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.