מן תירס כדי קוויאר - ובחזרה

(וחוזר חלילה?)

1925 - 1943

מעולם לא ראיתי את הים עד נשלחתי פאריס איילנד טירונות בחיל הנחתים. מאז אני כבר ב 43 מדינות ועוד היד נטויה - כי, בגיל 72, יש לי כמה פרוייקטים מעניינים על האש. אבל פרויקטים אלה מופיעים לעתים מזדמנות, בין לבין, אני מנסה לשעשע את עצמי על ידי לעבור על קצת ניסיון יש לי את המזל "לסבול".

לפני כמה שנים, כאשר התחלתי את הקריירה שלי בתור "אינטרנשיונל ג 'יפסי" הרגשתי כי המכתבים העסק היו משעממים בעצם ולכן התעלמו בדרך כלל. התחלתי לנסות לכתוב בצורה שבה היה אולי לקבל את תשומת הלב של הנמען. כתוצאה מכך, במשך השנים חברים ועמיתים יש אמרה "אתה צריך לכתוב."

כשהייתי בגיל העשרה העשרה מראש שיחקתי הרבה בייסבול וחשבתי שזה יהיה נחמד להיות שחקן בייסבול מקצועי. כשהייתי בסין בשנת 1946 על חיל הנחתים התחלנו קבוצת בייסבול אחרי ששלחנו האחורי היפני ליפן ושם לא היה הרבה מה לעשות. אני לא להפוך לקבוצה הראשונה החטיבה אבל אני לא מקבל את המחבט פעם אחת נגד בחור שהיה עט השור המגיש את שיקגו וייט סוקס. הוא זרק את הכדור במהירות שנראתה לי כמו טבלית אספירין מתקרב במהירות 90 קמ"ש ו השופט וצעק "סטרייק". הוא זרק אחד השני אשר הפחיד אותי עד מוות - אחר השביתה. המגרש השלישי הגיע מימין בראש שלי, להיות החובט ביד ימין, אני רץ לאורך קו הבסיס השלישי כדי שלא להיהרג. זה עקום למעלה במרכז הצלחת, השופט צעק "שלוש סטרייק".

אז הבנתי שאני לא הולך להיות שחקן בייסבול מקצועי.

גם במהלך שנות העשרה שלי, התחלתי לשחק ב סקסופון להקות מחול מקומיות השאיפה שלי הייתה להיות גבר בצד אחד של להקות רבות וטובות. זה היה עידן של "Swing" ואת השמות הגדולים היו מילר, גודמן, דורסי וכו '

בחודש דצמבר 1942, בגיל המופלג של 17, היתה לי שיחה להקה באוניברסיטת צפון קרוליינה. הם היו מוזמנים לסיור של חג המולד ואת עונת השנה ו 4 שחקנים 5 שלהם סקסופון גויס. הם הזמינו אותי ואת שני החברים האחרים של הלהקה המקומית שלנו להצטרף אליהם. במהלך סיור זה ובהמשך בסין, עבדתי עם אנשים של כישרון אמיתי הבנתי שאני לא הולך להיות מוסיקאי מקצועי.

לאחר שקרא רבים מחברי מבריק - וכמה לא כל כך מבריק - אני גם מבין שאני לעולם לא תהיה מקצוען בתחום זה גם - אבל - אני הולך לכתוב את זה לנכדים שלי למקרה שיום אחד, הם עשויים לרצות לדעת מאיפה הם באו. (בדרך כלל הייתי אומרת "מאיפה הם באו", אבל אני זוכר כאשר וינסטון צ 'רציל היה נזף בפרלמנט עבור בעל יחס בסוף המשפט. הוא השיב את הנזיפה באומרו "זוהי חוצפה עם אשר לא אעשה זאת לשים ".

הפעם הראשונה שמישהו אמר לי "אתה צריך לכתוב" היה כתוצאה של האות הראשונה שלי במטה Weyerhaeuser כשהגעתי לראשונה בגואטמלה. הייתי עובר את הקבצים כשהגעתי מצאתי כי המכתבים כל חודש אמר, יותר או פחות "המכירות עלו ב -1.3% בחודש המקביל אשתקד. ניהולית הוצאות היא 6.8% לעומת 6.7% בשנה שעברה. המלאי הוא 1,200 טון. וכו 'וכו' "

מאז צמח בגואטמלה היה קטן מאוד, לפי הסטנדרטים Weyerhaeuser, החלטתי שאף אחד לא הולך לקרוא את זה סוג של הדו"ח, במיוחד כאשר יש לו עסק עם חברות רבות בחו"ל.

המכתב הראשון שלי היה כדלקמן:

מר ווד איבן

סגן הנשיא, הבינלאומי

Weyerhaeuser החברה

טקומה

היקר איון,

כפי שאתם יודעים, נפתחה הברית פירות החברה צמח תיבת משלהם Cajas Y Empaques דה גוואטמלה פשוט איבד 45% מפעילותה. באופן טבעי, זה נוצר הפסד לחודש.

אנחנו יתאושש זה בהקדם האפשרי, ואני מניח שזה למה שלחת אותי לכאן.

ביום רביעי שעבר הגרילה נהרג שגריר ארה"ב ואת כל הזרים כאן מפחדים S-פחות. להיות ימית לשעבר, אני חושב שאני יכול להתמודד עם זה.

אני מתחיל להסתגל לשינוי התרבותי לאט. כשהגעתי הבחנתי כי כל הבתים היו חומה סביבם את הדשא בגינה היו במתחם זה.

הנחתי זו היתה הגנה, אשר היא נכונה באופן חלקי, אך יש לה סיבה מעשית יותר בשביל להיות.

בגואטמלה יש עונת הגשמים במשך שישה חודשים העונה היבשה למשך שישה חודשים. העונה היבשה גורמת למחסור מים קיצוניים גם גזעים חיידקים.

רוב האנשים חושבים כי הבעיה עם מחסור במים הוא כי אין מי שתייה. תמיד יש בירה, קולה סודה לשתייה. הבעיה האמיתית היא שאי אפשר לשטוף את האסלה אבל פעם אחת.

לחיות בבית עם שלושה אנשים משרתת כאשר החיידקים יש שנגרם כולם עם "ירוק צעד מהיר אפל", ורק היכולת להוריד את המים פעם אחת, הוא מעל ומעבר לחובתם.

זה היה בשלב זה כי הבנתי את הערך של הקיר על הפרטיות לבין השימוש המעשי של כל העצים והשיחים יפה בגן.

החתול שלי, אשר יש לו הרבה ניסיון בסוג כזה של דבר, הגיע למקום השני.

בברכה,

מגה טילסון

Asheville, NC

אולי הכותרת של האיגרת הזו קצת מבלבל - הרשו לי להבהיר.

נולדתי ב Asheville, NC בשנת 1925. המשפחה שלי היתה של "הכנסה התיכון" -. לא להתבלבל עם "המעמד הבינוני" הבן שלי, ביל, ב התזה שלו לתואר שני באדריכלות כתב "אחרי ילדות ארוכה ומעניינת" - אני רוצה שוטר זה הביטוי כי גם אני, היתה לי ילדות ארוכה ומעניינת - אבל, להיות משפחה הכנסות באמצע הדרומי, אכלנו עוף תירס מטוגן. זה יהיה שנים לפני שהיתה לי קוקטייל שרימפס וקוויאר - אבל הם טובים!

ועכשיו, לאחר פרישתו, יש לנו חזר תירס. עם קצת מזל, כמה עבודה קשה יותר עוד כמה שנים, אולי, כמו הגנרל מקארתור, נשוב.

זמרת הג 'אז הגדולים, פרל ביילי אמר פעם "אני כבר עני אני כבר עשיר עשיר יותר טוב".

אם הסיפור שלי מעניין אותו רק בגלל אנשים מעניינים שאיתם הייתי קשורה. מסיבה זו, אני יספר סיפורים רבים, חלקם בלי שמות שמות "כדי להגן על חפים מפשע לא כל כך".

אם אני מתעכב על יותר בעבר מאשר בעתיד היא כי יש יותר מ לשעבר של האחרון.

אני מניח המקום להתחיל בו הוא בהתחלה. נולדתי ב Asheville, NC בשם מלווין Blalock טילסון וניור זה סיבה מספקת בשבילי כדי לרכוש את הכינוי "צ 'רלי" אשר דבקה בי במשך השנים.

אמא שלי, מרי רייגן, היה הצעיר מבין 8 ילדים של JJ רייגן קרולין פיקנס של Weaverville, NC - מטרופולין של 500 אנשים, שרובם טופלו כמו "Cousin" או "דודה" או "דוד" למרות שיש אולי לא היה חיבור המשפחה. זה היה סימן של כבוד באותה תקופה. זה גם הגיע שימושי בדרכים מוזרות. הדוד פרנק ויבר נהג לשבת על ספסל ברחוב הראשי. כי הוא קיבל סיבוב קצת מסביב באמצע, הוא לא יכול zip מכנסיו כל הדרך למעלה. מאוחר יותר, כאשר אחד מחברי הגברי של המשפחה היה לשכוח לרכוס היו לנו רק לומר "שלום, הדוד פרנק" ואת העבריין הבין מיד מה הוא שכח.

פאפא רייגן, כפי שקראנו סבא שלנו, היה ידוע בתור "המתמטיקאי הדירוג 8 בארה"ב." זו היתה מקובלת והיא הופיעה מודעת האבל שלו. אבל - בסביבות גיל 10, התחלתי לשאול את עצמי "איך אתה מתמטיקאים שיעור?" אלוף החבטות מחושב על ידי להיטים לעומת פעמים על המחבט. מצטיין נקבע על סכום של הציונים אלא איך אתה בדרגת מתמטיקאים?

כשהתבגרתי, אני חושב שאני הבנתי איך הכותרת הזו התפתחה.

עמיתי מוזר הול היה מקום איסוף מקומיים מועדון חברתי עבור הגברים Weaverville. כאן הם יכולים ללעוס טבק לשחק דומינו. אני לא ממש מבין את המשחק, אבל אני יודע כי הדרך בה הם שיחקו אותה, זה היה תרגיל מתמטי. אבא בדרך כלל ניצח כי הוא היה טוב. הוא התכתב עם פרופסורים מאוניברסיטת ייל והרווארד והם שלחו כל בעיות אחרות לפתור. זה היה, אמר כי הוא היה קופץ באמצע הלילה, לכתוב את התשובה לבעיה חולצה הלילה שלו, וגם לחזור לישון, אבל - זה עדיין לא עונה על הדירוג.

אני מדמיין את זה, לאחר שהוכה על ידי ביסודיות "Fessor" רייגן, אחד בקבוצה כנראה אמר "Fessor הוא באמת חכם. הוא חייב להיות המתמטיקאי הטוב ביותר בארץ ". ועוד ענה "טוב, אני לא יודע, יש את הברנש איינשטיין והוא די חכם". ו, לאחר דיון, הם הסכימו כי אולי הוא לא היה מספר אחד, אבל הוא חייב להיות מספר 8. זה התיאוריה שלי, אבל אולי הוא היה מספר 3 - מי יודע?

מאז ופרופסורים שולמו אפילו גרוע יותר לאחר מכן מאשר הם עכשיו, היה אבא רייגן גם מודד והיה לו חדר הילדים ואת משק קטן. הוא בבעלות המבורג ההר אשר היה מאחורי הבית שלו, למרות שהוא היה קטן לעומת ההרים האמיתי, זה היה עצי פרי, אדמות חקלאיות ואדמות מרעה. הוא גם היה בית לעשן שם חזיר במדינה נרפאו. זו שרידי הבשר האהוב עלי.

הוא קרא של לותר בורבנק אני מניח, כי הוא ערך ניסויים עם השתלת עצי פרי. אם הזיכרון שלי משרת אותי כהלכה אחרי כל השנים האלה, הוא היה אחד העצים שהיה תפוחים, אגסים, דובדבנים ואפרסקים על אותו עץ. אני לא חושבת זה נמשך, אבל, שנה שבה היה מורכבים, כל הפירות היו אכילים.

אמא רייגן היתה גברת ירא שמיים מן האסכולה הישנה - צאצא של שורה ארוכה של מטיפים המתודיסטית. אני זוכר כי באחד מימי ראשון, התגנב פאפא רייגן מחוץ לאסם להקשיב אליפות העולם ברדיו (טלוויזיה לא היתה אז). אמא נזף בו קשות על הפרת השבת. אבא ענה "אבל אף אחד לא יכול לראות אותי". עד אשר השיב אמא "אלוהים יכול לראות אותך".

לעתים קרובות, כשהייתי צעיר מאוד, כל האחים של אמא שלי והאחיות וילדיהם היו הערב (זו היתה ארוחה באמצע היום) בבית רייגן. בגלל מספרם הגדול, אנחנו הילדים אכלו ליד השולחן השני. זה היה המקום שבו פיתחתי סלידה העוגה. עוגת קוקוס אמא של רייגן היה יבש כמו מדבר סהרה, ומשקלו כ 8 ק"ג פרוסה. אמא שלי כנראה ירש את זה במיומנות רבה בבישול כך בחיים שלי יש לי אי פעם אמר אן היקר שלי, "למה אתה לא יכול לבשל כמו אמא שלי?"

אני לא רוצה להתעכב על אבא רייגן, אבל אני יכול להמשיך עוד ועוד. אז - רק כמה דברים נוספים.

פעם אחת הוא ובניו, הצעיר באותה תקופה להיות כ 6 שנים, היו עולים המבורג ההר לתקן כמה גדרות. הצעיר, אני חושב שזה היה "פריץ", היה עד לפני עם עוד כמה ואבא היה מספר דרכים מאחורי. לפתע נשמעה צווחה מקפיאת דם, ואבא התחיל לרוץ במעלה ההר. הוא חשב שיש טרגדיה איומה והוא צעק "מה קרה?" אחד העתיקים ביותר שהיה עם "פריץ" (אני חושב שזה היה גריידי) צעק בחזרה "הוא הוריד את הפטיש על הבוהן שלו."

אבא הגיב צועקים בחזרה "קח את הפטיש להרוג את הילד!" זה עכשיו מזכיר לי את שגרת ביל קוסבי שם אשתו אמרה, בשובו מהעבודה "לכו במעלה המדרגות ולהרוג את הנער."

אמא רייגן נפלה ושברה את ירכה כשלא הייתי בחיל הנחתים. היא הפכה סנילית, כפי שאמרנו אז, אבל עכשיו אני יודע שזה אלצהיימר. למרבה הצער, היא נפטרה לפני חזרתי מסין.

פאפא רייגן נמשכה שנים רבות יותר, אך היה נהרג על ידי מכונית בעת שחצה את הכביש. המכונית היתה נהוגה בידי זוג בירח דבש וכמובן, הם היו הרוסים. כיום, המשפחה בוודאי תבע ודרש סכומי עתק. באותם ימים, ואני מקווה שנחזור אלה מוסר, משפחתה של אמי התנצל בפני בני הזוג, הסביר כי בגיל 85 הוא לא רואה או שומע היטב והם היו אחראי בשום אופן.

החלק שאהבתי ביותר, ואני מקווה לחקות, הוא שהוא היה מדווח בדרכו לראות את חברתו. (כל אנני בסדר, להפסיק מגחך, אני יודעת שאתה חושב על המנגינה 'ורג' גרשווין "זה לא בהכרח כך", שבה המילים לומר "מתושלח חי 900 שנה, אבל מה הטעם של חייה", כאשר לא יהיה גל לתת לאיש מי 900 שנה. ") אני יכול לחלום אני לא יכול?

עכשיו, בוא לרוץ מהר דרך הדור של אמי שבט רייגן:

הבכור היה אנה לי (אנחנו ילדים שנקרא "מפתח" שלה) - אם היא היתה בחיים, היא תהרוג אותי אומר את זה בגלל שהיא היתה שחקנית וכתוצאה מכך, לשווא למדי. היא אף פעם לא עשה את זה כדי ברודווי, אבל היא עשתה מחקר בבוסטון והיה פעיל בהצגות מקומיות ואזוריות. אני חושב האחרון שלה היה ייצור שנקרא "אל הגבעות האלה" אשר היה כרוניקה של האינדיאנים צ 'רוקי. היא שיחקה את זה במשך מספר שנים, כיכבה גם לשחק מוצלח בשם "חזק במכנסיים" אשר נכתב על ידי הוברט הייז, מחזאי מאוניברסיטת צפון קרוליינה.

בתה של מרי קי היה מדליין. מאז קי היה 20 שנה מבוגרת אמא שלי, אמא ומרי מדליין (מנאע) למעשה גדלנו יחד. זה בטח נשמע כמו הקומיקס הישן "נערי ההר" שבו bootleggers ', totin גבוה רובה' 6 היה לי דוד בשם Rufe. הדוד Rufe היה בחיתולים והיה על 6 חודשים - אבל ככה זה היה בימים ההם, לפני תכנון המשפחה.

מפתח נשוי Scroup סגנונות (אתה לא אוהב את השמות האלה?)

אלמה (אשר קראנו טאנט) היתה אחות. היא התחתנה עם עורך דין וחי גבוהה פוינט, NC בעלה, אשר קראנו "דוד Nobe", נקרא Xenobious ווקר. אחרי שגיליתי את שמו האמיתי, מלווין לא נשמע כל כך רע.

אמא שלי, מרי, היתה אחת עם כישרון מוזיקלי. היא היתה הסולנית של הכנסייה המתודיסטית במשך שנים, לא ידוע לרוב האנשים, היא שרה בהלוויות של מה שאנו מכנים כיום "חסרי בית". כאשר גיליתי את זה, הייתי גאה.

דודים מצד אמי היו:

גריידי - היה בצבא במלחמת העולם אחד ואולי היה המבשר של USO. הוא היה בחזית בצרפת ולאחר מכן כתב כמה שירים על המלחמה ועל נשלח מסביב כדי לבדר את החיילים כשהם היו בבית אזורי מנוחה. הוא כתב שיר בשם "בלאדי המלחמה" שיצא לאור מאוחר יותר, זה היה שיר פשוט עם פסוקים רבים החלים על פעמים השתמשתי בו שנים רבות מאוחר יותר לכתוב פרודיות על חברים שלנו.

מאוחר יותר הוא היה יו"ר מועצת המנהלים של המחוז של הוועדה. זו היתה עבודה פוליטית חשובה כנראה. באותו זמן לא היו הרפובליקנים ב Buncombe קאונטי או אולי לא בצפון קרוליינה, אבל היתה תחרות עזה. שתי הסיעות היו הידוע בשם "טבעת" ואת "אנטי הטבעת". הטבעת היתה בשליטת דיקון גרין. הוא מעולם לא החזיק משרד נבחר והוא גר במלון Langren אבל, לא קרה שום דבר בלי אישור. דיקון גריידי הובסה לבסוף ואני באמת לא יודע מה הוא עשה אחר כך. אני יודע כי דודה גרייס, אשתו, עבד בחנות הכלבו של איווי. אולי גריידי מעולם לא עשה דבר אחרי זה.

ובניו היו גריידי, ג 'וניור גורדון. גריידי ג 'וניור היה קול בס מעולה, כפי שעשה אביו ושר במקהלת הכנסייה. לאחרונה שמעתי, הוא עבד עבור המינהל ותיקי. גורדון היה מלגה כדורסל ל UNC ו ראיתי אותו בפעם האחרונה בצ 'פל היל. חזרתי מסין היה ניצול חוק החיילים המשוחררים כדי לסיים את החינוך שלי הוא, להיות צעיר, נכנס עתה UNC. הדבר האחרון ששמעתי עליו, הוא היה בשירות הדיפלומטי בפקיסטן.

רוב - אני מניח ששמו רוברט, אבל מעולם לא ידעתי דבר, אבל "הדוד רוב". רוב היה מודד או, כמו שאנחנו אומרים עכשיו, מהנדס אזרחי. הוא היה די מוצלח והוא בנה בית ישירות מאחורי אמא ואבא רייגן. הוא ודודה (אנו מבטאים אותו הנמלה) בל נולדו שני ילדים - בובי גלוריה (זוהר). בובי רצה להיות רופא שיניים, אך מסיבה כלשהי לא הגיע. הדבר האחרון ששמעתי עליו, הוא היה סוכן של מורטון סולט. זוהר התחתנה עם גבר שיש לו סוכנות מכוניות בווירג 'יניה ביץ'. כשהייתי ברפובליקה הדומיניקנית, היא ובעלה (אני מתבייש כי [MT1] אני לא זוכר את שמו) הגיע Casa de Campo עבור גולף חופשה. אנשים נחמדים.

ארנסט - דוד "ארן" היה שומר הספר. הוא ודודה זולא (לא שיש לנו כמה שמות גדולים?) היו 4 ילדים. אחד מהם היה מפגרים הושם "הביתה". הבכור היה איליין, אישה מקסימה. היא התחתנה עם הקפטן ימית, כשהייתי במחנה לז 'ן בחיל הנחתים, הם הזמינו אותי לביתם לארוחת הערב. לאחר מכן, הלכנו לסרט, אבל, מאז שהייתי טוראי ראשון. והוא היה קפטן, נפרדנו. התיישבתי במדרגות והם ישבו ביציע בקטע של הקצין. היום זה כנראה יהיה בשם "אפליה" אבל אני חושב שזה נכון.

ארנסט ג 'וניור (באד) וג' ים היו שני בנים. באד ואני, להיות באותו גיל, היו כנראה יותר מכל בני הדודים הגברי שלי. באד היה פקיד בדיחה הורים, במיוחד של בדיחות גסות, אבל מצחיק,. בסופו של דבר הוא כמו כומר הצי - ו די טוב. למרבה הצער, הוא נפטר ב 40 המוקדמות לחייו של. מעולם לא ראיתי אותו אחרי שעזבנו את צ 'אפל היל.

ג 'ים היה ימית, כמו א' אבל, מאחר ולא היה הבדל גיל, לא הייתי קרוב אליו. הקשר האחרון שהיה לי היה מג 'קסונוויל, פלורידה ג' ים לקה במקרה חמור של דלקת פרקים במשך רוב הזמן היה מרותק בבית החולים VA בגיינסוויל, פלורידה הוא התחיל כרוניקה של שבט רייגן. אני אנסה למצוא אם הוא עדיין על זה למרות שאין לי מספר טלפון.

קרול - קראנו לו "הדוד פריץ". הוא קיבל את השם הזה, כי בתור ילד שנהג ללכת ליער ולהטיף דרשות. זה כמובן בא מן הביקורים של "רוכבי מעגל" בנושא שהיו חלק מהמשפחה אמא של רייגן. להטיף נשוי "דודה אן" - גברת קטנה שעבדה בתור פקיד הבנק בבנק מקומי. היא היתה קורבן של שוד בנק, להשלים עם רובים מסכות, בבנק המקומי. זו היתה הפעם של ג 'ון דילינג' ר אם זה היה דילינג 'ר או איזה גנב קטן אחרים, שאנחנו לא יודעים - אבל זה היה מרגש לחשוב שזה היה ג' ון בן.

בנם היחיד היה סוזי. Suzy was about 2 years younger than I so we were not close when we were young. However, for reasons unknown to both of us, and although we never saw each other more than once or twice after we grew up, we became “favorite cousins”. Suzy married a great guy who was an executive for Malcolm McLean at Sealand. The last I heard they lived in Connecticut and their oldest son was an Ensign in the Navy. I shall try to find them also.

Scruggs – ( These names get better all the time). Uncle Scruggs married “Aunt Myrtle”. He moved to Evansville, Indiana before I was born so I only saw him on rare visits to Weaverville. They had one son, Jim. I remember him only because, on one two month stay in Weaverville during the summer, he began to gain weight. No one could understand this until he remarked “This is the best milk I have ever had in my life”. Mama & Papa Reagan had cows and kept a pitcher of pure cream in the refrigerator. Jim was drinking several glasses a day. Talk about cholesterol!! The last I heard of Jim, he was in Las Vegas.

In summary, someone once said of my Mother's brothers “Two were serious, solid citizens. One liked whiskey, one liked women and the other liked both.”  Needless to say, I shall not identify them by name.

Enough about my Mother's family. Let's move on to my Father's side.

מעולם לא ידעתי סבי מצד אבי מכיוון שהוא נפטר כשאבי היה בן 14. מסיבה זו, אבא מעולם לא סיימה בית ספר -. אני חושב שהוא הלך כיתה ה -7 הוא החל לנהוג את הכרכרה של הדוד הגדול שלי, ד"ר ויבר וזה היה מקור הכינוי של אבא שלי "ליטל דוק" אשר התפתח מאוחר יותר פשוט "דוק".

סבתא מצד אבי היה אסי Penland. I don't think Essie was the real name but that's all we ever knew. This was before the days of social security so, when Miss Essie could no longer run her boarding house, she came to live with us. The only things I remember about “Granny Tilson” were when she sat me on her lap, when I was about 7 years old, and read me bible stories. Also, she used to take me on the streetcar to places where they served watermelon in the summer time. I still love watermelon. Granny died while she was living with us. I have no idea where she slept because we had a 2 bedroom house. My dear sister “Til” and I shared one bedroom, my parents had the other. Where did Granny sleep? – I never thought about this until this moment!!

George and Essie had 5 children. The oldest was my Uncle George, then my Dad Melvin, then Bertha, Edgar and Harriet. This side of the family had great names also.

George married Aunt Marian – a Yankee no less. They had no children but had a Scottie dog. They came to the house one night, distraught, because the dog had died. They felt guilty because they had not had his tonsils removed in time. The rest of us, whose dogs came from the pound or off the street and ate table scraps, could not envision a dog going to the doctor for an operation.

I recently heard from my cousin Fred Reeves that Aunt Marian was still alive at the age of 97 but really was not “with it”. Spare me this.

Edgar was the black sheep. He married and had one child; Bertha Ann. Bertha Ann lived for several years with Harriet. What happened to her later, I have no idea.

Bertha was great. We called her Aunt Tillie (a nickname her husband, Fred, had given her – derived from Tilson). They had a nice house with a tennis court in Weaverville and 2 cabins in the mountains on Reems Creek. This property adjoined Camp Sequoia which was, and perhaps still is, an exclusive camp for boys and girls. Fred worked in the bank in Weaverville and when all of the banks began to fail during the depression, he was, how do we say nowadays? – downsized?

After this, they sold (or lost) the house in Weaverville and moved to the cabins. They lived in one and rented the other. They were log cabins, made in the old fashioned way but were very comfortable except that the food was preserved in the spring house and the plumbing was a nice out building surrounded by flowers which we called “Johnny House Lilies”.

Their two children were Fred (Junie) and Mary Elizabeth (Libba).

אני לאחרונה דיבר עם פרד והוא היה פשוט חגג יום הולדתו ה -80. הוא אמר שהוא לא היה לי הרבה חברים כי הוא לא אוהב אנשים זקנים. פרד שיחק בנבחרת הטניס ב NC המדינה, אולי תוצאה של בעל בית המשפט בביתו. הוא היה סרן בחיל האוויר במלחמת העולם השנייה, ולאחר המלחמה עבר לקליפורניה נכנס לעסקי הנדל"ן. אני חושב שהוא עדיין dabbles זה. אני מקווה לראות אותו אם פרויקט הדיור שלי בטיחואנה מפתחת כי הוא גר ליד סן דייגו.

Libba נשוי קצין הסוחר והיה לו בת אחת שהיא בשם "חוה" כי היא היתה הנערה הראשונה במשפחתה בעלים של כמה דורות. איבדתי קשר עם אותם לחלוטין, שכן Libba היה מבוגר פרד, אולי היא כבר לא בחיים.

הרייט נשוי ג 'ון בריידי, מהנדס. הם הפיקו שני בנים, ג 'ון וג' ורג '. ג 'ון והרייט היו גרושים הרייט בסופו של דבר בניו יורק לעבוד עבור הממשלה. היא נפטרה לפני כמה שנים. ג 'ורג' גרה איפשהו בניו אינגלנד, אבל ג 'ון מת צעיר למדי. הוא היה העורך של העיתון של פרנקלין, צפון קרוליינה - עיר די דומה Weaverville.

היתה לי חיבה מיוחדת דודה טילי משום, כשהייתי בערך בת 10 אני משתמש כדי לטפס על עצים מאחורי אחת הבקתות שלה וללכת על גפנים ענק שגדל על העצים האלה. היא לא הניחה הדוד פרד לחתוך אלו גפנים, כי "צ 'רלי אוהב לטפס עליהם".

לקחתי אן המקסימה שלי לבקתה כשהיינו עסוקים - זמן קצר לפני שהתחתנו. אני לא מבינה שהיא לא היתה קסומה עם ההרים, כמו שהייתי, ואני עמדתי על כך שאנו הנדנדה על גפן ענבים מעל הנחל. היא חתכה את רגלה בתהליך זה היה סיכון האחרון שלה על גפן ענבים. היא עשתה זאת, ללכת לישון על נדנדה במרפסת ממש רגוע אז זה לא היה אובדן מוחלט.

עכשיו - אחרי כל האנשים האלה, בא "מלווין הקטן". נולדתי ב -4 בינואר 1925, זה היכה בי אתמול, אחרי שראה את מותה של הנסיכה דיאנה וגם האחות מריה תרזה, כי האחות תרזה שנפטר בגיל 87 נולד רק 15 שנים לפני. היה לי להזדרז כדי לסיים את הכרוניקה!

באתי כדי להאמין - טוב, אולי לא להאמין, אבל יעניין את המאפיינים הכלליים של גלגל המזלות. אני מזל גדי יש כל התכונות בכלל לייחס לנו "עיזים". התחתנתי עם ליאו והיא כוללת את כל המאפיינים של "הלביאה" - הנסיכה של הג 'ונגל.

מכיוון שאנו Capricorns הם די בכבדות, אנשים עקשנית נאיבי לפעמים, הזיכרונות הראשונים שלי הם מתאימים. פעם שיחקתי בשדה ליד הבית שלנו Weaverville, שבו עברנו זמן קצר אחרי שנולדתי, ואני נכנס לחור בהודעה . הרגל הקטנה שלי הלך הצביע למטה אבל שכובים בתחתית, כך שזה לא ייצא. אחרים, אולי בהירים רגשית יותר מאשר הייתי צרחה לעזרה. אני, בתור הגדי משעמם, שתקו עד שאני היה לפספס. אמא שלי, שלא היה רגש אז, בא לצעוק אל השדה, חפר אותי עם כפית של כסף.

הזיכרון הבא שלי היה כי לא היה לי עז המחמד. אבא שלי בנה עגלה בצורת משאית האש העזים יכול למשוך את זה. בני הדודים שלי, שהיו מבוגרים, וברור שאני חכם יותר, הייתי אומר "צ 'רלי, אתה להישאר כאן ולחכות כל שיחות חירום אשר נכנסים אנו לקחת את העגלה לחקור כל השריפות אשר קורה. "למרות שאני מאמין בהם בזמן אמת, זה לא מנע ממני להיות" suckered ב "פעמים רבות מאז.

הזיכרון הבא שלי הוא כשעברנו בחזרה Asheville ואת שכר בית ב Merrimon אווניו. הייתי רק כ 6 שנים, אבל אני זוכר כי היה לי לוח שחור קטן על כן בחדר שלי, אבל היו לי רק חתיכה אחת של גיר לבן שבו לצייר. בבית הספר יום ראשון בשעה הכנסייה המתודיסטית המרכזית, הדרומית, שם היתה בגיר צבעוני. גנבתי את זה!

להיות פיקח מאוד, הסתרתי את זה בחדר שלי עד יום רביעי הבא על. ואז - תוך כדי משחק בחצר מעדתי ונפלתי למטה. אני בא מן האדמה אמר להורי שהיו על המרפסת הקדמית "תראי, מעדתי ונפלתי ונחת על קופסת קרטון צבעוניים".

הם כמובן ידעו כי הגיר היה חסר הספר של יום ראשון במשך 3 ימים היו נבונות מספיק כדי לחכות להתפתחויות. לאחר מספר לי איזה מזל אני למצוא את זה גיר עם שאלות דיסקרטי באשר לאופן בו אולי הגיע לשם - אני מודה. החזרתי את הגיר ביום ראשון הבא ואני אף פעם לא גנבו שום דבר מאז. אולי אם הייתי יוצא בשלום עם זה או אם אני היה כלוא בגיל שש, הייתי אישר פלילית.

אגב, המתודיסטית האפיסקופלית הכנסייה דרום התכוון המרכזית כי היו שחורים לא בקהילה.

אבא שלי, שהיה ידוע בתור משהו של הומוריסט, נהג לומר, כי עברנו כל הזמן לשכור את באה עקב. זה לא היה נכון, אבל כאשר הייתי בן שמונה בערך עברנו 6 קולמן אווניו. זה היה בערך קילומטר וחצי משם, אבל זה אומר שיהיה לי סט חדש שלם של חברים, כי זה היה עוד שכונה.

יש לי זיכרונות רבים של 6 קולמן אווניו. זה היה בית קטן, אולי 700 ft2 על הרצפה עיקרון אבל עם מרתף ומוסך. היו לנו שני חדרי שינה. אמא ואבא היו אחד ואני המשותף השני עם אחותי. איפה סבתא טילסון ישנה כשהיא באה לגור איתנו, אני לא יודע.

אבא שלי תמיד רצה להיות "הס" כי אני חושב שהוא היה מאוהב המערב הפרוע ואת הבוקרים בסרטים. פארק פנאי היה אחד של 1930 פארקי שעשועים שבו היה גן החיות, קרוסלה, מכוניות להקפיץ, וכו 'פריס גלגל זה גם היה טרמפ הפוני. אבא גילה כי הבעלים של הנסיעה הפוני הניח לאיש יש פוני לשמור בעונת החורף, כאשר הפארק היה סגור, אם הם האכילו אותו וטיפלה בו.

הוא השיג לי פוני. אמא שלי ואחותי לא היו מאושרים מדי, אבל אבא, אני וחברים שלי היו!

אמנם הבית שלנו היה קטן, הרבה חזרו כ 300 מטר. היינו במושכר אבל אבא הוריד את דלתות המוסך והשתמשו בהם על הצדדים של יציבה על הפוני שלי "פיליס" - המכונה גם "פיל".

זה מדהים כמה חברים יש לך כאשר יש לך פוני.

פיל משמש כדי לקבל רופף מאז שעזבתי את בית הספר היסודי, לפני אחותי יצאה בתיכון, היא היתה צריכה ללכת עד Merrimon שדרת לקבל פיל ולהביא אותה חזרה אל האורווה. פיל תמיד נראה לדרוך על רגלו של טיל ו, בלי לדעת על סוסים לשנוא אותם גם, טיל לא יודע את כל מה שאתה צריך לעשות הוא להרים את הקרסול להרים את הרגל. אני חושבת שהיא למדה כמה מילים גסות בחוויה הזו.

באותו זמן, היה לי כלב, חתול, תרנגולת בנטם ותרנגול לתרנגול. הכלב היה 6 גורים, החתול היה 8 הגורים ואת bantams בקעו דגירה של 12. אמא שלי היתה סובלנית מאוד.

באותו זמן התחלתי מיזם המסחרית הראשונה שלי. מכרתי מגזינים מדלת לדלת - שבת איבנינג פוסט "ו גבירותיי בית ג 'ורנל. לא הייתי טוב מאוד בזה אז לא הייתי מצליחה. רק אחד יותר גרוע הייתי השכן שלי, בילי Charnuckle. גישתו היתה לומר מי פתח את הדלת "אתה לא רוצה לקנות מגזינים כל אתה?" הם היו כמובן לומר "לא" וסגרתי את הדלת.

כשהייתי בערך בן 11 עברנו מרדוק אווניו. זה היה המקום האהוב חייתי בזמן ההתבגרות. זה היה בית קטן - קומה אחת עם מרתף, חלק אשר היה מוסך. זה היה 3 חדרי שינה, שניים מהם היו בעבר מרפסת שמש גדולה כל כך היו כל החלונות מסביב. הנחה של הסלון היה ארון אחסון גדול עם יציאה למרפסת קטנה. אני בחרתי את זה בחדר שלי ולא באחד מחדרי השינה. זה היה מקום למיטה שלי, הרבה מדפים לא הרבה יותר אבל זה היה פרטי ונעים. זה היה כמה חסרונות לא בשבילי אלא בשביל אחרים. אחותי, להיות 4 שנים מבוגר יותר, לעתים די קרובות היתה החברה ותאריכים. הם היו בסלון וכדי לקבל מ "המחבוא" שלי לשירותים, היה צורך לעבור דרך חדר המגורים. הלכתי לישון מוקדם, מאז נשאתי עיתונים על מסלול בוקר בשבילי לקום על 11:00 ו לשוטט דרך הסלון בתחתונים שלי היה די מביך אחותי, במיוחד כאשר היא מנסה להרשים את האחרונה "אהבת חייה".

הסיבה העיקרית שאני אוהב הבית הזה היה בשכונה. זה היה ידוע בשם "נורווד פארק" ולא היה שפע של ילדים בכל הגילאים. מול הבית שלי היה אזור שבו אנו בשם "וודס". זה היה אולי על 5 דונם של עצים עם נחל זורם אותו שדה תירס בצד השני. כל קיץ אנחנו נבנה סכר לרוחב הנחל הזה נוצר חור שחייה. זה היה בפיקוח חברי מבוגר של הקבוצה אשר היו לפחות 15 שנים. כולנו, החל מגיל 8 עד 14, היו העבודה המשותף. קריק היה אולי 8 מטר רוחב וכ 1 או 2 כפות עמוק בזמנים כתיקונם. הנוהל שלנו, אשר היה לא רע עבור קבוצה של ילדים, היה כדלקמן:

אנחנו כורתים עץ גבוה - אולי 30 מטר בקוטר של אינץ 'אולי 12 או 15. זו הנחנו מעבר לנחל להגיע גדות הנחל אשר היו כ 5 מטרים מעל מפלס הנחל. אנחנו סיכן את זה ביומן בקצה כל כך שלא יכולתי לזוז לשני הכיוונים.

אנחנו מכן החלו לשנורר מכל רחבי השכונה וכל אתר הבנייה הסמוך עבור כל עץ אשר לא היה קשור. כשאני כותב את זה אני מבין שאנחנו כנראה לגנוב אבל אנחנו אף פעם לא חשבתי להרים חתיכת רופף של עצים כמו גניבה למרות שאנחנו בדרך כלל זה בלילה.

These planks were then put at about a 45 degree angle, one end nailed to the log across the “canyon” and the other end in the dirt in what would be the pool.  We started at each end and worked our way to the middle, leaving a space for the creek to flow through. Underneath the lumber we piled rocks to support the planks and on top of the planks we piled dirt. This dirt was dug out of the creek bed and the sides to make the pool deeper and larger.

After several weeks of work the dam was complete except for a section in the center about 3 feet wide. This was the time to mobilize all of the kids who had worked on it. (You could not swim in the pond unless you participated in the construction). Everyone arrived at about 7am with shovels, picks, hammers and much excitement. When the planks were placed in the center we all began to shovel like mad to cover the remaining space. This was usually accomplished by 9 am and then came the waiting for the dam to overflow.

It usually took about 5 days for the pond to fill up and, of course, during this time there was no water downstream because we had closed off the entire flow. We put twigs in the bank at water level and checked them the next day to see how many inches the water had risen. From this primitive measurement, we could guess about when the water would flow over the dam.

The creek started from a spring on Sunset Mountain and flowed through the Asheville Country Club golf course in front of Grove Park Inn. After it passed our swimming hole, it meandered through the suburbs and about 15 miles down stream, it flowed through farm land. About the 3rd day of no water there would be a farmer walking upstream to see why his live stock were not getting any water from the creek. We knew this would happen so we always had someone on duty at the dam while it was filling up (except at night). When the farmer would inevitably arrive, a signal would go out and any one nearby would come to plead with him to wait “just one more day”. “Please, Mister, don't break our dam”. They never did since they too had been kids.

The overflow was an occasion for celebration. The word went out to the entire neighborhood “The Dam Is Going to over Flow about Midnight!!  We begged our parents to let us go watch and usually they consented and quite often accompanied us.

I learned to swim in this swimming hole and, since it was so shallow, I can dive in a teacup without hitting the bottom. In the early morning it was crystal clear but after 20 kids had been stirring up the mud from the bottom, in the late afternoon it was a dark brown. At night we would take a small piece of wood, about 1 foot square, place a lighted candle on it, tie a string to one edge and float in into the pond. Frogs, attracted by the light, would jump up on the wood and give out what I suppose was their mating call. It was there that I learned to call frogs and this became a great source of amusement at cocktail parties – especially when a frog appeared from a country club pool.

בשדה בצד השני של הבריכה מהיער ניטע לא תמיד תירס. לפעמים הם שתלו תפוחי אדמה היינו לחפור צלי כמה, אותם גחלים מכוסה בוץ יש חגיגה. אני מניח שזה היה גם גונב.

היו לנו די מספר גדול של ילדי השכונה, קרוב מספיק בעידן להיות תואם היו ממש מסוגל שדה קבוצת בייסבול ו קבוצת כדורגל מהשכונה.

בשלב זה לקחתי על תוואי עיתון. זהו אולי הניסיון העסקי הגדול ביותר עבור אנשים צעירים, אבל זה לא קיים היום. הוא התפתח, כמו כל דבר אחר, לתוך נפח מטופל כעת על ידי מבוגרים עם מכוניות מי להעסיק אנשים צעירים או עולים כדי לספק מעל אזורים גדולים. המסלול שלי היה 100 לקוחות ברובע מעמד הפועלים. הם הלכו לעבודה בשעה 7:00 בבוקר, והוא רצה עיתון הבוקר שלהם 6:00. אז - אני קם בשעה 4: בבוקר, סיים ידי 06:00, וחזר לישון במשך שעה 1 וקם ללכת לבית הספר. בזמן הקיץ, כאשר לא היה בבית הספר, חברים שלי, אשר גם נשאו העיתונים, הגיע לבריכת השחייה בקאנטרי קלאב (היינו לא חברים) ו שחינו בשעה 6:00 בבוקר. לפעמים השומר היה לצאת לאיים עלינו על הסגת גבול, אבל הוא מעולם לא הוציא את האקדח שלו ויצאנו בשלום.

גם אני קיבלתי עבודה בסופי שבוע כפקיד חנות פירות מקנטייר של. זו הופעלה על ידי ג 'ו מקנטייר, אחיו ואחותו. ליאו, אחיו של ג' ו נהג משאית סמיטריילר לפלורידה בכל שבוע, חוזר עם הדרים מן ההודי נהר ובננות ממרכז אמריקה אשר הגיעו בסירה למיאמי. בשום מקום אחר Asheville היה כזה פירות טריים, איכותיים זמינים בגלל סופרמרקטים לא היה קיים באותה תקופה. ג 'ו גם הביא אקזוטיים (עבור Asheville באותו זמן) פירות וירקות מקליפורניה. אלה כללו אבוקדו שבו אמא שלי מאוד אהב. כל יום לשלם הייתי קונה לה אחד. באותו זמן - 1940, הם עולים 1.00 דולר. אני מניח כי הוא על 20.00 $ כיום. תחבורה השתנה הרגלי האכילה שלנו בגלל אבוקדו עדיין עולה על 1.00 דולר. באותו זמן שנאתי אבוקדו אבל אחרי המתגוררים בחו"ל שבו הם גדלים פרא, פיתחתי טעם להם גם - ובעיקר גואקמולה.

מאז זה היה בסוף הזנב של הדיכאון, שלימדו אותי להיות חסכני מאוד - תכונה איבדתי איפשהו לאורך הדרך - ו, לא ידוע על המשפחה שלי פתחתי חשבון חיסכון ב הלאומי הראשון של בנק Asheville שילמתי. ההוצאות שלי מכביש נייר שלי ולכן כאשר קיבלתי צ 'ק שלי מקנטייר שמתי ביותר של אותו בבנק.

I was working full time during the summer so at the end, when school started I had about $250 in the account. This was more than my Father made in a month. One day my passbook fell out of my pocket on the sofa and I did not notice it. My Mother and my Sister found this and were astounded. My Mother casually suggested that I buy some clothes for school so – there went my savings but it did help the family quite a bit because I was still growing and last years clothes did not fit.

I had now graduated from Claxton elementary school and entered High School and I loved every minute of those 4 years. I was a Freshmen for three years. No, I didn't fail – it was a quirk of fate. At that time we had only 11 grades of school. 7 were in elementary (grammar) school and 4 in High School. During the depression Junior High had closed. When I entered Lee Edwards High School I was in the 8th grade. At the end of the year, Junior High was re-opened for one grade so I was a Freshman in the 9th grade. At the end of this year a second grade was moved to Junior High so I was a Freshman in the 10th grade. I graduated at age 16 because I had skipped 1/2 a grade in grammar school. This was not because I was smart but again a quirk of fate.

Today one must be 6 years old in September to enter the first grade. When I entered school, being born in January, I entered in grade 1-A in January. When I was in the 3rd grade this system was abandoned and we had entry to school only in September. Those of us in the “middle” had to either move up 1/2 grade or move back 1/2 grade. I was moved up so I gained 6 months on most of the normal graduates.

When I started High School I carried as heavy a schedule as was allowed. Most people had a “Study Hall” but I never took one, preferring instead to take both Band and Physical Education – both of which were electives. I loved sports and played everything, but not good enough to make either the varsity or to think of an athletic scholarship to college. My Mother, being a musician, wanted me to study piano. At this time any boy who played piano or took dancing classes was a “Sissy”. I have regretted my decision to bow to peer pressure to this day.

Because of my overbite, I was assigned to the clarinet and I played a very exuberant, if not inspired 3rd clarinet in the High School band. For graduation my family gave me an alto saxophone. I had never played sax before but I loved it. I began to play in the local dance bands. The first was formed by a transfer student from New Mexico. His name was Bob Shamaskin. He was known as “The Jerk from Albuquerque” but he was a nice guy and gave me my first chance.

After this band folded I joined one of my friends from Norwood Park who had become an accomplished trumpet player. His name was Arthur Weneje. During this era the bands were named after the leader. This was before we got names like the Grateful Dead, Three Dog Night, the Rolling Stones etc.

Our first job was for the graduation at the Asheville Normal School (this was what teacher's colleges were called in those days). We all griped a bit about being paid $2.50 for the evening but Art said “Listen, these people hired us without ever hearing us. This is our first job so play as best you can and we will get other jobs.”

We were pretty good for a young band and our next job was a debutante ball at the Vanderbilt Hotel. Here I first ran into Union problems. The local musicians union threatened to boycott the Hotel Vanderbilt for hiring a non union band. This came out in the newspaper under the headlines “Local Union Wants To Kill Ambitions of Teenagers” – so they never followed through.  But – we also never got another job at the Vanderbilt.

Our next job was on the local radio. Of course we were not paid for this. But as a result, we got a job playing for a Fraternity Dance in Spartanburg , SC the idea of getting an out of state job was unbelievable , particularly since we got $5.00 each plus expenses.

The band eventually broke up for lack of work and we all played “gigs” whenever we could and people who could not get a job at other time of the year could get one at Christmas. During the Christmas season and New Year there was always work because there were perhaps 3 bands in the area and 15 parties. Many times I went on a job and the first thing we did was to shake hands with the other members of the band and say “I am pleased to meet you”.  After the audience had a few drinks, the band sounded great.

World War II had now started and, being almost of age, we were all ready to go. I joined the Marine Corps in November of 1942 at age 17 but was not called up until July of 1943 when I graduated from Biltmore Junior College (now UNC- Asheville).

For reasons which I still don't understand, I was awarded a huge dictionary at graduation from Biltmore College for being the outstanding student. I still have it somewhere. My only regret is that, being caught off guard, I did not have a proper acceptance speech. What I should have said was “Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Faculty and Guests, there are only 3 reasons why I have been accorded this honor. My sister is not here tonight because she is at school in Greensboro but the other two reasons are here. Please stand up Mom and Dad.” I hope all three can hear this, where ever they are.

I joined the Boy Scouts at age 12 and this was where I learned many things, which, joined with the principals taught to me by my family, church and school is probably why I did not find it necessary to carry a gun to school and shoot at random.

Being a Capricorn, I seemed to be singled out as a leader – although I never sought this. After about 2 months into Troop 4 I was picked to be the patrol leader of the Nighthawk Patrol at age 12. This consisted of 10 other kids and was no big deal – but I learned some things. In my first year at Boy Scout Camp there was a contest among all of the Patrols. The brand new Nighthawk patrol with its brand new patrol leader quickly fell behind. At one location we had to build a fire with two matches, at another we had to tie the proper knots to move a fallen tree etc. There was a counselor at each location and as we reached the one about 3 from the end, all other patrols had finished. I said to the counselor “We might as well quit. Everyone else has finished.” He replied “There is some honor in coming in last. There is no honor in quitting.” I have come in last a lot of times since then but I never quit.

One of the volunteer jobs I had was to hold the ropes around the greens at the first Land Of The Sky professional golf tournament. The favorite was Ralph Gudhal who had just won the US Open. He did not win because a young ex caddie by the name of Ben Hogan won his first tournament there.

I did not have dramatic talent but I was interested in the theater so I joined the stage crew in high school. The Lee Edwards High in Asheville always did well in drama, as well as football, and we went to the regional competition at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Our entry was an original play, written by the drama teacher and it had a mountain theme. We on the stage crew had made the props which were the inside of a mountain cabin. One of the props had a gun rack which held a rifle. That particular prop warped on the trip down and we brought it back straight with a stage brace. Miss Welch was ecstatic with our ingenuity and we were proud. It was fine until the middle of the first act. The stage brace slipped, throwing the rifle onto the middle of the stage, almost decapitating the star of the show. For some reason, Miss Welch was no longer ecstatic and we were in the dog house – women are fickle.

After I graduated from high school I enrolled at Biltmore Junior College. The first year, 1941, at “Biltmore Tech” as we liked to call it, was situated in the first floor of the Asheville Normal School. Math had always been my easiest subject in High School and I usually did the homework, if at all, at the end of the class or when the teacher went over the homework at the beginning of the next class.  When I arrived in college I found the game plan was different. Homework was assigned and at the next class another topic was taken up. Quite often it was based on knowing what had been assigned for homework – I almost failed. I got on the ball and recovered because I remembered my experience in taking 4 semesters of Latin. I got an A, a B, a C and a D. Seeing the hand writing on the wall, I quickly switched to French class.

The second year, 1942, Biltmore Tech moved to an old orphanage. It was an ideal location for a school with several hundred people because the rooms had not been private so they were large enough for a classroom, there was office space and the yard was very large with beautiful oak trees. I had never cut a class in my life but on one gorgeous spring day, I could not resist. Instead of attending economics class, I retired to the lawn and propped myself up against one of the large oaks and let spring fever attack. In about 10 minutes Mr. Junuis Allison, the professor, brought the class outside to have class under the trees. Spotting me at the next tree he said, “Good afternoon Mr. Tilson. Would you care to join us?” My answer is rather obvious – so much for being a truant.

The male population and the faculty of Biltmore College was fast being depleted because of World War II. The math professor was called by the government for one of the agencies, the chemistry professor was hired by DuPont, the language professor (he taught both French and Spanish) was commissioned in the Navy, learned Japanese and was sent to the Pacific to de code intercepted messages and the Phys Ed teacher was called up by the Navy to train recruits.

The male student body was also being depleted by the draft. In 1942 our basketball squad consisted of 6 people. Since the PhysEd teacher had also been the coach, the ole Capricorn ended up being player/coach. Toward the end of the season, we almost won a game.

In October, 1942 we had a special assembly for the male students in which Recruiters from the various branches of service made their pitch to try to get enlistments. The Air Force outlined the glamour and excitement of flying, the Navy gave the old “see the world” bit, the Army stressed how one could learn a trade or a specialty. A Marine Captain stood up and said “I can't make the promises that the others have made. If you join the US Marine Corps you will probably get shot and wash up on the beach of some Pacific Island. But – if you are interested, I will be here as soon as the meeting ends.”

I signed up that day but was not called up until after graduation in July of 1943.

1943 – 1944

EMORY UNIVERSITY

July 1, 1943 I boarded a train for Atlanta to start my interesting time in the US Marine Corps. The Navy had started a program called “V 12″ as a preliminary to Officer Candidate School. The reason was that the armed forces were building so fast that officers and non commissioned officers cold not be trained as fast as they were taken in. V 12 was offered to individuals who qualified and were currently students in college.

Because this was a rather select group, the talent gathered was most invigorating. Because these people came from various schools and were all reasonably bright and physically fit individuals, it made for an interesting time. The good part for us, as participants, was that we were continuing our education although we were also being trained as Marines.

Emory was, and still is, an outstanding university of medicine and ministry. I dare say that it has never been the same since the V 12 of the Navy and Marine Corps descended upon it. We took over the dormitories and bunked 3 to a room in two tiered bunk beds. The good beds and mattresses were stored in the attic – which I later discovered and took a nap on a pile of 6 mattresses every afternoon. I seem to never get enough sleep and can sleep 10 hours every night – although I don't get to. Perhaps it is because my blood pressure runs low or maybe I am just lazy.

Our group had been drawn from the southeastern colleges while other groups in the north and west drew on students from their respective areas. Since Georgia Tech, across town, also had a V 12 unit, our group at Emory came mainly from smaller schools. Besides me and two others from “Biltmore Tech” we had people from Rollins, The University of the South, Bob Jones College, Furman, Newberry and a host of others whose names escape me at this time.

Our routine was a bit different from what I was used to. We were up at 6:00 am, ran one mile, showered and went to breakfast. Then we went to class just as regular college students until 3 pm from 3 to 5 we had close order drill, rifle instruction and ran 5 miles. Then we could play baseball or football until supper (not dinner). Study period was from 7 pm to 10 pm and lights out at 10 pm I have not been so healthy or in such good condition since.

As mentioned above, there was such a diversity of talent available that almost any kind of group could be formed. Word was put on the bulletin board that there was an inspection next month by high ranking officers from Washington and asking anyone interested to become a part of a marching band. In two weeks we had a reasonably good band, complete with an experienced drum major. To our chagrin, there were no majorettes available.

As an off shoot of this, there was a call for anyone interested in being a part of a dance orchestra which was being formed. I joined this along with some really good musicians and I learned a lot.

Since there was a shortage of men outside of the service, the girl's schools had a difficult time getting enough for the Christmas dances. My roommate, Adrian Testerman, knew a girl from Brenau and she invited him to attend the Christmas dance at the Tri Delta sorority and bring two friends. Hap Marshall and I gladly accepted.  Brenau is in Gainesville, Georgia so we took the train from Atlanta – about a one hour trip.

My blind date was Denny Williams. Denny was engaged to an Ensign and she was not overwhelmed with me nor I with her. I spent most of the time with her roommate, a vivacious young thing named Ann Sholes and as the Sicilians say, I was struck by the thunderbolt. I had a date with Ann the next day and we walked around Gainesville. Ann, always the adventurous type, did not tell me that the girls were prohibited from walking in the city without permission. We were accosted by an old maid teacher who ordered us back to the campus and told me “We think boys would rather marry Brenau girls who have been brought up properly. I replied, in my usual smart mouth way “I just came for the week end, I did not come to get married.” Little did I know that the old biddie was giving me an accurate forecast of the outcome. Ann was in her first year at Brenau but she was a sophomore. Her freshman year was at Stevens College in Missouri but with the cost and travel time involved in going from Lynchburg to Missouri, her parents felt it better that she get closer to home.

Ann and Denny came to Atlanta in a few weeks and we went to the Fox Theater to a movie – that was about all we could do. They returned the same night, after curfew and sneaked in a bottle of rum purchased in Atlanta. Someone squealed and they were campused for a month.

Toward the end of my assignment at Emory, Charlie Smith who had married my cousin Mary Madeline came through Atlanta. Charlie was an executive for FW Woolworth. He took me to dinner at the Biltmore hotel and asked if I liked shrimp cocktail. I said “Yes” but the truth is I had never had one… (Caviar was starting) he also took me to the Fox Theater, which is still the place in Atlanta for entertainment. The featured performer was Eddie Peabody, the King of the Banjo. Many years later while I was attending a meeting of the Fiber Box Association, Eddie was the featured entertainer. The president of the Association, after the cocktail hour had been in session, introduced him as follows: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a rare treat for you tonight. Eddie Playbody is going to pee on his banjo.

Feeling like a man of the world, I wrote Ann and said “We probably won't see each other again but it has been fun.” She was distraught because now she had only 5 boyfriends instead of 6.

1944

DUKE UNIVERSITY

As more and more of the V-12 group were sent to Parris Island, Camp LeJeune and Quantico, the V-12 program began to contract and the operation at Emory was closed and after 6 months at Emory the remaining personnel were sent to Duke.

Another marvelous opportunity to attend a first rate University.

We were at Duke only 3 months but it was fun, interesting and educational. There was a dance band in existence there and I joined it and was asked to switch from alto to baritone sax. This was because I was not very good and no one wanted to play baritone but I did it quite well. There I learned that a baritone sax really does not play with the sax section. The arrangements were written so that the baritone plays kind of a counter melody with the trombones and bass.

It was also there that I had my first beer. Having been raised in the Methodist church, any alcohol was forbidden and even at communion they gave grape juice instead of wine. This is how Mr. Welch, who was a devout Methodist, started his company “Welch's Grape Juice”. After reading the Bible I found that Jesus drank wine so who am I do otherwise?

The Duke campus at that time was split – one part was for males and one part was for females. There was a bus which took us to the girl's campus but we had to register to enter. How times change. There was also a large bronze statue at the entrance of the girls campus of Mr. Duke seated. The legend at that time was that the statue would stand up if a virgin entered.  Today he would probably remain seated but times were different then.

There I also learned a bit about people. We were told that the workers who cleaned the halls (we cleaned our own rooms) would ask us for a loan. The people “in the know” said “If they ask for a loan of $5.00, don't loan it to them because they will dodge you forever. But, instead, give them a $1.00 and they will be forever loyal”. Think about it.

I always seemed to have two close friends. I have found that this is about the total number of close friends one can have even though you may have hundreds of acquaintances. My two close friends at that time were Harrison “Hap” Marshall and Adrian Testerman. Adrian was dating a girl on the other campus whose name was “Bobbie”. A delightful, intelligent and very rich girl. Unfortunately, she was born with an eye problem and Hap and I would say “Are you still dating Cross?”

After the war, Adrian married Bobbie and Hap and I were humiliated since we were invited to the wedding.  I am still in touch with Hap who lives in Greenville, SC but we have not seen each other for a long time. To my distress, I found that Adrian and Bobbie had divorced, Adrian married a second time and passed away a few years ago. Our reunion, which we had planned for years, will have to wait.

So – on to

1944

PARRIS ISLAND

There have been many books written and movies made about Boot Camp in the Marines and it is something special and is part of the reason for the reputation of the Corps. It was tough but perhaps we had it a little easier than a raw recruit coming in cold. The job of the drill instructors (D I's) was to instill blind discipline (which they surely did), teach us to march and strip an M-1 rifle. We already knew how to do the last two so their job was easier. For this reason, we perhaps did not get as much abuse as is normal. However, I do remember when I lost my locker key. The punishment for this was to put a bucket over your head, run up and down before the Platoon flapping your arms like wings and yelling “I am a shit bird from Yemassee, I lost my locker key”. Yemassee was a small town on the mainland across from Parris Island. Our train stopped there on the way from Durham to Parris Island and it was not exactly the Orient Express. There was such a shortage of rail cars that everything which would run was pressed into service. Ours had kerosene lamps and a pot bellied stove for heat. Although we griped about this, the guys from the First Division who were on Guadalcanal would have swapped with us gladly.

This was when I first learned of Government Morals. I had always been taught “Thou shalt not steal”. When we reported, we were issued two sheets and a blanket for the bunks. When I went in to my assigned bunk, there was no blanket. I reported this to the DI he said “I signed for all of these blankets so you will not go to lunch with the rest of the Platoon but when we get back from lunch I expect to see a blanket on your bunk”.  The message was clear and while everyone was a lunch I went to the next Platoon and stole a blanket. How many times this happened and who finally ended up without a blanket, I do not know.

One of our lessons in Boot Camp was to learn how to box. The assistant DI said “Today we are going to learn to box. Are there any professional boxers here?”  No hands were raised. Are there any Golden Glove Boxers here?” Two hands were raised. “You two fall out”. “Are there any college boxers here?”  4 hands were raised. “You 4 fall out”. “Are there any street fighters here?' Two hands were raised. “You 2 fall out”.  “Now, after eliminating these people, I assume that I know more about boxing than you.” and he proceeded to give us a lesson from which even the pros and amateurs learned something because it was not just boxing but total self defense. He taught us that, if the Marcus of Queensbury rules don't apply, a blow to the Adam's apple, a kick on the knee, a stomp on the instep and other areas which shall remain unmentionable, is more effective than a right cross to the jaw.

Our DI's were very good and honorable but tough. Some were not so honorable. One of my staff when I was in China told me a story about when he was in Boot Camp. In the barracks there was a walled off section where the DI lived. My friend told me that one night when they had just come back from “chow”, the DI was in his room. In a loud voice he said “I had $5.00 and I was going over to the NCO club to drink some beer but I lost the $5.00 somewhere – so, I guess we will have to stay here and have a field day (which meant scrubbing the floor with toothbrushes).

One of the recruits yelled out “I found 50 cents of your $5.00. Another chimed in “I found 75 cents” until the entire $5.00 appeared and the DI had his evening and the boots had some rest.

After 4 weeks we earned the ultimate privilege – going to a movie.  The screen was outdoors and we arranged our selves in the sand. If you build up a little mound behind your back, it can be quite comfortable sitting in the sand. Before we went we asked “What is on at the movie?”

The DI's always replied “12 rounds of grab ass starring Shirley Temple and Boris Karloff.” I guess this was part of their training – but you know, the expression “Grab Ass” was pretty accurate when applied correctly. If you remember when you were a pre teenager, all of the boys were constantly tripping each other, pushing each other, grabbing each other and fretting the girls. Other, more civilized persons than Marines probably called this “Horse Play”.

Before I leave Parris Island I must speak of the sand fleas. The environmentalist will tell you that every living thing on earth has a reason for being. If the sand flea has a reason, it must be to pester Marines at Boot Camp. When you are in formation at attention, you cannot move a muscle. If a sand flea crawls up you nose, as they are prone to do, all you can do is swallow them. At any formal parade on Parris Island you would hear “snuff, snuff” – indicating that another sand flea had bitten the dust – or at least the digestive tract. Are they rich in protein? Only the DI Knows.

Then we graduated and received the rank of PFC – Private First Class!!

This meant $5.00 per month raise and an attitude of superiority over the poor buck private.

Also, if you shot Expert on the rifle range this meant another $2.50 per month plus a medal.

And – off to Camp Lejeune to learn how to kill Japs (although we did not really want to kill anybody – except for a few DI's)

1944-1945

CAMP LEJEUNE (1)

Although I did not realize it, this was to be my first time at Camp Lejeune. It is perhaps the largest base in the Marine Corps and is situated in the eastern part of North Carolina, close to Jacksonville NC and not too far from Wilmington NC How many square miles it encompasses I do not know but it numbers in the hundreds of thousands and borders on the Atlantic Ocean and the Inland Waterway.

We were put in Companies according to our age (which at that time was 19 for me and the others in our company). We now had a collar adornment which said “OCS”.  This stood for Officer Candidate School. Needless to say, the other troops training at Camp LeJeune did not like us very much.

One thing I have found in war time is that those who survive do not talk about the terrible things which happen but about the funny things. I recall that we had maneuvers in the Boondocks and we had a box lunch. This consisted of a ham sandwich with mayonnaise. Having been in the heat for a long time, when we ate the sandwich, it got all of us.

Upon returning to the barracks, it hit us. After much study by architects and engineers it was determined that toilet facilities are needed for 5% of the group involved. When 100% have the “Green Apple Quick Step”, 5% ain't enough. I recall going into our own bathroom which had about 10 toilets and saying “Please get up”. The occupant would say” I would like to but I can't”.

Then I would go to the next barracks and say “Please get up”. The occupant would say” I would like to but I can't”.

Statistics do not always work.

My Mother sent me some candy and I ate it all in one night. The next day I had a stomach ache. I went to sick bay and asked for some medicine. The doctor said “Let me check you”. He punched on my stomach and I almost jumped through the ceiling. He said “You have acute appendicitis. I am sending you to the hospital”. I was put in a truck with a group of prisoners who were also going to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital and sat on benches, waiting. After about 2 hours they got to me and asked for the papers I was carrying. The nurse said “My God, you have acute appendicitis. Get on this stretcher”. I was sent to the operating room and operated on immediately. Instead of stitches I had staples. These rusted and gave me some problems. I don't think the surgeons use these anymore. I was in a ward of about 150 others, most of whom were gunshot wounds from Guadalcanal so I felt kind of inferior – but it was a fun group. When the lights went out there were always jokes and songs – mostly vulgar. After about 4 days I was up on my feet and was assigned to clean the bathroom even though I could not straighten up.  One day, after mopping the bathroom a Lieutenant Nurse came in and said “This is not good enough. Do it over”. As she left I said “Bitch”. She said “What did you say?” I said “I have an itch under the scar”.

After two weeks the doctor came in and said “There is a hospital in your home town of Asheville. We can send you there for two months to recuperate”. I declined this because I would lose my class and would fall behind. If I had accepted this I probably would not have gone to Guam or China. Was I smart or stupid?

We worked hard and learned a lot. The war was in full force in Europe and the Pacific. We were headed for the Pacific and we knew it.

I began to write to Ann again and while she was still preoccupied with other suitors, I was still enchanted. To my surprise and pleasure, I found that because of transportation and cost to Brenau, she had transferred to Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va. which was close to Quantico where I was going next.

1945

QUANTICO

I arrived in Quantico and, although it was tough, I enjoyed it thoroughly. This was Officers Candidate School so we had a few amenities which we did not have in Parris Island or  Camp LeJeune. We ate at tables for four with chairs instead of a long table on benches and we were called “Mister”. The best part was the quality of the instructors.

Although our primary purpose was to learn to kill people, we also learned the skills of leadership and organization. Both of these principles apply to life in any field. Since that time, I have been interested in the principles of leadership and organization which are put forth by many prominent people. I am not a great student of the Bible but if I remember correctly, Moses, who was known for his leadership, found himself bogged down in settling disputes among his subjects and did not have time to govern. He went to his father in law whose name was (I think) Jethro. Jethro said “Make men captains of tens, captains of hundreds and captains of thousands – then you work with the captains of thousands but don't forget the individuals. This has remained a principle of the military, business and government.

General Eisenhower said “Leadership is a business of push and pull. If you put a piece of string on the table and push it, it will fold up. If you pull it, it will follow you. If you want a promotion, you must push the person above you to create a spot for your promotion but – you must also pull the person below you to fill your spot so that you can be promoted.”

Henry Ford, who did not invent the automobile but who did invent mass production, was once asked by reporters “Mr. Ford, are you an engineer?”  He replied ” No, but I can push this button on my desk and the best 10 engineers in the country will be here in 10 minutes”. He was not afraid to surround himself with good people.

Again, at Quantico, we had a relatively easy time compared to the people who came in cold. There was a program where applicants came in directly from civilian life and had to be taught all of the basics of being a Marine. We had been in V-12 for a year, in Parris Island for 10 weeks and Camp Lejeune for a year. This made it easy for the instructors so they made it (relatively) easy on us.

As in all walks of life there are tragedies but in the military there are more than normal. My fist view of a dead person was at Quantico. We went into the field to be shown how to blow a tank trap with explosives. We were perhaps 1/2 mile away and when the charge was set off great pieces of rock and dirt were blown into the air. The explosive was too big and rocks began to rain down on us. One large rock, the size of a basketball hit one of our platoon on the head. He was perhaps 20 feet away from me. He died instantly.  This was my first real insight into the horrors of war – but it happens on the highway at the rate of 50,000 per year.

I called Ann and arranged our first date as soon as I had a free week end. I went to the train station to go to Fredericksburg and was hit by the “Gallops”. I went to sick bay and they gave me paregoric. This stopped the problem but I felt terrible. When I got to Mary Washington I went through the grilling that the house mothers used to do and they called Ann. I shall never forget her running down the hall, dressed in a gray flannel skirt, a pink angora sweater, pink angora bobby socks and loafers. She threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug. I was hooked.

We began to meet in Washington, DC which was a short train ride for both of us. Ann stayed with her Aunt and Uncle – Bill Clarkson who was a Colonel stationed at the Pentagon. Colonel Clarkson was very self confident gentlemen and many called him arrogant – but I liked him. He was in the army before the war started and was a Warrant Officer. I don't know if this rank still exists but at that time it was between “enlisted” and “officer”. When the war started he was promoted to a commissioned officer – a Captain I think – and was sent on a special mission to General Clair Chennault's “Flying Tigers”. They were volunteers fighting with China against the Japanese. Colonel Clarkson got sick and was flown to Hong Kong for treatment. While he was there, the Japanese attacked and all of the Americans were taken prisoner. Bill told me they spent 5 days on the roof of the American Embassy firing at the Japanese Zeros with 45 caliber pistols.  This is like a bullfighter attacking a bull with a pen knife but it was all they could do. Hong Kong fell and they were captives. For about one year, he was missing in action as far as his family knew. During his captivity he drew up some “official” documents transferring himself to the diplomatic corps. After about a year there was a negotiation whereby the diplomats were returned to the USA on a Swedish ship – I think it was the Gripsholm – and he was on it. While the ship was leaving the harbor his subterfuge was discovered and the Japanese tried to stop the ship but the captain would not turn back so Bill returned to the USA.

He was sent to the Walter Reid Army hospital at Bethesda because of under nourishment. After checking him, the doctor said “We have to get some weight back on you. To help your appetite, what would you like to drink before dinner?”  He said “I would like a Scotch and soda”.  – and that was his medicine. It don't get no better than this in the hospital

I called Ann for a date in Washington and this was before direct dialing. The operator said ” President Roosevelt just died'. I got the news before it came out in the papers and CNN was not in operation at that time.

At that time a hotel room in Washington was almost impossible to get but we had a system. The Willard hotel, an old but famous hotel always had suites available. Five of us would go together to rent a suite and although there were only two beds. We would sleep on the floor, sofa or wherever. Since we did not sleep much on the weekends it really did not matter. One weekend Ann did not have permission to visit her Aunt and Uncle but she came to Washington anyway. Her friend came with her and others in our group at the Willard had girl friends. We all stayed in the suite. Fear not – this was not an orgy. We were of a different generation so we moved the mattresses off the bed and two girls slept on the springs, two on the mattresses and the guys slept on the floor. Since one bed was in one room and one in the other, we had to pass the mattresses through the window since they would not go through the door. We were on the 12th floor. The next morning Ann and I went to have breakfast at a diner across from the hotel. We looked up and saw a mattress being passed from one room to the other on the 12th floor. Fortunately the management was not looking.

On another week end, Ann told me she was “campused” and could not meet me in Washington. I called Sara Bohannon, a good friend and ex classmate at Biltmore Tech who was going to George Washington University. We met and had a good time re hashing old times – nothing romantic. I had always wondered what Sara's father did since they lived in Grove Park, belonged to the Country Club and traveled a lot. I found that he was a lobbyist for the oil industry – an occupation which I am sure is on going.

It turned out that Ann was not “Campused” but was meeting an old high school  boy friend. My friend, Fred Williams bumped into them accidentally and talked Ann into returning on the same train with us. To my surprise, when I went to the station to meet Fred, there was Ann. Stan Kenton was playing a concert at Quantico that night and I asked Ann to get off at Quantico and go to see Kenton because he had Anita O'Day singing with him and she was great. It was strictly prohibited for any girl from Mary Washington to get off at Quantico – but you know Annie – so she did. We were disappointed to find that Anita O'Day had left the band but her replacement was June Christie who went on to her own fame in the Jazz world. We got Ann safely on the late train and she managed to conceal her activities from the Wardeness at the school.

Finally, in June of 1945, graduation day came. I invited Ann to attend. She really wanted to go to the graduation of her favorite cousin, Billy Clarkson at West Point but Billy talked her into coming to Quantico because he was to be married right after graduation and Ann would not really get to see him. I have been grateful to Billy but I never got to meet him. He was killed in a fighter plane crash in Germany.

Ann returned to Asheville with me on the Southern Railroad – what used to be a fine form of transportation. She stayed for one glorious week and when she returned to Lynchburg, I left for Camp Pendleton.

We were allowed the equivalent of train fare from Quantico to Los Angeles with 5 days per diem for meals but the option of how to get there was open. I elected to go by plane – my first trip in the air.

1945

CAMP PENDLETON

I caught American Airlines from Knoxville, Tennessee to LA It was on a DC 3 and took 18 hours. I thought it was incredible. Upon arrival, being a Jazz fan, I went to the Hollywood Palladium to hear Les Brown. Doris Day was singing with him at the time.

The next day I reported to Camp Pendleton and began 2 months of Troop Leaders School. Most civilians think the military spends its time shooting and crawling through the mud – and there is plenty of this – but a great deal of time in training officers is spent on learning how to instruct your troops and to make effective plans. There are many incompetent leaders (and followers) in the military but when the chips are down the cream comes to the top and an Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, Vandergrift, Puller or hundreds of others emerge. The skills I learned there stood me in good stead later in life in business. I had always wanted to be a teacher anyway but I had to wait for my son and granddaughter to fulfill this ambition.

We worked 6 days and had 2 days off so our “weekends” moved up one day each week. This was the pattern in all of the military installations in the area. If a normal 5 day week had been in effect, the number of service men descending on Hollywood, LA and San Diego at one time would have sunk the southern coast of California.

Our normal routine during these two months was to go to the Hollywood Palladium the first night of our pass, meet some girls, dance and do whatever your morals dictated (mine were pretty dull), save enough money to go to Laguna Beach  to drink beer and body surf in the wonderful waves at this beach. I should point out that even though I was a Marine Lieutenant, I could not buy a drink in California because the age limit was 21 and I was 20. Being of sound mind and body and being thirsty I changed my birth date on my ID card from 1925 to 1923 with one stroke of the pen. Also, it was most embarrassing to invite a young lady to dinner and have the waiter refuse to serve you a drink.

One week end a friend asked me to join him in La Jolla which was just north of San Diego (and is now part of metropolitan San Diego). Having no knowledge of Spanish, I was hearing “Lahoya”. I went on the bus, missed the sign and ended up in San Diego.

Then came our orders to pack up and paint “DUVA” on our sea trunks and sea bags.  This was a top secret code but everyone seemed to know it meant “Guam”.

1945

GUAM

We boarded ship in San Diego and became part of one of the most costly mistakes in World War II (of which , I am sure, there were many). The ship was an AKA and the only cargo was 21 brand new, wet behind the ears, Marine Second Lieutenants. While we were zig zaging across the Pacific for 28 days, the atomic bomb was dropped. The crew, knowing that we were the only cargo on a ship which would hold a battalion and equipment, were convinced that we were specialists connected to the atomic program. After denying this for a week, we finally began to say, “Yes, but it is top secret and we can't talk about it”.

Upon arriving on Guam, we were all sent to the Transit Center which consisted of a series of tents with wooden floors. We waited, we waited and we waited. Guam had been “secure” for over a year after the Marines landed there and on Tinian which was close by but there were a number of Japanese in the Jungle who did not get the word that the Island had been captured. From time to time, some of these would be captured and they always wore Marine green underwear which they had stolen off the clothes lines at various locations.

To break the monotony of waiting, I decided to hitchhike to North Field to see where some of the planes had taken off for Tokyo. As I recall, the planes carrying the Atomic Bombs had left from Tinian or Saipan and had landed on the return at Okinawa (they did not have fuel to get all the way back). This explained why taking Okinawa had been so important. While on Guam we saw the battle plan for the invasion of Japan with the estimate of hundreds of thousands of casualties. Thanks to Harry Truman's decision to drop the bombs, I am still alive.

While I was standing on the road waiting for a Jeep or truck to come by and give me a lift to North Field, there was a great crashing sound in the jungle. I was unarmed and assumed that a Japanese soldier was coming out. Instead, a huge water buffalo with big horns emerged. He looked at me, I looked at him. He turned and retreated into the jungle. Only the laundry man and I will know how scared I was.

We were finally assigned to a unit. Five of us were assigned to the 2nd battalion, 22nd Marines. Later, after I was promoted to First Lieutenant and became a human being in the eyes of the enlisted men, the First Sergeant told me that when the 5 of us reported he said “My God, here is the basketball team from Podunk High School”.

Adrian Testerman was in our group and he was assigned to be the Adjutant. I was assigned to be S-2, Combat Intelligence Officer. He and I did some “networking” and found that Hap Marshall had landed and was assigned to the 29th Marines across the Island. We walked over and had a good reunion.

We received orders to pack up and leave for China. I was given a work detail with the second platoon of company D to load the ship. Up until this time, the only command I had had was a platoon or a company made up of officer candidates. All of these were eager to do well and get good grades from the instructors so if you gave a command or instruction, they did their best to comply. How naive can you get when entering the real world?

I marched the Platoon to the dock and met the crane operator. He was leaving for supper and would be back in one hour. He also told me that I needed only half the platoon at one time so I divided them up in group 1 and group 2 and told them to relax until the crane operator returned. When he returned I called out “Group one, fall in”. After several shouts with no action, I began to look around. I found one Marine under a tarpaulin drinking pineapple juice which he had found in the shipment and had opened with a bayonet. When I asked if he were in group one he of course said “No.” Wising up, I found some more, here there and yonder. I would ask which group they were in and when they replied either one or two, I would say “Fall in, your group is working.” In this manner I had gathered up about 10 people. I went to search for more and when I returned there was no one there. I then found another eating corned beef which he had discovered in the shipment. I asked his name and when he gave it I said “Private, you have 10 minutes to find your platoon sergeant.  He reported in about 2 minutes. I told him to locate both groups and have them fall in. He yelled “Alright, all you SOB's from the first platoon, company D, fall in.”  They came from all directions and this was the last time I by passed a chain of command.

We completed loading and left for China.

1945-1946

CHINA

After about three days at sea we ran into a Typhoon. Ropes were tied on the deck for those who had to go out but most stayed inside. Sleeping was difficult because of the pitching and rolling. When we looked out the portholes at other ships in the convoy, it appeared the Destroyer Escorts were going under. They would disappear behind the waves and then break water like a fish jumping. I am told that even the sailors with much time aboard did not make a meal for three days. We had a Chinese interpreter attached to Division Intelligence and he was sick the whole time. Fearing for his health, we finally convinced him to come to a meal. In the officers wardroom the plates were placed upside down and were turned over for serving when you sat down. This poor fellow turned his plate over and promptly threw up in it. The rest of the table rose, as if on command, and retired.

The fourth day the storm passed and we spent much time on deck watching the flying fish (they don't have those in Asheville, NC) I was standing by a Gunnery Sergeant who had previously been in China in the 30's. I said “Gunny, how will we know when we are getting close?” He replied “You will smell it.”

We were prepared for a combat landing because there were several divisions of Japanese in Tsingtao and we were not sure they had gotten the word that the war was over. However, we received radio messages from the Chinese military that all was quiet so we docked in the harbor. To make sure everything was calm we sent a reconnaissance platoon ashore. This was commanded by a lieutenant who was known by the name of “Whiskey”. This had come from the Okinawa campaign where he was famed for always finding something to drink.

Whiskey was gone for some time with no radio messages and we began to be concerned. He finally returned, without his hat. The welcome from the Chinese was joyful and his jeep had been surrounded by a group of “Ladies of the Night.” They sang out “Fuckee ?, Suckee?” to which Whiskey replied “Both.”

We disembarked and took over Shantung University which had been the Japanese Naval Academy. Field grade officers were quartered in houses outside the compound. We junior officers were 8 to a room in what had been class rooms. There appeared on the scene a Chinaman dressed in a long white gown, just like in the movies. He spoke a little English since he had been houseboy to the Marines in the 30's. He asked for a job as our houseboy and I hired him. He cleaned our room, shined our boots and we taught him to clean our weapons.  This was soon discovered by a Major and since the Field grade officers did not have a house boy, we were ordered to fire him. In about two months, everyone, including the non coms had house boys and we were allowed to re hire our friend.

Our mission was to send the Japanese back to Japan but first we had to take a formal surrender. This took place on the grounds of the local race track. Our division stood in ranks while the Japanese officers paraded by our commanding General and place their swords in a huge pile. (These became souvenirs which were given out by rank. There weren't enough to filter down to 2nd lieutenants.) This ceremony, which was quite impressive, was very tiring. We were at parade rest for over 4 hours in the hot sun. Viewed from the front of the ranks, it was a very orderly, military sight. But – a plane took aerial photos and from about the fifth row back, guys were sitting down, lounging and smoking. When these came out the general's staff spent weeks identifying who was where in each company.

We soon found that the local Generals in the Chinese army were responsible for funding their own armies. This resulted  not only in taxes but there were groups of Chinese soldiers who were going into the European sector, entering the house at gun point and taking whatever was available. We started patrols, day and night, in this sector to prevent this. Most of the European population was white Russians who had been in Tsingtao for years. There were also a few English and French. Most of these were sent back to their own country by the Chinese government and it was tough because many had never been to their own country.

Chang was still in charge at that time but the Communists controlled all of China except those cities where there was a Marine contingent. Besides Tsingtao, we had units in Shanghai and Tientsin. Because of this we had to set up a defense line around the airport and around the whole city. We had gun positions and fox holes prepared and could move out to these in a very short time. Because of some sniping and other activity, we were called to move to these positions several times – usually a 2 or 3:00 in the morning.

On one such trip, as day light crept up, I noticed something moving in the trees. I went to investigate and found a Chinaman hanging, an apparent suicide. His possessions were on the ground – a pipe, a small amount of tobacco and a small pocket knife and from his clothing he was obviously a poor peasant. I did not touch anything and upon our return, I reported this to my counterpart in the Chinese intelligence. We went back to these positions three days later and I found that the poor fellow was still hanging but his meager belongings were gone and his clothes had been stolen. I returned to the city, strapped on a .45 pistol (which I normally did not carry), went to the police station and demanded that someone accompany me to the site, cut the poor fellow down and bury him – and they did.

I tried to get one of the trips on an LST returning the Japanese troops to Japan but they always went with a staff sergeant in charge so I never saw Japan except when I was leaving on a ship for home, I got a glimpse of  Mount Fujiama .

After all of the Japanese had been returned we really did not have much to do. We had close order drill in the mornings and were encouraged to participate in sports in the afternoon. I played a lot of tennis – not exactly the thing you brag about when asked about your military service.

I had the good fortune to report to Captain Jack Marston, an excellent officer and later a good friend. Jack was the son of General John Marston who was the Commandant of Camp Lejeune when I was there. Needless to say, I did not know the General.  Jack was one of the older more experienced officers – he was 25. Our battalion commander, Colonel Stephens was known affectionaly as “The Old Man”. He was 28. I had my 21st birthday in Tsingtao. As best I can remember, it was a fine party and used up our ration of two bottles of bourbon per month for several months.

Since the war was over, many officers who had been desk bound were anxious to have overseas service on their records and many applied. Most of them were excellent officers who, through no fault of their own or because of a special skill, were assigned to Washington. Some were just opportunists. One of the latter was a Major assigned to the Regimental Intelligence Section and when I had the duty as Officer of the Day, he called and said he wanted to accompany me on the inspection of all of the guard posts.

We started at the dock and as our jeep approached we were halted and asked for the password. I gave this and we drove up to the sentry, an old country boy from Tennessee. He said “Evenin' Lt. Tilson, evenin' Major and I replied “Good evening, Herman. Everything quiet here?” “Yessir, no action.” The Major looked at the paper listing all of the guard posts and said “Private this is a two man post. I am going to report your partner for deserting his post!!”  To which Herman replied “Oh he ain't deserted his post Major. We seen you coming and didn't know who you was. He's in that clump of bushes over yonder and he's got an M-1 rifle pointed right at your head.“ To my credit, I was able to stifle my laughter.

Buck Thalheimer, a friend from Quantico, and I became friends with Mr. Yen Chi Dong, a wealthy Chinese merchant who had a big house right outside of our compound. As was the custom, we would take him to dinner one night and the next time was his turn. His beautiful young wife, who I saw by accident once in his house, never was present but his brothers and his mother quite often joined us. Once we went to a restaurant which had 5 floors. It got better as the floors increased. The first floor was for walk in patrons and the fifth, where we ate, was all private dining rooms with each person having a waitress. My waitress had gold teeth and was ugly by any standards. Mr. Yen offered her to me if I wished. Besides her being ugly, I had been so frightened by the training films on VD that I had no interest.

I defended several enlisted men as a result of my reputation on Guam. I had forgotten about this until 1993 when I was handling a loan with option to buy for Cartonera Hernandez. The negotiation was with Union Camp (recently bought by International Paper) and I was thrown against some of the finest lawyers in the USA and Dominican Republic. This resulted in the following letter:

November 15, 1993

To: Dr. Ramon Caceres – Troncoso y Caceres

Mr. Jeffery Fraum Esq. – Counsel – Union Camp

Mr. William Lets Esq. – Counsel – Bank of New York

Lic. Georges  Santoni – Herridia Bonetti

Mr. Victor Alvarez Esq. – White & Case

Mr. Donald Baker Esq.  -  White & Case

From: MB Tilson

Gentlemen,

We have successfully completed the negotiations between Cartonera Hernandez and Union Camp/Bank of New York for the $15 million transaction.

As I recall, the gestation period of an elephant is quite long so I think we have given birth to an elephant rather than a baby.

During this extended period I sent many lawyer jokes to Jeff but perhaps the best joke of the whole transaction was when Jeff sent me a package addressed to “MB Tilson, Esquire”.

Georges Santoni , who received a copy, called me and said “Are you a lawyer?”

I told him it was a joke from Jeff but after I hung up the phone I realized that I was a lawyer before any of you.

In 1945 I was serving as combat intelligence officer for the 22nd Marine Regiment on Guam. We were scheduled for a combat landing on the mainland of Japan but, thanks to the atomic bombs, we were diverted to China instead.

Since Guam was secure, except for a few Japanese in the jungle who would not believe the war was over, we allowed the men to go on liberty into the small villages on the island.

One of the men in my section was put in the brig and was scheduled for a court martial for “lewd and lascivious conduct unbecoming a Marine”.

When I asked his friends what he had done they said “He was waving his dick at a gook girl” (The Marine fighting man was not very reverent).

This was before the Code of Military Justice went into effect and the custom was to appoint an officer as defense attorney. The legal officer of the Regiment acted as the prosecutor. I was appointed as defense attorney and so, I became a lawyer in 1945.

Several of you were not born at that time and I am sure none of you were yet lawyers.

I was eminently qualified for this since I was 20 years old and had spent the last three years learning to kill people.

But – I did learn the dilemma which you attorneys face when your duty is to defend your client even though you know, or at least suspect, that he is guilty.

In this case the client readily admitted that he had indeed done this but he had not been arrested at the scene. The MP's came for him only after the young lady reported him.

He further stated that she had decided not to appear against him and that his story to the Military Police was that he was not in the city but was visiting his brother who was on a submarine which had arrived at the port in Guam.

Since I knew, or at least thought, that the burden of proof was on the prosecution, my defense was as follows:

I did not let him testify. I submitted to the court the record showing that he was off the base on authorized liberty. I entered into the record his statement about visiting his brother on a submarine. He did not name the submarine because the coming and going of submarines was top secret at that time.

Since the young lady did not wish to testify and since the court could not disprove the submarine story, I rested my case.

He was convicted anyway and sentenced to six months in the brig with loss of pay for this time.

After two months, the verdict was reversed by the Judge Advocate General's Office in Washington for lack of evidence. He was released and his pay restored.

The consensus of the men in the Regiment was that he should have been punished but after 2 months in the brig with 10 days on cake and ale (which you civilians would call bread and water), this was enough. Besides, having been in the Pacific for three years, all he was doing was advertising which is nothing but good business.

The word of the reversal spread through the Regiment and, after reaching China, I defended several more cases. I was known to the men as the “Perry Mason of the 22nd Marines”.

So you see, Gentlemen, I am not a lawyer but I used to be.

בברכה,

Having not much to do, we organized a dance band and played at the enlisted club twice a week. The men were allowed to bring Chinese girls to these dances. Three of us were officers and were not supposed to be in the enlisted club so we took off the bars on our collar. Since there were no stripes on our sleeves, we appeared to be buck privates and quite often had to take a lot of lip from drunk corporals. Occasionally a fight would break out between sailors and Marines. The only way to stop it was to start playing The Star Spangled Banner. When the National Anthem was being played, all service men were required to stand at attention and salute. Francis Scott Key never knew how many broken bones, black eyes and bloody noses he would prevent.

I met an English journalist who had been sent to cover the operation. He encouraged me to enter the Diplomatic service when I returned home and finished my education. I asked him why he thought I could be a diplomat and he said ” When we have been playing bridge (which I was just learning) I have seen you open the bidding with two no trump without anything in your hand. As the hand progressed I could see no emotion to indicate that you were in trouble so I made many mistakes, assuming you had something hidden.” I sometimes wish I had taken his advice.

Then came the day we all had waited for. On the bulletin board was posted the names of those returning. These were listed in order of time spent overseas and my name was pretty close to the top since the real veterans of Iwo Jima, Okinawa etc. had already been sent home when the war ended. Also a chance came up for us to fly in Marine Corps fighter planes as passengers to Shanghai, Tientsin and Hong Kong. I did not take this because I was afraid of missing the next ship home. Adrian Testerman took a more logical approach saying “I'll never get this chance again and a few more months won't make any difference.” He took the trip and when he returned I was still waiting for the boat.

One reason I declined was that I had sent Ann an engagement ring and a wedding ring. I don't think I had ever formally proposed but she accepted and sent me a newspaper clipping with her picture and the engagement announcement. She still had a number of boys after her and she continued to date. Absence makes the heart grow fonder – but of whom??  Fortunately for me, when she met me in Asheville upon my return, she agreed completely.

We got word that we were going to pull out and we who remained were transferred to the Sin Wah Hotel. We were there for three weeks while we were loading the ship and the waiters and clean up people were fabulous. You could leave money on the table by the bed and nothing happened. But – the night before we left everyone knew we were leaving at 6:00 am. That morning every watch, fountain pen, wallet and money was gone – as were the waiters, cooks and clean up personnel.

I was in charge of loading the equipment for our Battalion on the ship. I was up for 36 hours and after boarding I slept for 16 hours straight. When I awakened, we were at sea.  A few days later we passed by Japan – but far away – but I did get a glimpse of the top of Mount Fujiyama – Spectacular.

We were on a ship with 5,000 men and the routine for the men was to eat breakfast and then get in line for lunch and after lunch, get in line for supper. Since I had been in charge of loading the ship the Colonel excused me from being on guard duty as officer of the day. Instead, he placed me in charge of the laundry. Can you imagine having to sort out green underwear, all identical except for the name stenciled on them, for 5,000 men?  He did me no favors.

Most of our band was on the ship so we re-organized and played on the fan tail each night. This would normally have been cocktail hour but, as you know, American ships are dry (at least they were after the booze sneaked aboard ran out).

Again we by passed Hawaii. I guess we were the only group going to the Pacific which did not stop in Hawaii going or coming. I am sorry I missed it.

One morning we were awakened by the fact that the ship was not moving. Coming on deck we sighted the lushest vegetation I had ever seen. After having been in China for a year and at sea for about 24 days, the sight of greenery was wonderful. We were anchored off Panama, ready to enter the Canal. This took all day and we all stood on deck watching. I would like to do it again someday because it is an experience which I shall never forget.

After passing through the Canal, we anchored on the Atlantic side and were told we would have two days liberty. The paymaster said we could draw whatever pay we had coming if we wished. I had $50.00 so I assumed that this was plenty. After returning the first night and having prowled all of the night clubs, I and many others had to go to the paymaster and ask for more. All of the clubs had girls who would come to the table, dance with the Marines and engage in lively conversation.  Of course we were expected to buy the girls drinks and, being young and naive, I did not know they were drinking tea and not bourbon.

The young Latin lovely for whom I had been buying drinks suddenly stood up and said “Excuse me, I am on.” In about 3 minutes she came on stage and did a most erotic strip tease on top of a drum. When she returned to the table, I did not know quite what to do. I guess I was like Gomer Pyle.

Having been raised in the South, perhaps the most astounding thing to me was to see black people speaking Spanish. In my town when you get past “Que horas son?” you are bilingual.

We boarded ship and headed for Norfolk, VA. After about 3 days we were off the coast of Virginia Beach where I would later spend happy vacations with Ann and later Bill and Kerry. We disembarked at Norfolk and boarded the train for Camp Lejeune. Since all of the Marines on the train were reservists going home, it was a little difficult to maintain discipline but, once a Marine, always a Marine and I was able to keep my group under reasonable control.

1946 – 1947

ASHEVILLE & UNC

We were all given 60 days leaving so I left for Asheville on the Greyhound bus. After 28 days aboard ship, this was luxury.  A few days later Ann arrived in Asheville with the possible idea of breaking our engagement. As she tells it, when she saw me walking across the station, she decided we were for real. (I was neat and trim at that time since, being in uniform, I did not have to pick out the proper tie to go with my shirt.)

After a visit in Asheville I returned to Lynchburg with Ann and we were married on November 9, 1946. We were both 21 years old. Because Ann has always looked younger than she is (she still does), her sister had to go to the Court House to swear that she was old enough to get a marriage license.

My family came up for the wedding and besides the traditional champagne and wedding cake, we had Virginia country ham on beaten biscuits. At last count my father had eaten about 3 gross. The wedding reception was in Ann's home and it was a beauty. The house was formerly owned by Carter Glass whose family had started the local newspaper. Carter was a senator and is responsible for the Federal Reserve Act. The house was rented but came up for sale a few years later. My wonderful father in law, Warren Simpson Sholes (who was known affectionately as “Bill”) was determined to buy it. He had to be out of town on business and left a friend with power of attorney at the auction. The man decided the bidding had gone too high and let it get away. I am not sure Bill ever got over this although the house he did buy was something special also.

Since I was getting paid for the dance jobs, I had enough in China to keep me in cigarettes and 10 cent beer and therefore I put away a big part of my small salary and had enough for a good honeymoon. Ann wanted to go to Bermuda but, having been overseas for over a year, I wanted to keep my feet in the USA. We went to Washington, DC to re-visit our dating days and then on to New York. We were driving Bill Sholes car. Since they only had one car, I don't know what he did to run his business while we were cruising all over in his car.

I have always been a Jazz fan and at that time 52nd street was a swinging place. Also each hotel and theater and night club had first class orchestra and small groups. We danced to Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa , Eddie Condon and listened to June Christy, Billie Holiday, the Ink Spots etc. It was great.

When we were in Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe an older gentleman sent us drinks. (People did that for service men at this time). Since that time, I have tried to do the same whenever possible.

We returned to Camp Lejeune where I received my discharge and accepted a permanent commission in the Marine Corps Reserve. Then back to Lynchburg and on to Asheville.

We were a rare couple – both virgins until we married. Ann's chastity was because that was what proper young ladies did at this time. Mine was probably for lack of opportunity and a fear of VD instilled by the Marine Corps training films. But there are many advantages to this situation. For one, you don't have to compare your mate with other encounters.

We rented a room in Asheville next door to my family while I waited to get into a University. I applied to Furman where Hap and Adrian were and was accepted but a week later I was accepted at UNC at Chapel Hill and this had always been my first choice so I was Happy!!!

Because of the GI Bill, all of the colleges in the country were expanding like wildfire. We went to Chapel Hill to find a place to live. All dormitories were for single students and all available houses, apartments and rooms had been rented. The university had established a trailer park but it was full. The only chance was to buy one on the site from someone graduating. We were lucky to find one and it was a palace – 20′ long and about 20 years old. This was before “trailers” became “mobile homes” and although we had running cold water in the sink, there was a common bath house in the middle of the park. Fortunately I did not have to get up in the middle of the night as I now do – Ah, Youth.

Since the next term did not start until January I took a job at my Alma Mater, McIntyre's Fruit Store. I earned $30.00 per week and could have joined the “52/20″ club at $20.00 for doing nothing. The 52/20 was another benefit offered to veterans to help them out until they could find work. It offered $20.00 per week for 52 weeks and all you had to do was to register and show that you could not find work in your field. One of my cousins registered as a snow plow operator and a friend registered as a commercial fisherman, neither occupation existed in Asheville. I preferred to retain my dignity and work, even though it was menial.

I filled in for one dance job with a local band but had to join the union to do it.

In January we left for Chapel Hill and arrived at night with a light snow on the ground. I could not get the kerosene heater lighted so we shivered all night under my Marine overcoat. The next day a neighbor showed me how to light the stove and the heater and life became more pleasant. I started classes and we settled in to being married – and it was fun.

I had many friends and acquaintances there and some of them were in the KA fraternity which was just a block up the street from our trailer. If I came home from class and Ann was not at the trailer, I knew I could find her playing poker at the KA house. Never a dull moment with that lady.

By this time the funds I had accumulated had run out and although the GI bill paid tuition and a small allowance, it would not support a wife. I took a job in the library at night and Ann got a job at a camera shop developing film. This was almost fatal for me.  One of her co-workers was a cute little blonde country girl who was the girl friend of Art Weiner, a star tight end on the football team. Art was about 6′5″ tall and weighed about 250 lbs. Ann bruised her arm one day and when her friend asked how she said “Charlie threw me up against the wall”. The girl was appalled and Ann said “Oh, he does this all the time.” Her friend was prepared to have Art Weiner punch me out until I convinced Ann to tell her that she was kidding.

Our entertainment was mainly events at the University so we were able to hoard enough to have dinner each week end at the Port Hole, the best restaurant in Chapel Hill. Their specialty for dessert was toasted pound cake with ice cream and the aroma of the pound cake permeated the whole restaurant – it was a delightful smell and I still find a dinner in a nice restaurant to be one of life's finest experiences.

We particularly enjoyed the basketball games. This was before integration and, had this not been changed there would have been no Michael Jordon at UNC.

After Biltmore Tech and a full 12 months at Emory and Duke I had only 6 months to go for a degree. I graduated in August with a BS in Commerce. I don't think they offer this degree any more. Usually a degree in commerce with a stress on accounting is a BA but ours had some engineering involved.

I was proud of the BS until it took on a more vernacular connotation in recent years.

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