TIME ON MY HANDS
27/05/05 12:23 PM
Today has been a slow but steady day. I woke at 0730 had some breakfast, read the sport page in the morning paper and headed for the "Y" at 0825. I had to get home early today as Frisco had to have the car to take her sister back to the Doctor's office this afternoon.
I dropped off another donation jug at the Sunrise Cafe on Peterboro Street. Then stopped at Congressman McHugh's regional office, here in Canastota, to see if they were able to contact Washington and find out what dates the Congressman will be available for the groundbreaking ceremony for the War Memorial.
Sort of looks like we're closing in on the 10th of June, but it is not firm as yet. I'll except the 17th but no later, time is flying by. Rocky, the Town Supervisor, will be back from Florida tomorrow, but I couldn't wait for him to get back so I took the bull by the horns and called Assemblyman Mcgee's office. They informed me that the best dates in early June for him would be the 3rd, 10th and 17th. At least now I had some dates to work with. I then contacted the Congressman's office, the 3rd is out for him but their trying to free him up for the 10th or 17th.
Once I have a commitment from him, I'll contact the remaining VIPs and get this show on the road. I hope Rocky isn't perturbed with me for attempting to get the ball rolling but it has to be done. I also have to take into consideration Aaron Sykes, the sculptor's schedule. Everyone is busy, busy, busy. The only one who is flexible is me. I got time on my hands. I have more time, than I have money. The big problem I possess is that I have very little of each. Story of my life. Always a day late, and a dollar short.
The weather is a little warmer today but not by much. I just hope that the weather will cooperate, and that we will have decent weather for Memorial Day. I can feel the tenseness building up within me. It happens every year. It would be nice to sit back and enjoy the pleasant memories of yesteryears but somehow, and for some reason, you have to take the bad with the good.
There is one thing for certain, each of us has our own thoughts that we must live with. Thoughts that dwell deep in our sub-conscience minds. Thoughts that we would like to forget, and yet the remembrance is there. Memorial Day, in my case, always brings them to the fore. Shipmates, you are not forgotten.
Enough of that for now. Monday will be my Day of Remembrance.
Frisco just left to pick up here sister and will be back in a couple of hours. Being I have no transportation I'll stay at home with the cat. Maybe she will let me take a nap. When Mother's gone she gets annoyed and let's you know about it. She sounds like a mad, drunken sailor with all the fussing she makes. She's almost human, she pouts and walks around in circles, meowing fiercely, demanding to know where Mother's at. "You don't leave me alone, you don't!!" she screams. I love her anyway. She would love to get outdoors and chase the birds but I am afraid she will be run over by a car.
It's going on 1315 hours, and it's still too early for me to lay down and take a nap. I'm usually prone by around 1500 so I still have time to burn.
I guess I told you that I got one of those jackets off in the mail yesterday. I sent it to SSgt Stan Smith, United States Marine Corps, in Dexter, Oregon. It went Priority Mail. He may get it tomorrow, if not, Tuesday by sure. There is no mail Monday. His buddy, Paul Noll, tells me he will be thrilled to get it. I hope so.
I am going to have to sit down and put a couple of scrape books together. I have had them now for about a month and I have all kinds of news articles on the WWII memorial that we're working on, plus a whole slew of articles I wrote in my column "VETS NEWS & VIEWS". My sister, Isabel, lives in Spokane Springs, Washington and is presently immobile and is restricted to a motorized wheelchair. She is 86 years young and quite a BINGO player, just like me. She loves to read things I write about, and I have promised her that I would send a batch of articles but I always seems to forget. I have got to get to it.
My mind playing games with me. Or maybe it's the cat. She is trying to tell me something, so I had better give her my undivided attention. I've enjoyed what little time I have spent with you folks today but I believe I'll call it a day. Enjoy the holiday weekend, thank one another, for the love you share. Bye for now, Pray for peace, God Bless -- Keep the Faith -- Sailor Jack
THE "CHOSIN FEW'
26/05/05 09:49 AM
Times really haven't changed much since my days in Uncle Sugar's Navy. The government has, for years on end, been noted for it's SNAFU (Situation Normal All Fouled Up) way of doing things. I arose this morning at 0600 hours as I had an appointment scheduled at the VA clinic in Rome, NY to see my health provider. The time of my appointment was 0800 and I (as usual) was prompt and on time.
I approached the receptionist and announced my arrival. "What's your last 4 'social' numbers?", she inquired. I gave them to her, and then she asked, "Who do you have an appointment with?"
"Jill - Jill Myers", I answered back.
"Just a moment, sir," she said.
She was right on time. It only took her a moment, she looked at me and said, "You're appointment has been canceled, it's rescheduled for June 21st."
"Nobody notified me that it had been canceled", I told her in a firm voice.
"I am sure you have been, sir", she answered back.
Oh, Oh, that was the wrong thing to say. Now she has Frisco's full attention, and she joins in the fray.
"I handle the appointments, WE HAVE NOT BEEN BEEN NOTIFIED!" she shot back.
The poor gal, looked at Frisco and said, "I'm sorry for the mix up, but Jill is not in today."
You don't mess with the War Department I tell you. You had better listen when she has the floor.
To make a long story short, we left the premises and headed back on our 26 mile voyage home. It was 0830 when we arrived back in Canastota and I took my bride out to breakfast.
In my last post I had mentioned the fact that I had 3 brand new, medium size jackets with the Marine's "Chosin Few" logo on the back of them. I searched the web and came across a gentleman by the name of Paul Noll. I e-mailed him asking if he knew of any "Chosin Few" marines that would like to have one. You can visit his site here.
He immediately e-mailed me back and told me of a friend of his who is one of the "Chosin Few". His friend had suffered a stroke, and has difficulty communicating. I looked up his friend's web site and was immediately impressed with his credentials. He served in Company "G", 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division. His name is Stan Smith and he will be getting one of the jackets. . I will drop it in the mail as soon as I receive his mailing address. His Hometown is Pleasant Hill, Oregon. I'll be happy and proud to meet fine gentleman via cyber space. I guess that's what you would call it. I hope to hear from Paul Noll later sometime today.
I'm hoping that this gentleman can put me in touch with 2 other comrades, that can wear a medium size jacket. They are exceptionally nice. I want them in the hands of Bob West's comrades, the "Chosin Few" survivors.
My lovely bride, received a phone call about 30 minutes ago from her sister. She is a widow and living by herself in the hills south of here. She is experiencing some terrible head pains, and doesn't want to be left alone. Fran may bring her home with her, if she is in too bad a shape.
I'm left here alone, that's the reason I'm sitting here chatting with myself, and you. I love this computer. It's hard to comprehend but with repetition I should be able to master it. I was a Navy Yeoman, and a typewriter and me get along fabulously.
Just glanced down and I see I have received an e-mail I hope it's from Paul Noll with Stan's address. Be back in a few minutes after I check my mail.
Good news, I have Stan's mailing address . When my bride gets home I'll run over to the post office and get a box for the jacket, and ship it off to Dexter, Oregon.
I see by the e-mail I received that Stan is my kind of man. He enjoys kids, my informant tells me that he teaches baseball to youngsters and buys those who can't afford it, a baseball grove.. He also donated a battling cage for the team. Stan the Man. a Good Humanitarian.
Well my friends, I anxious for my wife to get back home and I want to send an e-mail to Stan Smith and let him know that his jacket is on the way.
I have often mentioned to you folks, that those who have served together in combat have a bond with their fellow comrades. You have just witnessed a story that commenced a little over 24 hours ago. A departed comrade Bob West, left 3 jackets for a "Cousin Few". A fellow Marine, Jerry Brophy, received custody of him and asked if I would take the responsibility of seeing that they were given to a "Chosin Few".
After searching the web I contacted a retired Army man, Paul Noll, seeking information. Paul "just happened"(?) to have a good friend that is a former Marine and one of the "Chosin Few". One down - two to go. (I wonder.)
I have often told you that Faith has sustained me my entire life. Somehow that Faith has come to my rescue once again.
Thanks Paul for your timely assistance. It is greatly appreciated.
To the rest of my adoring friends, I'll close for now and take a moment to write to Stan. God Bless, Pray for Peace and above all Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack
P.S. Forego that last transmission. I can't locate an e-mail for Stan the Man. I'll mail the jacket and drop him a note in with it. Talk to again soon. SJ
B I N G O
24/05/05 08:19 PM
Good title to tonight's post. BINGO, BINGO, BINGO, BINGO, BINGO. Frisco and I went over to the Legion tonight and played our weekly Bar Bingo game. It's a good night out, and we enjoy the company of our fellow and lady legionnaires for a few hours.
Tonight they voted to bar me from next weeks games. I told them they could count their money -- that I would weigh mine. I won 5 of the 10 games we played and we came home with a very large share of the winnings. I ask our lady bartender to phone the Village Police and request a police escort to take me home. We start the games at 1800 and play for about 2 hours, give or take a few minutes. We arrived home tonight at 2015 hours. It doesn't take much to entertain us.
This morning I went to WMCR Radio, and was interviewed for 20 minutes on our War Memorial Project. I was well prepared for the interview, and I prepared in advance for his questions. He pretty much conducted it has I had anticipated. I was a Life Scout, in the Boy Scouts of America, and everyone knows their motto, "Be Prepared."
I figured this was an opportune time, being Memorial Day is fast approaching, to get some PR on our project. I have a gut feeling that it is going to produce some good results. I also brought with me the Eydie Gorme spot announcement I had recorded back in the 60's while I was on recruiting duty in Detroit. It is a 45 second Navy Nurse recruiting tape that was disseminated nationwide by the Department of the Navy in our efforts to recruit nurses.
I didn't know if the tape was any good or not, it's over 40 years old, but I had to find out. The radio station had the equipment needed to reproduce it on a cassette and, believe it or not, it was in pretty good shape. Not the best quality, but still pretty good.
I was happy, as I wanted my children to hear it. I'm proud of the fact that I had the gumption to request an audience with her. All she had to say is, "No, I am not interested." Instead, when the Desk Clerk at the Hotel Cadillac, in Detroit, told her I was a Navy Recruiter that wanted to talk to her about making a spot announcement about Navy Nurses she said, "Send the sailor up." If you don't ask, you don't receive. In this case I lucked out.
I have been lax in my daily exercise routine for the past couple of days. Between 2 military funerals, escorting the Bishop of Syracuse this past Saturday on his visit to our village, and getting myself prepared for my radio interview, I had to forfeit my exercise program. Tomorrow morning I have to get up early and get to the "Y", and also return to Wal Mart before they fire me as an undercover security guard.
I am anxious for Thursday to get here as I have an appointment with my health provider at the VA. I haven't been on the scales in 5 months, but I have lost about 4 or 5 inches around my waist. I hope I have lost some weight and my blood results show some improvement in my blood sugar, and that my cholesterol is in an acceptable range.
I'll be pretty discouraged if there is no improvement. I have worked pretty darn hard these past 5 months attempting to lose some weight. I hope and pray it has worked.
I didn't get my nap in either today, and I am pretty tired and worn out. So much so, I believe I'll call it a night and bid you fine folks adieu. God Bless, Keep the Faith, my thoughts are with you. -- Sailor Jack
B I N G O
24/05/05 08:18 PM
CDR DAVE TO THE RESCUE
22/05/05 07:45 PM
I am going to try this one more time. Three strikes, and you're out. Commander Dave has set me up with a new program for my web page.
I wrote an article last night, and I thought I had written a pretty good post, but, being me I managed to goof it up and lost the whole damn thing.
I tried it a second time, but my feeble mind couldn't recall all the data I had written. I muddle my way through it and said, "Hell, that's pretty much what I had said." I then, somehow, managed to lose it again. I gave up, I e-mailed Dave and requested a rerun on the new program at his convenience.
He gave me a call on i chat tonight, and he straightened me out. But not before I managed to goof up the i chat system also. We lost connections, and he is presently trying to reestablish communication with Frisco and I. Leave it to me.
I was telling you folks how wonderful it was to have a new font that I could adjust, and at the same time make it as large or small as I want. I settled on this style, as it is easy on my eyes.
If I get through this transmission I'll be a happy Dude. If you are perusing my web site at this moment you will know that I was successful.
This morning I attended another military funeral that our Honor Guard rendered for a 92 year old WWII vet. None of them are easy to perform, but this one had so many relatives, sisters and brothers of the deceased who were up in age also. I was standing at Attention at the head of the casket while the firing squad fired their 3 volleys. I rendered a salute as Taps was played by the nephew of the deceased vet. The whole family really broke up. They sobbed, and cried as I approached to present the American Flag to his eldest son. The words come hard, but I always somehow manage to perform the duty.
Once again the Honor Guard was invited, by the family, to the reception that was held in the St. Agatha Church Center at the completion of the burial service. The family thanked us, and thought it was a wonderful duty we perform for our veterans.
Speaking of fellow veterans, Frisco just answered the phone and brought it to me. She said it was a fellow by the name of Jerry Brophy. I have known Jerry for a good number of years. I was surprised to hear that he has left New York State, and now resides in California.
Jerry is a former Marine, and as the old saying goes, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine". So it is with Jerry. He came back to New York to sell his home. In his garage he found three jackets that were purchased by another Marine, a fellow by the name of Bob West, who was a survivor of the "Chosin Few".
The Chinese had stormed across the Yalu River to aid and assist the North Koreans during the Korean War. The Marines at the Chosin Reservoir were overwhelmed, and were ordered to make a strategic withdrawal. It was in the dead of winter, during the months of November and December 1950, and the Marines suffered heavy losses. Those who survived were known as "The Chosin Few". They are a band of brothers, that are bonded together for life. They formed an organization known by it's distinct name, "The Chosin Few".
Bob West was a proud member of that organization, and had ordered some jackets with The Chosin Few logo on the back of them. Bob met sn untimely death a number of years ago, and Jerry was given custody of the jackets. He found 3 of them in his garage and he wanted to give them to someone who would see to it that they get to fellow marines belonging to "The Chosen Few". He told me that he wanted me to take custody of them, and see if I can locate some "brothers" who would like to have them.
I informed him I would be happy and proud to do as he asks. I'm sure that in time, I will find 3 Marines that would appreciate his thoughtfulness.
Another chore to take on, but I am not complaining. I feel duty bound to honor his request. He is going to leave them at the Oneida Daily Dispatch offices, and I will pick them up tomorrow after my radio interview with WMCR.
I am fearful of ending this evenings chat, as I don't know what lies ahead when I attempt, once more, to preview and then publish this post. Wish me luck. Good night, God Bless, Pray for Peace - and please, Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack