콘브레드에서 캐비어를 위해 - 다시 돌아오다

(그리고 다시 또?)

1925-1943

저는 해병대에서 부트 캠프에 Parris Island에 발송되었습니다 때까지 나는 바다를 본적이 없어요. 난 43 개국에 온지과 집계 그때 이후 - 72 세, 왜냐하면, 내가 불을 몇 가지 흥미로운 프로젝트를했습니다. 그러나이 프로젝트는 이상한 시대에 나타납니다, 사이에, 내가 내가 "견뎌"로 행운을 얻었기있는 경험을 비트에 전달하여 자신을 즐겁게하려합니다.

몇 년 전에, 나는 "국제 집시"로 제 경력을 시작했을 때 비즈니스 문자와 기본적으로 무딘 것을 따라서 일반적으로 무시 생각합니다. 나는 아마도받는 사람의주의를 끌기있는 방식으로 작성을 시도하기 시작했다. 이것의 결과로, 년 친구 및 동료여 "당신은 써야겠다"고 말했다.있다

나는 사전에 청소년과 청소년 나이 때 난 야구를 많이 연주하고 프로 야구 선수가 될 거라 좋을 거라 생각 했어요. 우리는 일본에 일본어를 다시 보냈다 후 할 일이 많이 없었 나는 미국 해병대에서 1946 년에 중국에 갔을 때 우리가 야구팀을 시작했다. 난 연대의 첫번째 팀을 만들고 아니지만 시카고 화이트 삭스에 대한 황소 펜 투수이었습니다 동료에 대해 한번 방망이에 도착 했어요. 그는 시간 90 마일로 접근 아스피린 정제처럼 내게 보였다 빠른 볼을 던졌다 그리고 심판은 "스트라이크"를 외쳤다. 또 파업 - 그는 죽음에 놀랐 초 하나를 던졌다. 세 번째 피치는 오른쪽 손으로 타자가되는, 내 머리 바로 와서, 내가 살해당하는 거 막으로 세 번째베이스 라인을 뛰어 내려 왔어요. 그것은 접시의 중앙 위에 곡선, 심판은 "스트라이크"를 외쳤다.

그럼 난 프로 야구 선수가 될 않았음을 깨달았다.

또한, 내 십대 동안, 나는 지방 댄스 밴드에서 연주 색소폰을 시작 내 꿈 많은 좋은 밴드 중 하나에서 측면 어른이 되어야만했다. 이것은 "스윙"의 시대였다 큰 이름이 있었다 밀러, 굿맨, Dorsey 등

1942 년 12 월, 17의 익은 늙은 나이에, 나는 노스캐롤라이나 대학의 밴드에서 전화를했다. 그들은 초안했던 크리스마스와 연말 시즌과 5 색소폰 플레이어의 4 투어를 예약했다. 그들은 나와 그들과 합류하기 위해 현지 밴드의 다른 두 멤버를 초대했다. 이 투어에는 나중에 중국에서, 내가 진짜 재능의 사람들과 함께 작업했고 난 프로 음악가가 될 않았음을 깨달았다.

일부 그렇게 똑똑한 아니 - - 빛나는 작가의 많은 읽으면서 나 또한 나도이 분야에서 프로가되지 않을 것이라고 깨닫게 -하지만 - 그 언젠가 경우에 내 손주이 작성 갈건데, 그들이 알고 싶은 수도 있습니다 그들이 어디서 왔는지 있습니다. (보통 난 이렇게 말했을 것이다 "그들은 어디에서 왔는지"하지만 난 윈스턴 처칠이 문장의 끝에 전치사 데 대해 국회에서 chastised 때 기억 해요. 그는이 좀 무례이다 "라고하여 책망에 대답 하루하루하지 않습니다 하다. "

처음 사람이 "당신은 써야겠다"나에게 말했다 내가 도착했을 때 나는 편지가 매월했다 사실을 발견 파일을 뒤지고 있었다고. 제가 처음 과테말라에 도착했을 때 Weyerhaeuser 본부 내 첫 번째 문자의 결과로되었다 더 이하 "매출이 1.3 % 작년 같은 달에 끝났다. 작년 6.7 %로 반대로 행정 비용은 6.8 %입니다. 재고 1200 만톤이다. 등 등 "

과테말라에 공장 Weyerhaeuser 표준에 따라, 아주 작은었기 때문에, 나는 그가 해외 많은 기업 상대하던 특히, 아무도 이런 유형의 보고서를 읽어가는 것을 결정했다.

다음과 같이 첫 문자가 되었음 :

미스터 이반 우드

부사장, 국제

Weyerhaeuser 회사

타코마, 워싱턴

친애하는 이반,

아시다시피, 미국 과일 회사는 자신의 상자 공장을 열었 Cajas y를 Empaques 드 과테말라 단지 사업의 45 %를 잃었습니다. 물론, 이것이 달 손실을 만들었습니다.

우리는 가능한 빨리 이것을 복구하고 당신이 날 여기로 보내 내가 왜 이것이 가정합니다.

지난 수요일 게릴라가 S - 덜 무서워하는 미국 대사와 여기에 외국인 모두를 죽였어. 전 해양 것은, 내가 그것을 할 수있을 것 같아요.

나는 천천히 문화적 변화에 적응하기 시작 해요. 난 주택의 모든 주위 벽과 잔디밭 및 정원을 발견했고 도착했을 때이 잡혀 있었어요.

난이 부분적으로 올바른 보호를위한다고 생각하지만 것에 대한 좀 더 실용적인 이유가있다.

과테말라 6 개월 동안 장마와 지난 6 개월 동안 건기가 있습니다. 건기는 극단적인 물 부족 현상의 원인 또한 박테리아를 사육한다.

대부분의 사람들이 물 부족의 문제가 더 식수가있다라고 생각합니다. 맥주, 콜라와 술 소다수는 항상 있기 마련입니다. 진짜 문제는 당신이 화장실에 하나의 시간을 플러 시할 수 없다는 것입니다.

, 3 명이있는 집, 그리고 박테리아는 "녹색 사과 빠른 단계"로 모두를 줄 수있어 한 번만 화장실을 플러 시할 수있는 하녀로 살기 위해서 의무감 전화를 벗어납니다.

내가 개인 정보에 대한 벽의 가치와 아름다운 나무와 관목 정원에의 모든 실제 사용을 실현이 시간에 갔었어요.

이런 일들은 다반 많은 경험을 가지고 내 고양이, 두번째에 왔어.

감사합니다

메가바이트 Tilson

애쉬빌, 노스캐롤라이나

아마도이 작은 사도 서간의 제목은 혼란 - 제가 정리해 드리죠.

난 1925 년 애쉬빌, 노스캐롤라이나에서 태어났습니다. 우리 가족은 "중간 소득"의 이었어 -. "중산층"와 혼동되지 않도록 건축학 석사 학위에 대한 그의 논문에 내 아들아, 빌, "길고 흥미로운 어린 시절 이후"쓴 - 난 경찰이 어구 싶습니다 왜냐하면 너무 길고 흥미로운 어린시절을했다 -하지만, 중간 소득 남부 가족이되는, 우리가 프라이드 치킨과 콘브레드을 먹었어요. 내가 새우 칵테일과 캐비어를 전에 그것은 년거야 -하지만 그들은 좋은 거지!

그리고 지금, 퇴직 후, 우리는 콘브레드으로 되돌있다. 운만 좋으면, 맥아더 장군처럼 어쩌면 좀 더 열심히 일한다는 몇 년 더,,, 우리는 반환하여야한다.

위대한 재즈 가수, 펄 베일리 한번 "나는 가난한 쫓아 다 녔지만이 풍부한 부자가 낫다"고 말했다.

제 이야기는 관심있다면 그것은 누구와 내가 관련된되었습니다 재미있는 사람들만 때문입니다. 이러한 이유로, 저는 많은 이야기를 세겠죠, 이름을 명명하지 않고 몇 몇은 "그렇게 결백하지 보호하기 위해."

나는 과거는 후자보다 전자가 더 때문입니다 앞으로보다 더에 연연하는 경우.

내가 시작 장소는 처음 이네요. 난 애쉬빌, 노스캐롤라이나에서 태어나 멜빈 블레이락 Tilson 주니어 이것은 내가 지난 몇 년 동안 나와 함께 갇혀있다 별명 "찰리"을 얻기에 충분한 원인라는.

어머니는 메리 레이건, 제이 레이건과 Weaverville, 노스캐롤라이나의 캐롤린 피켄스는 8 아동의 막내 였어요 - 그들 중 대부분은 "사촌"또는 "아줌마"또는 "삼촌"이라고 언급했다 500명의 메트로 폴리스 경우에도있을 수 가족 연결되지 않았을. 이것은 그 당시 존경의 표시했습니다. 그것은 또한 이상한 방법으로 유용 왔어요. 프랭크 삼촌 위버는 메인 스트리트에있는 벤치에 앉아하는 데 사용. 그는 중순 비트 라운드 먹은 때문에, 그는이 모든 방법을 그의 바지 지퍼 없습니다. 나중에 가족의 남성 멤버 중 하나는 우리는 "안녕, 프랭크 삼촌은"그리고 그 범법자 그가 잊고 있었는지 바로 깨닫게 말을했다 지퍼 잊지 때요.

아빠 레이건, 우리는 우리 할아버지라는로서, 일명 "미국에서 여덟째 순위 수학자."이 허용되었고 그것은 그의 사망 기사에 나타났습니다. 하지만 - 나이 10에 대해에, 나는 "? 어떻게 평가 수학자를"조회수 대 회 박쥐에 의해 계산됩니다 타격 챔피언 자신에게 물어 시작했다. 졸업생 대표는 성적의 합계에 의해 결정됩니다하지만 당신이 어떻게 수학자를 차지하나요?

이전으로 성장 내가 진화 생각하는 제목이 어떻게 생각 밖에.

이상한 친구들 회관은 지역 수집 장소 및 Weaverville에있는 사람을위한 사교 클럽되었다. 여기에 그들은 담배 및 재생 dominos을 씹을 수 있습니다. 난 정말이 게임을 이해가 안하지만 나는 그들이 그것을 연주 방법은, 그것은 수학적 운동 걸 알 수 있죠. 그는 좋은했기 때문에 아빠는 일반적으로 원. 그는 예일과 하버드 대학에서 교수와 대응 그리고 그들이 해결하는 서로 문제를 보냈습니다. 그럴 줄 알았다고 그는 한밤중에 뛰어 것이 그의 야간 셔츠에이 문제에 대한 답변을 작성하고 다시 잠을 청하기로, 그러나 말했다 - 이것은 아직 순위 답변을하지 않습니다.

난 철저하게 "Fessor"레이건, 그룹 중 하나에 의해 구타 후 아마도 "Fessor 정말 똑똑한 말했다 시각화. 그는 "국내 최고의 수학자해야합니다. 그리고 다른 대답 "글쎄, 난 몰라, 아인슈타인 같은 꼬마 친구 있는데 그는 꽤 똑똑." 그리고, 토론 후, 그들은 그가 최고의 것 같지 않다고하지만 그는 숫자 8 동의해야합니다. 그것은 내 이론인데 아마 3 번 있었어요 - 누가 알겠어?

대학 교수가 더 악화된다면 그들은 지금보다 유료 있기 때문에, 아빠는 레이건은 또한 서베이했고 그는 보육원과 작은 농장을했다. 그것은, 그것은 과일 나무, 농장 토지와 목장 용지가 있었나요 진짜 산들에 비해 작았지만 그는 그의 집 뒤에 있었어요 함부르크 산을 소유. 그는 또한 국가 햄은 완치되었습니다 연기 집을했다. 이건 내가 제일 좋아하는 고기 남아있다.

그는 과일 나무를 접목과 실험을했기 때문에, 루터 버뱅크 제가 바라 는게을 읽고 있었다. 내 기억은 그 시절 이후로 제대로 날 서비스를 제공하고있다면, 그는이 같은 나무에 사과, 배나무, 체리와 복숭아를했다 한 나무를했다. 난 계속 생각하지 않지만, 즉 그것이 이식할되었습니다 년 동안, 과일의 모든 식용되었다.

감리 전도자의 긴 라인의 후손 - 엄마 레이건, 옛날의 하나님 경외 부인했다. 하나 일요일, 아빠 레이건 (티비도없고 그때 거기 있었어) 라디오에 월드 시리즈를 듣고 헛간에서 몰래 그 기억. 엄마가 안식일을 위반 몹시 그를 berated. 아빠가 대답했다 "하지만 아무도 날 볼 수있을." 어떤 엄마가, "주님 께서 당신을 볼 수"대답했다.

자주, 내가 아주 어렸을 때, 어머니의 형제 자매와 그들의 아이들이 전부 레이건의 집에서 저녁 식사를 (이것은 중반 하루 식사 였어요) 것입니다. 다수 있기 때문에, 우리 아이가 두 번째 테이블에 먹었습니다. 내가 케이크 싫어를 개발한 온 것입니다. 엄마 레이건의 코코넛 케익은 사하라 사막처럼 건조되었고 약 슬라이스 1 일 8 킬로의 거구. 우리 엄마는 내가, 나의 친애하는 앤에게 말했지만 내 인생에서 그렇게 적이 요리에서이 위대한 기술을 물려받았을 것 같았다 "왜 엄마처럼 요리를 못하는거야?"

내가 아빠 레이건에 연연하고 싶지 않아하지만 난 계속해서 갈 수있다. 그래서 - 더 많은 것들이 단지 몇.

한때 그와 그의 아들은 그 당시 막내가 6 살되는 울타리의 일부를 복구하는 함부르크 산으로 오르기 시작했다는 겁니다. 막내, 난 그것이 "설교"는, 여러 다른 사람과 아빠와 함께 앞에서이었습니다 뒤에 몇 가지 방법이라고 생각합니다. 갑자기 피가 curdling 비명이 있었고, 그리고 아빠가 산에을 실행하기 시작했다. 그는 끔찍한 비극이 있다고 생각하고 그는 외쳤다 "무슨 일이에요?"(나는 그래디 생각) "설교"와 있던 오래된 하나는 다시 외쳤다 "그는 자신의 발가락에 망치로 떨어졌다."

아빠는 "계단을 올라가서 그 소년을 죽인거야."그의 아내가 말했다 이제 어디서부터 직장에서 그가 돌아오면, 빌 코스비 루틴을 생각나게 "망치, 그리고 그 아이를 죽여 버려! 받아!"다시 고함으로 응수

엄마 레이건 떨어졌다와 나는 해병대에 떨어져있는 동안 그녀의 엉덩이 부러 졌어요. 그때 말한대로 그녀는하지만, 치매되었고 지금은 그것이 내가 중국에서 반환하기 전에 알츠하이머 병. 불행히도, 그녀가 죽었다고 알고.

아빠 레이건은 더 수년 동안 지속적인 고속도로를 횡단하는 동안 차에 치어 죽었어요. 차가 신혼 부부에게 물론 주도했다, 그들이 황폐화되었다. 오늘, 가족은 아마도 고소했을 거대한 총액을 요구했다. 그 당시, 나는 우리가이 도덕로 돌아갈 희망, 어머니의 가족, 부부 사과 나이 85에 그가 보이지 않았거나 너무 잘 듣고, 그들은 어떤 방식으로 책임에 있었다고 설명했다.

부분은 내가 가장 마음에와 에뮬레이트하는 희망, 그가 여자 친구를 보러가는 도중에 보도 되었기 때문입니다. (모든 권리 애니, 잘했다고 실실 그만, 난 당신이 조지 거쉰의 조정을 생각하고있다는 것을 알고는 "반드시 그렇게하지 않습니다"라는 가사 말 즉 "므두셀라지만, 900 년을 더 살면서 미친 '의 사용을 때 일어나는 아니 여자 않습니다 9백년의 어떤 남자에 제공합니다. ") 난 못해 난 꿈 수 있나요?

자, 레이건 일족의 어머니의 세대를 통해 빠르게 실행하자 :

가장 오래된 애나 리 (우리 어린이라는 그녀의 "키") 이었어 - 그녀는 그녀가 그 결과, 아주 헛된과 배우되었고 이로 인해 이런말해서 죽일거야 살아있다면. 그녀는 브로드 웨이 근처에도 못하지만 그녀는 보스턴에서 공부를했고 현지 및 지역 연극에서 활발한 활동을했다. 나는 그녀가 마지막으로 체로키 인디언의 크로니클했다 "원했어요이 언덕"이라는 생산 였을 겁니다. 그녀는 몇년동안이에서 연주도 Hubert 헤이즈, 노스캐롤라이나 대학에서 극작가에 의해 쓰여진 "긴밀한 바지"라는 성공적인 연극에서 주연.

열쇠의 딸 메리 매들린했다. 열쇠는 20 년 내 어머니, 엄마와 마리아 매들린 (음식!)보다 나이가 없었기 때문에 실제로 함께 자랐습니다. 이것은 아마도 "마운틴 보이스는"6 '키 크고, 엽총 totin'bootleggers 삼촌이 한 곳에서 Rufe라는 옛날 연재 만화 같은데. 삼촌 Rufe는 기저귀에 약 6 개월 있었어 -하지만 그것이 가족 계획 전에 옛날에했던 방법입니다.

Key는 Scroup 스타일은 (당신이 이름을 사랑하지 마십시오?) 결혼

엘마 (우리가 Tante를 누가 전화) 간호사했다. 그녀는 변호사와 결혼과 높은 포인트에 살았던, 우리는 "삼촌 Nobe"이라고 노스캐롤라이나를 그녀의 남편, Xenobious 워커 선정되었습니다. 나는 그의 진짜 이름을 발견하고 나서, 멜빈이 그렇게 나쁜 소리는하지 않았다.

어머니는, 마리아, 음악적 재능과 함께 하나였습니다. 그녀는 년 동안 감리 교회에 독주자, 그리고 대부분의 사람들에게 알려지지 않았다, 그녀는 이제 "노숙자"라고 무슨 장례식에서 불러주 셨던. 나는이 문제를 발견했을 때, 내가 자랑스러워했다.

내 모성 삼촌이 있었다 :

그래 디는 - 하나의 세계 대전에있는 육군되었다 아마도 USO의 전신인했다. 그는 프랑스 전선에 있던 다음과 전쟁에 대한 노래를 썼다 보냈습니다 주위에 그들은 나머지 지역에 있었을 때 군대를 대접합니다. 그는 나중에 출판 되었음 "피의 전쟁"이라는 노래를 지었어, 이것은 많은 구절과 간단한 노래 시대에 적용했고 나중에 친구들을 위해 parodies을 남기려면 그것 오랜 세월를 사용했습니다.

나중에 그는 위원의 현 이사회 의장했다. 이것은 정치적인 직업 분명 중요했다. 그 당시지만, 아마도 아니 노스캐롤라이나 인기를 끌기위한 연설 카운티에 공화당 명이 치열한 경쟁가 발생했습니다. 두 파벌은 "반지"와 "안티 반지"로 알려져 있었다. 반지는 디콘 그린에 의해 제어되었다. 그는 선거 사무실을 개최하지 그리고 그는 Langren 호텔에서 살았지만, 아무것도 패배했을 디콘. 디의 승인없이는 사고 때문에 전 정말 그 이후에 무슨 짓을했는지 모르겠어요. 나는 이모 그레이스, 그의 아내, 아이비의 백화점에서 근무 그걸 어떻게 알아. 아마 디는 그 이후로 아무것도 못했어요.

그의 아들은 그래디, 주니어와 고든했다. 그래디 주니어, 뛰어난베이스 목소리를 가졌었는데으로 그의 아버지를 저지른 뒤 교회 합창단에서 노래. 내가 마지막으로 그는 재향 군인의 관리에 대한 근무, 들었어요. 고든은 UNC로 농구 장학금을 셨고 난 채플 힐에 마지막으로 그를 보았다. 나는 중국에서 돌아왔다 내 교육을 마무리 할 수있는 병사 빌을 활용되었고 그는, 젊은되고, 그냥 유엔 사령부 입력한했다. 내가 들어본 마지막으로, 그는 파키스탄에서 외교적 서비스에 있었어요.

롭 - "내 생각 그의되었습니다 이름이 로버트하지만 난 몰랐지만, 아무것도"삼촌 롭. 롭 측량되거나, 우리가 지금 말하는대로, 시민 엔지니어. 그는 아주 성공적으로 그는 엄마와 아빠 레이건 뒤에 직접 집을 지어졌습니다. 바비와 글로리아 (저런 형광) - 아빠와 앤트 벨은 두 명의 아이가 (우리가 개미 발음). 바비는하지만 치과 의사가되고 싶었 어떤 이유로 그것을 만든 적이. 내가 들어본 마지막으로, 그는 모튼 소금에 대한 세일즈맨했다. 글로 버지니아 비치에서 자동차 대리점을 가진 사람이 결혼했다. 도미니카 공화국 때 그랬 었지에, 그녀와 그녀의 남편이 (내가 부끄러워하는가 [MT1] 내가 그의 이름을 기억하지 않음) 휴가 골프 캄포에 대한 드 온에 카사. 좋은 사람.

어니스트 - 삼촌은 "어니"는 골키퍼 있던 책. 그는 숙모 졸라 (우리는 멋진 이름이 없었나요?) 4 자녀를했다. 하나는 지진아 "홈"에 넣어되었습니다. 장남은 일레인, 유쾌한 분이 었어요. 내가 해병대에, 그들은 저녁 식사에 자신의 집에 초대 캠프 Lejeune에 있었을 때 그녀는, 그리고 해양 선장과 결혼. 내가 일병 때부터 그 후, 우리는,하지만 영화를 보러 갔지. 그리고 그가 선장, 우리는 헤어졌다. 난 계단 앉아서 그들은 경찰의 섹션에있는 발코니에 토 오늘이 아마도 "차별"이라는 것입니다하지만 그것은 올바른 생각합니다.

어니스트 주니어 (버드)와 짐 두 소년되었습니다. 버드와 내가 같은 시대의중인, 아마도 내 남자 사촌 어느 누구보다 더 가까이 있었다. 버드, 더러운하지만 재미, 농담 특히, 마스터 농담 계원했다. 그는 해군 채플린으로 생을 마감 - 그리고 아주 좋은. 불행히도, 그는 40 대 초반에 사망했다. 우리는 채플 힐을 떠난 후 난 결코 그를 보았다.

, 난 그에게 가까이되지 않은 나이 차이가 살때부터 짐,하지만 나 같은 해양였다. 내가 가진 마지막으로 연락 잭슨빌에서왔다, 플로리다 짐 레이건 일족의 크로니클을 시작 관절염과 많은 시간이 게인스빌, 플로리다 그는의 재향 군인 병원에 감금되었다에 대한 심각한 사건을 입었했다. 내가 전화 번호를 가지고 있지 않지만 그가 그것에 아직도 있는지 찾으려고한다.

캐롤 - 우리는 "이라는 그를"삼촌 설교. 어렸을 때 그는 숲에 들어갈 수 있도록 사용하기 때문에 설교를 설교 그는이 이름을 지었어. 이것은 분명 엄마 레이건의 가족의 일부 분인 관련 "회로 라이더"의 방문에서 왔어. 현지 은행에서 은행원으로 근무 작은 숙녀 - 설교는 "아줌마 앤"결혼했다. 그녀는 현지 은행에서 은행 강도 사건의 피해자, 엽총과 마스크로 완벽했다. 이것은 존 딜린저의 시간 여부는 딜린저 또는 기타 사소한 도둑, 우린 몰라어요 -하지만 그것이 오래된 존라고 생각 흥분했다.

그들의 유일한 어린이 수지했다. 수지가 정말 우리가 어렸을 때별로 친하지 않았보다 약 2 년만 더 젊었 으면. 그러나, 이유는 우리 둘 다, 알 수없는 그리고 비록에 대한 우리가 자란 후에 서로 이상 한 두 번, 우리는 "좋아하는 사촌"을 본 적이되었다. 수지 Sealand에서 말콤 McLean에 대한 집행되었다 대단한 사람 결혼. 나는 그들이 코네티컷과 그들의 오래된 아들에 살았들은 마지막 해군 소위되었습니다. 나는 또한 그들을 찾으려고한다.

Scruggs - (이 이름은 시간이 좀 더 나은 모두). 삼촌 Scruggs 결혼 "숙모 머틀". 그는 Evansville, 난 단지 Weaverville 드문 방문 봤어요 그래서 제가 태어나기 전에 인디애나로 이사. 그들은 한 아들, 짐했다. 난 여름에 Weaverville 한 이개월 체류에, 그는 체중을 얻기 시작, 그 밖에 있기 때문에 기억 해요. 그는 "이것은 내가 지금까지 살면서 먹어본 것 중 최고의 우유는"말했다 전까지는 아무도 이것을 이해할 수 있습니다. 엄마 & 아빠 레이건 소으며 냉장고에 순수한 크림 투수를 두었고. 짐 하루에 몇 잔을 마시되었다. 콜레스테롤에 대해 이야기! 제가 짐 들어 마지막, 그는 라스베가스에서했다.

요약하면, 어떤 사람이 두 심각, 고체 시민했다 "내 어머니의 형제 고 말했다. 하나는 위스키를 좋아 하나는 여성을 좋아한 나머지 둘 다 맘에 들었어요. "말할 필요도없이, 난 이름으로 그들을 식별하지 않습니다.

엄마의 가족에 대한 됐어. 내 아버지의 측면에 빨리 움직여.

그는 내 아버지가 14 살 때 죽었 거든 난 절대 내 아버지 할아버지를 알았어요. 이러한 이유로, 아빠는 절대 학교를 완료 -. 나는 그가 7 학년에 간 것 같아 그는 내 멋진 삼촌, 닥터 위버이에 대한 버그를 운전하기 시작했다 나중에 진화 내 아버지의 별명이 "리틀 닥"의 기원했습니다 단순히 "선생님."

내 아버지의 할머니가 Essie Penland했다. 내가 Essie 진짜 이름이 아닌 것 같아하지만 그건 우리가 아는 한 전부에요. 이것은 양 Essie는 더 이상 그녀의 하숙집을 실행할 수 있도록 사회 보장의 일 전에했다, 그녀는 우리와 함께 살아왔다. 내가 "할머니 Tilson"에 대한 기억이 상황은 그녀가, 내가 약 7 살 때 그녀의 무릎에 나를 토 때 내게 성경 이야기를 읽을 수 있었다. 또한, 그녀는 그들이 여름에 수박을 제공 장소로 전차에 데려다하는 데 사용. 난 아직도 수박을 사랑 해요. 그녀는 우리와 함께 살아있는 동안 할머니가 돌아가셨어요. 그녀는 우리가 2 베드룸 집을했기 때문에 잠을 자지 몰라. 나의 소중한 자매 "틸"난 우리 부모님이 다른 있었 한 침실을 공유했습니다. 어디 할머니 잠을나요? - 난이 순간까지 이것에 대해 생각도 못했어요!

조지와 Essie 5 자녀를했다. 가장 오래된 그럼, 아빠 멜빈, 그때 독일군의 거대한 대포, 에드거와 해리엇 삼촌 조지했다. 가족의 이러한 측면 또한 훌륭한 이름을했다.

조지 이모 마리안과 결혼 - 양키, 덜도 말고. 그들은 어떤 아이가 없었지만, 스코티 개했다. 개가 죽었했기 때문에 그들은 어느 날 밤, 미친듯 집에 왔어요. 그들은 아니 편도선이 시간에 제거 했었했기 때문에 그들은 죄책감을 느꼈다. 그의 개를 파운드 또는 길에서 와서 테이블 스크랩을 먹고 우리의 나머지는, 수술에 대한 의사에게가는 강아지를 구상하지 못했습니다.

내가 최근 아줌마 마리안은 97 세의 나이에 여전히 살아있다는 걸 정말 "그걸로"아니, 내 사촌 프레드 리브스부터 들었어요. 나에게 이것을 모아요.

에드거 검은 양되었습니다. 그는 결혼을 한 아이도 가졌어요, 독일군의 거대한 대포 앤. 독일군의 거대한 대포 앤 해리엇과 몇 년 동안 살았습니다. 뭐 나중에 무슨 일이 난 몰라.

독일군의 거대한 대포 좋았어요. 우리는 그녀의 숙모 Tillie를 (- Tilson에서 파생된 별명 그녀의 남편은, 프레드, 주신 여자)라고. 그들은 Weaverville에 테니스 코트와 Reems 크릭에 산속에 통나무집이있는 멋진 집이 있었다. 이 속성은하고 있었는지 아마도 여전히 남자와 여자를위한 전용 캠프는 캠프 세코 이아를 adjoined. 프레드, 그가 우리가 요즘 말을 어떻게 은행이 모두 공황 기 때에 실패하기 시작 때 Weaverville에있는 은행에서 일한 적? - 이러고?

이 후, 그들은 (또는 손실) Weaverville에있는 집을 팔고 통나무집으로 이동. 그들은 하나에 살면서 다른 빌렸어요. 그들은 옛날 방식으로 만들어진 로그 통나무집,되었지만 매우 음식은 봄 하우스에 보존되어 있다고 배관은 우리가 "조니 하우스 백합"라는 꽃에 둘러싸인 산책하기 좋은 건물 후였다 편안했다.

그들의 두 아이는 프레드 (Junie)와 메리 엘리자베스 (Libba)했다.

I recently spoke with Fred and he had just celebrated his 80th birthday. He said he did not have many friends because he did not like old people. Fred played on the tennis team at NC State, perhaps a result of having a court at his house. He was a captain in the Air Force in World War II and after the war moved to California and entered the real-estate business. I think he still dabbles in this. I hope to see him if my housing project in Tijuana develops because he lives near San Diego.

Libba married a merchant marine officer and had one daughter which she named “Eve” because she was the first girl in her husbands family for several generations. I have lost touch with them completely and, since Libba was older than Fred, perhaps she is no longer alive.

Harriet married John Brady, an engineer. They produced two sons, John and George. John and Harriet were divorced and Harriet ended up in New York working for the government. She passed away some years ago. George lives somewhere in New England but John died quite young. He was editor of the newspaper in Franklin, NC – a town quite similar to Weaverville.

I had a special affection for Aunt Tillie because, when I was about 10 years old I use to climb the trees behind one of her cabins and walk on the huge grape vines which grew in these trees. She would not let Uncle Fred cut these grape vines because “Charlie likes to climb on them”.

우리가 결혼했다 직전 - 난 우리가 약혼 때 선실 내 사랑스러운 앤했다. 내가 그랬었대로, 그녀는 산에와 매혹되지 않았음을 몰랐어요, 그리고 우리가 크릭을 통해 포도 덩굴에 스윙 것을 주장했다. 그녀는 그 과정에서 그녀의 다리를 잘라 그리고 이것은 포도 포도나무에 그녀의 마지막 벤처했다. 그녀는 현관에서 그네에 자자하지만, 않았고 정말로 그것이 완전한 손실 아니 었어 그렇게 편안하게.

- 지금이 사람의 모든 후, 함께 "작은 멜빈"온다. 내가 1925년 1월 4일에 태어나 그것은 다이애나의 불의의 죽음을보고 후에, 어제 날 때리지도 수녀님 테레사는 나이 87에 죽은 마리아 수녀님 테레사는 내 앞에 불과 15 년 태어났습니다. 이 크로니클 완료 서둘러야했다!

하지만, 아마 믿지 않는, 잘 조디악의 일반적인 특성에 관심 - 난 믿어왔다. 전 염소자리이고 일반적인 특성을 모두 "염소"우리에 기인합니다. 난 레오와 결혼하고 그녀는 "암사자"의 특징을 모두 가지고 - 공주님을 정글.

오히려, 그리고 때로는 순진 완고한 개인 plodding 아르 우리는 Capricorns 이후, 나의 첫번째 기억은 피팅입니다.되면 난 우리가 내가 태어난 직후에 이사를 했었는데 Weaverville, 우리의 집 옆에있는 분야에서 놀고 있었는데, 나는 게시물 구멍에 들어갔다 . 그것은 나오지 않을 것이라고 내 친구가 발 아래로 향하고 있지만 하단에있는 밖으로 평평 갔다. 기타, 아마도 더 많은 감정적인 도움 비명 생각보다 밝게. 내가 놓친되기 전까지는, 무딘 염소자리으로, 사일런트 서 있었다. 그래서 emotionless 아니라 어머니가, 현장에 와서 소리 은색 숟가락으로 날 찾아 냈어.

내 다음 기억은 내가 애완용 염소를했다고했다. 아버지는 소방차와 이것을 당겨 수있는 염소 모양 수레를 세웠습니다. 그리고 저도 물론보다 더 똑똑 나이가되었습니다 내 사촌을, "찰리 건데, 당신은 여기있어 들어와 모든 긴급 전화 기다 우리가합니다 마차를 타고 일어나고있는 화재를 조사. 이후 여러 번 "에 속게"나는 그 당시 그들을 믿었지만,이되지 않도록 나를 계속했다. "

내 다음 기억은 우리가 애쉬빌로 이사 왔을 때와 Merrimon 번가에서 집을 임대합니다. 난 겨우 6 살 난 내 방에 이젤에 작은 블랙 보드를했다는 기억지만 난 그림을 그리고있는 흰 분필의 한 조각을했다. 중앙 감리 교회, 한국에서하는 일요 학교에서 있었 색 분필. 내가 훔친!

아주 현명가되는, 그 다음주 수요일에 대해서까지 내 방에서 이것을 숨겼다. 그럼 - 난 발이 걸려 넘어 아래로 떨어진 마당에 놀고있는 동안. 난 바닥에서 다가와서 "내가 걸려 넘어 졌보고 떨어졌다과 색깔 분필 한 상자에 착륙"현관에 있었다 부모님에게 말씀 하셨다.

물론 그들은 분필 3 일 주일 학교에서 누락되어 있다고 알고 있고 충분히 발전 기다 기민한했다. 내가 자백 - 난이 분필을 찾는 것이 었죠 얼마나 행운인지 그리고 그것은 거기 갔을지도 모르지 방법으로 신중 질문 말해 후. 나는 분필 다음주 일요일 반환하고 그 이후 아무것도 훔친 적이 없습니다. 이걸로 도망 갔을했다 아마도 있거나 제가 6 살때부터 감옥에 있었다면, 나는 범죄 확인된 것입니다.

덧붙여, 중앙 감리 감독의 교회 - 남부 모임 흑인에 의미가 그게 더있었습니다.

익살꾼의 어느정도 알려진 아빠가, 우리는 집세 때문에 왔을 때마다 이동 그렇게 말씀 하셨 었죠. 이것은 사실이 아닌 내가 8 살 때 우리는 6 콜맨 번지로 옮겼습니다. 이것은 멀리 마일 정도 있었지만 그것이 또 다른 이웃했기 때문에 친구의 완전한 새로운 세트를 가지고 것이라는 의미.

내가 6 콜맨 번가의 많은 추억이 있습니다. 그것은 원칙 바닥에 있지만 지하 차고로, 어쩌면를 700평방피트 작은 집이 있었어요. 우리는 2 개의 침실을했다. 엄마와 아빠가 하나 있었는 제 여동생과 두 번째을 공유했습니다. 할머니 Tilson 그녀가 우리와 함께 살아 왔을 때 잠을 어디서, 난 모르겠어요.

내 아버지는 항상 그가 옛 서부와 영화의 카우보이에 빠져 있다고 생각하기 때문에 "바가"를 갖고 싶었어요. 레크 리에이션 공원 라운드, 범프 자동차, 대관람차 등 그것은 또한 조랑말 타고 있었가는 메리, 동물원을했던 1930의 테마 파크 중 하나였다. 아버지는 그들이 그것을 먹이면 그것들을 돌봐야 조랑말을 타고의 소유자는 누구 공원을 닫을 때 겨울 동안 유지하는 조랑말을 들여 보내 주곤 것으로 나타났습니다.

그는 나를 조랑말 있어요. 어머니와 동생이 너무 기뻐 아니었지만 아빠, 내 친구였다!

우리 집은 작은했지만, 많이 돌아 300피트에 대해 갔다. 우리는 임대 재산에 있던하지만 아빠는 차고 문을 가져다가 내 조랑말 "필리스"에 대한 안정의 측면들을 위해 사용 - 일명 "필".

그것은 당신이 조랑말이있을 때 얼마나 많은 친구가 놀랍습니다.

필 풀어과 제 동생이 고등학교에 떠나기 전에 문법 학교를 떠난 이후로 얻을하는 데 사용되는, 그녀는 필을하고 안정적인 그녀를 돌아오게 Merrimon 거리까지 이동했다. 필은 항상 틸의 밟으 듯하고, 말을 알지 못했다는 또한 그들을 싫어하는, 틸 당신이해야하는 모두가 발목을 데리러이며 발을 올려 몰랐어요. 난 그녀가이 경험의 일부 저속한 단어를 배운 것 같아요.

동시에, 난 개, 고양이, 자그마한의 암탉과 수탉의 자그마한했다. 개가 고양이가 8 새끼 고양이를 가졌다는 매우 관대했다 12. 내 어머니의 종족을 세웠지 bantams 6 새끼를했다.

At that time I started my first commercial venture. I sold magazines from door to door – Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal. I was not very good at this so I was not successful. The only one worse than I was my neighbor, Billy Charnuckle. His approach was to say to whomever answered the door “You don't want to buy any magazines do you?” They would of course say “No” and shut the door.

When I was about 11 we moved to Murdoch Avenue. This was the favorite place I lived while growing up. It was a small house – one floor with a basement, part of which was a garage. It had 3 bedrooms, two of which were formerly a large sun porch so there were windows all around. Off of the living room there was a large storage closet with exit to a small balcony. I chose this for my room rather than one of the bedrooms. It had room for my bed, plenty of shelves and not much more but it was private and cozy. It had a few disadvantages not for me but for others. My sister, being 4 years older, quite often had company and dates. They were in the living room and to get from my “hideaway” to the bathroom, it was necessary to pass through the living room. I went to bed early, since I was carrying newspapers on a morning route and for me to get up about 11:00 pm and traipse through the living room in my underwear was quite disconcerting to my sister, particularly when she was trying to impress the latest “love of her life”.

The main reason I liked this house was the neighborhood. It was known as “Norwood Park” and there was an abundance of kids of all ages. Across from my house was an area which we called “The Woods”. It was perhaps about 5 acres of trees with a creek running through it and a corn field on the other side.  Each summer we built a dam across this creek and created a swimming hole. This was supervised by the older members of the group who were at least 15 years old. The rest of us, ranging from age 8 to 14, were the common labor.  The creek was perhaps 8 feet wide and about 1 or 2 feet deep during normal times. Our procedure, which wasn't bad for a group of kids, was as follows:

We cut down a tall tree – perhaps 30 feet tall with a diameter of perhaps 12 or 15 inches. This we laid across the creek to reach the banks of the creek which were about 5 feet above the creek level. We staked this log down at each end so that it could not move in either direction.

We then began to scrounge all over the neighborhood and any nearby construction site for any lumber which was not tied down. As I write this I realize that we were probably stealing but we never thought of picking up a loose piece of lumber as theft even though we usually did this at night.

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.

크릭 선셋 마운틴에있는 온천에서 시작하고 그 로브 파크 인의 앞에 애쉬빌 컨트리 클럽 골프 코스를 통해 흘러. 우리 수영 구멍을 통과 후과 교외를 통해 meandered 스트림 15 마일 아래로, 그것은 농장 토지를 통해 흘러. 은 물 일 세번째에 대하여 그의 라이브 재고는 지류에서 물이 점점되지 않은 이유를 알기위해 상류 걷는 농부가있을 것입니다. 우리는 이것은 (밤에 제외) 차오르고있는 동안 우리는 항상 댐 위에 근무있는 사람이있다 그래서 이럴줄 알았어. 농부가 필연적으로 도착 것이다 때, 신호가 나가기도했다 하나이 근처에 "단 하루만 더"를 기다리는 그에게 간청 온 것입니다. "아저씨, 우리의 댐을 아프게하지 마세요." 그들도되었습니다 아이를했기 때문에 그들은 절대 그러지 않았지.

오버플로가 축제 행사했다. 단어 댐은 자정에 대한 흐름을 거라고 전체 이웃 "에 나가서! 우리는 보통 그들이 동의 아주 자주 우리를 동반하고 시계를 풀어 우리 부모님을 구걸 했지.

이 수영 구멍에 수영을 배우고, 내가 바닥을 치는 않고 찻잔에 다이빙 수 있으므로 얕은 이후. 이른 아침에지만 확실히 결정되었다 20 아이 후 늦은 오후에 그것이 어두운 갈색이었고, 바닥에서 진흙을 감동했다. 밤에는 우리가 나무의 작은 조각, 약 1 피트의 광장을 뒤집어쓰고 그 위에 조명이 촛불을 장소, 한 가장자리로 문자열을 넥타이나 연못에로 플로트. 불빛에 매료 프로그 스가, 나무에 점프하고 그들의 짝짓기 전화 그럼 내가 바라는 나가주세요. 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.

숲에서 연못의 반대편에있는 필드는 항상 옥수수에 심은되지 않았습니다. 때로는 감자를 심어 우리는 진흙으로 덮여 석탄에 몇 가지, 로스트들을 조사하고 잔치를했습니다. 난이도 도둑질했던 것.

우리는 나이가 충분히 가까이에 호환되도록하고 실제로 야구팀과 동네에서 풋볼 팀 필드 수 있었다, 동네 애들 꽤 큰 숫자를했다.

현재로서는 나는 신문 경로에했습니다. 이것은 아마도 청소년을위한 최고의 비즈니스 경험이지만 오늘은 존재하지 않습니다. 이것은 볼륨으로 다 다른 것처럼, 진화가 지금 젊은 사람이나 이민자들이 큰 지역을 통해 전달하기 위해 고용 자동차와 성인에 의해 처리됩니다. 나의 경로는 노동 계급 지구에 100 고객되었다. 그들은 오전 7:00에 일을하러 갔지요 오전 6 시까지의 조간 신문을 싶었어요. 그래서 - 난 4 시에 일어나서 : 오전 오전 6:00에 의해 완료, 1 시간 동안 잠을 청하기로 가서 학교에 가야 일어났어. 아니 학교, 또한 서류를 실시 친구, 거기 있던 여름 시간에 (우리가 아니 멈버였지) 컨트리 클럽에서 수영장에 와서 우리가 6 시에 수영을 아침입니다. 가끔은 경비가 밖으로 와서 불법 침입에 대한 우리를 위협하지만 그는 결코 총을 뽑아 우리는 peaceably 왼쪽.

I also got a job on the weekends as a clerk in McIntyre's Fruit Store. This was run by Joe McIntyre, his brother and a sister.  Leo, Joe's brother drove a semi trailer truck to Florida each week, returning with citrus from Indian River and Bananas from Central America which came in by boat to Miami. Nowhere else in Asheville was such fresh, quality fruit available because the supermarkets did not exist at that time. Joe also brought in exotic (for Asheville at that time) fruits and vegetables from California. These included avocados which my Mother dearly loved. Each pay day I would buy her one. At that time – 1940, they cost $1.00. I suppose that is about $20.00 today. Transportation has changed our eating habits because an avocado still costs about $1.00. At that time I hated avocados but after living overseas where they grow wild, I have developed a taste for them also – particularly in guacamole.

Since this was at the tail end of the depression, I had been taught to be very frugal – a trait I lost somewhere along the line  – and , unknown to my family I opened a savings account at the First National Bank of Asheville.  I paid my expenses from my paper route so when I received my check from McIntyre I put most of it in the bank.

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”. 생각해보세요.

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.

막사로 돌아오는대로, 그것은 우리를 누르십시오. 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.

Regards,

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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