is to just leave it up to the judgment of any member of BOB.  We’re basically talking about our lives, sharing them with those we used to know . . . so that we’ll continue to know them . . . hopefully even get to know them better over time.   It’s like a poker club or drinking buddies without the cards and beer, or the pull-my-finger jokes.

 James, sorry to hear your father’s health is declining.  I admire your concern for him and respect the attention you’re giving to him in these rough times.  Looking through all those records and papers, will kind of make you think about how organized you need to be with your stuff . . . so when someone else is viewing them . . . well that line of thought can be depressing, but you know what I mean.

 I know that Brit is still reading our emails.  He is busy with work and life and will eventually bring us up to date on his life.

 Reed, I’m sorry about your bees.  Have you been talking with Ed Miller?   You said he was going to retire soon, I’ll keep an eye out for announcements but he most certainly needs to be in BOB.

 I submitted an article about the new OPR.  I’ll paste it separately on the Blog.  Until next month, take care.

The Chuck

Posted in Band of Brothers | Print | No Comments »