Elders, Respect and Decoration Day From my earliest years and recollections, my Mother taught me to respect and honor my elders. All elders were either “Grandmothers,” (ulisis ),“Grandfathers” (ududus), Aunts (elogis) or Uncles (edutsis). Somewhere around six years of age I think, my Grandfather and I were in his old truck headed to the Liberty Church […]

The weekend had been one of the field exercises where ROTC guys played Army out on Blood River, one of the many embayments on Kentucky Lake. It had been cold, damp, and miserable. However, as we packed up, everyone seemed reasonably satisfied with the performance. James Alphonso Caruso, or “Little Al” as we all called […]

I woke up this morning thinking about “Dove” after another restless night of PTSD compounded by an aching hip. That’s odd since I hadn’t thought of him in years; perhaps, it was the death of “Dr. T” that brought him to mind. “Dove” was the guy in front of me in line when I went […]

For the sake of privacy the names have been changed. The weekend had been one of field exercises where ROTC guys played Army out on Blood River. It had been cold, damp and miserable. However, as we packed up everyone seemed reasonably satisfied with the performance. James Alphonso Caruso, or “Little Al” as we all […]

From the back of Eddy Creek and Tranquilla 2 — Happy 4th of July. Let us remember the importance of this day and the many who have fought and died for our freedom. In this day and time, let’s not allow those who would rewrite our history forget that all of us who have defended […]

From the Back of Eddy Creek Bay – Tranquilla 2 — Some of you will be shocked by this but I agree with the President’s decision to accept the resignation of the General. Frankly, I would have fired him. “Gen. Stanley McChrystal, under fire for comments made in a Rolling Stone profile, has resigned as […]

Ben Stein’s final column — From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley — I have always liked this fellow Ben Stein. For some reason he just strikes me as the kind of guy you would like to sit and have a drink and some good conversation with maybe over a […]

Ben Stein’s final column — From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley — I have always liked this fellow Ben Stein. For some reason he just strikes me as the kind of guy you would like to sit and have a drink and some good conversation with maybe over a […]

UPDATE: I was mistaken. The ceremony was Friday not Saturday and my friend Rachel Vickery was kind enough to send a photo to reassure me there was a crowd. My apologies for jumping to an inappropriate conclusion based on lack of sufficient data. Dr. D. From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on […]

UPDATE: I was mistaken. The ceremony was Friday not Saturday and my friend Rachel Vickery was kind enough to send a photo to reassure me there was a crowd. My apologies for jumping to an inappropriate conclusion based on lack of sufficient data. Dr. D. From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on […]

(L-R) German Ace Franz Stigler, artist Ernie Boyett, and B-17 pilot Charlie Brown. Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is – one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up.. It was ready to fall out of the sky. (This is a painting done by an artist from the […]

(L-R) German Ace Franz Stigler, artist Ernie Boyett, and B-17 pilot Charlie Brown. Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is – one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up.. It was ready to fall out of the sky. (This is a painting done by an artist from the […]