Nora's Birthday

Today is our daughter Nora's birthday. She was born in the Crailsheim, Germany Krankenhaus (hospital) in the photo above. Also above is a scan of the announcement of her birth that we clipped from the local German newspaper. I feel safe including it because it doesn't mention the year. Wouldn't want to reveal the lady's age now would we? Nora brought a wonderful new light into all our lives. As she grew up and developed her mischeivous personality she became known alternatively by her brother Todd as "the Nazi", and her uncle Dean as "Tornado Jane." She quickly became a world traveller as she joined the family in the round the world odyssey known as life as an Army brat. Her first two years were spent in Germany, then we moved as a family to Yakima, Washington for almost 3 years. Then we moved just about as far across country as is geographically possible-to Fort Stewart, Georgia near Savannah. Two years later we were on the move again...this time to Hawaii. We were there two years where Nora and her siblings joined the ethnic minority that Caucasians comprise in our 50th state. From Hawaii the family made the Ozian trip to Kansas. We went first to Fort Leavenworth (the post, not the jail) for two years and then on to Fort Riley near Junction City, Kansas for my two year tour as a battalion commander in the Big Red One, 1st Infantry Division. By now Nora was finishing up Middle School, I couldn't find her cheerleader pictures. Then, sister Julie got married, brother Todd joined the Air Force, and Marsha, Nora and I were off to Korea. We spent two years there, and Nora finished up her freshman year in high school. Then off we went again for a one year trip to Carlisle Barracks, PA where I attended the Army War College, and Nora finished up her sophomore year in high school. Next we headed for Detroit, MI where I headed up the Maintenance Directorate of the Army Tank-Automotive Command and Nora expected to finish high school. The Army had different plans, as I was selected for brigade level command, and we were off to Sacramento Army Depot in Sacramento, CA. Nora finished high school there, in her 4th high school, C.K. McCatchy High School. She began her senior year being driven to and from school in an Army staff car. Her friends were worried that she was some kind of a Narc. Through all of this she was an excellent student, earning the honor of the National Honor Society, and attending a mock congress in Washington, D.C. Before she finished college she met and married a wonderful young man named Scott Thomas. Nora then found her true calling and destiny, giving birth to first Tanner, and then Madison. She turned all of her experiences and adversities into the talent and caring to become a consumate mother, homemaker, and career woman at the same time. She has been a financial manager with Verizon Wireless since her family moved to Texas in 1997. We are very proud of her. She is a loving, attentive daughter to us, and she has nurtured and developed her two children into a pair of fine young people. She and Scott have accomodated many enriching activities for the kids through the years. Tanner is an outstanding multi-sport athlete, and Maddy is a bright and talented young lady who has excelled in athletics, dance and singing. We love you Nora...have a wonderful birthday!

Veteran's Day

As we pause today to honor all those men and women who have served their nation in the armed services, we should say a special thank you to those souls serving at Fort Hood, Texas. What a horrific tragedy they endured last week! I am grateful to all the men and women who are serving now in these turbulent and troubled times. My son Todd is deployed in Afghanistan, and my grandson Brandon is getting ready to deploy to Africa with his unit. I am also grateful to my family for traveling the world with me as I served in the Army for 27 years. I am proud of them for sacrificing the stability and security that many of their friends enjoyed, and making the best of 25 moves that caused them to change schools frequently and cope with making new friends, and, in many cases learning strange customs and adapting to unique living conditions. From 1967-1993 we lived in Germany, Hawaii, Korea, California, Kansas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland, Washington, and Arizona. Todd and Julie attended 3 different high schools, and Nora holds the record, attending a different school each of her four years. Marsha ran the family and in many cases took care of other Army families during my time in Vietnam and during all of the many deployments and separations we endured through the years. Thanks you guys! I love you and appreciate the sacrifices you made so that I could be called "Veteran". Well here is the simple truth: you all deserve the distinction as well. God Bless you and God Bless America!

Maddy's Grandpa Mac

Today's guest blogger is my beautiful granddaughter, Madison Ann Thomas, age 12. Obviously she isn't 12 in this photo. This is a photo of Grandpa Mac holding her as a baby. Maddy was writing about a grandparent for a school assignment, and what follows is her remembrance of her great-grandfather Jack Preston McPherson, who passed away this year.

When my Grandpa Mac would tell a story he would say, “Come over here and let me tell you a windy.” So I’m about to tell a ‘windy’ about my Grandpa Mac. My Grandpa Mac was born in Bugscuffle, Arkansas. As a young boy he loved hunting and fishing, but he had to quit school in the eighth grade so that he could go to work for his family. The reason he had to do this was because he grew up in the Great Depression. My Grandpa Mac had to go away to find work, and was gone for many years. When he came back to Arkansas, as a young man, he saw a girl who had moved in next door to him, and said to himself, “I’m going to marry her some day.” Soon after they were married, and since there were still no jobs in Arkansas, my Grandpa Mac joined the army. He fought in World War II and the Korean War. He stayed in the army so long that they wanted him to fight in Vietnam, too. But he retired instead. Soon after that he moved to Oklahoma to be closer to his son and daughter and their kids. He had a huge garden there that grew all kinds of veggies. He also had a giant workshop where he did a lot of wood work. He built desks, tables, and wooden cars to name a few of what he built. My Grandpa Mac lived there for many years until he had health problems and had to move to Texas to be close to a VA Hospital. He lived here for many years until he died on January 20, 2009. We all miss him very much, his name was Jack Preston McPherson.

Folsom Middle School

As I was getting ready to retire from the Army in 1992, I was in a quandary about what to do with the rest of my life. As I investigated job possibilities I thought about a program we sponsored at Sacramento Army Depot to recruit teachers from qualified people who were leaving government service. I went out to observe several classrooms in the area, and I was really impressed with the Folsom-Cordova school district. I signed up for a crash course that resulted in a California teaching credential and a job teaching at Folsom Middle School beginning in the summer of 1993. I taught there for four years before moving to Fort Worth, Texas and continuing my teaching career in Texas. During those 4 years I met some of the greatest kids I have ever known. I have stayed in touch with some of them through the years, and I count them as dear friends, and I am proud to have been part of their lives. Jaguars Rule!

Niners Game

Marsha and I attended the Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers game yesterday in Houston. We were guests of my former student, Christopher Douglas. Christopher works for the Texans now in their community relations department, and is attending the University of Houston getting his Masters Degree on an NCAA academic scholarship. All of us who know him are extremely proud of his accomplishments on and off the athletic field. Chris joined us for dinner at Olive Garden on Saturday night, and made sure we were well taken care of at the game. He obtained a press pass for us which allowed us to spend pregame on the sideline. In all our years as NFL fans we have never had that opportunity before. Thanks Chris! The Texans were recognizing the Armed Services at the game, and the Army Golden Knights parachuted onto the field, and both former President's Bush were in attendance and were recognized. Everything was great except the outcome of the game: the Niners lost 24-21 after falling behind 21-0 in the first half. Fun weekend though, and it was great visiting with Christopher.

This is one of my favorite photos. It was taken in Korea during the Team Spirit training exercise in winter 1988.

The occasion was a visit by Korean President Roh Tae- woo, 1st row center(grey suit), to our 2d Infantry Division headquarters tactical operations center. The gentleman two persons to the right of President Roh is U.S. Ambassador to Korea, James Lilley. The visiting party included civilian and military Korean dignitaries. Our division commander, Major General Jack Farris is to the right of the President. I am in the top row center immediately underneath the crossed cannons of the M48A3 tanks. The President's visit lasted about an hur, but preparations took all day. We had Korean security people in every nook and cranny of our area of operations. There were armed snipers positioned throughout the hills surrounding the river bed where the photo was taken. Roh served as Korea's President until 1993. A former Korean Army General, he was arrested in 1996 and tried for his role in a military coup and massacre that occurred in 1979. He was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in jail. However, he was released in 1997 when he was pardoned by then Korean President, Kim Young-sam. And that friends and neighbors is my little family history lesson for today.

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Eat your heart out 49er fans! Marsha and I are attending the game on Sunday in Houston courtesy of a wonderful young man, Christopher Douglas. Christopher is a former student and current good friend who now works for the Houston Texans in Community Relations. We followed Christopher's football career through high school and college at Rice University. He has been wonderful in keeping in touch with us and getting us tickets to great sports events. Sunday is armed forces recognition day for the Texans, and Christopher is trying to get us sideline passes for pregame. If we get any cool pics I will post them here next week.