Sometimes I get a calls from people complaining about something I said during a newscast. As a rule, I do my best to “run up the middle,” when it comes to reporting. Admittedly, I find myself reworking an article posted by one of our news partners or the Associated Press, because I see it leaning…

One early afternoon, I was demonstrating to my then-girlfriend Cathy, how to fold my skivvies, tee-shirts and socks, military-style. When I say military-style, I’m talking about preparing clothing items in order to create more space in ones’ sea-bag. It’s uncertain if any of the military services teach this to recruits anymore. The skivvies (underwear for…

The mouse was caught in hole when I found it. Mom warned me not to pick it up or try to play with it. I didn’t listen and promptly stuck my hand in the hole to grab it. The mouse, defending itself, bit me several times. Mom trapped it in a glass jar and I…

It was a sunny, hot day as I drove out to meet my friend Greg Melton, better know to some as Straight Arrow. I had promised him I’d come out to the long forgotten mining town to help him shore up one of the wooden buildings whose foundation had started to crumble. The town was…

The Corporal who completed issuing me the required gear instructed me that I should jus’ wear my helmet instead of carrying it on my back. He explained that it was less weight in an already heavy sea-bag. Without giving it much thought I walked across base to the row of quonset huts where I knew…

We were on our way back to the United States. In 1956, Dad had been assigned to Chateauroux Air Force Station, France, where I was born four years later. Though I have vague memories of the trip, I do have several pieces of memorabilia saved from the crossing of the Atlantic. These include a menu,…

The downtown area was packed with a few thousand people for New Year’s eve. I had only been in town for a couple of weeks when I decided to go celebrate the turning of the year. As I was standing a little east of Virginia Street on Second, I heard a semi-familiar sound. It was…

It was our final inspection before graduating from a three wee indoctrination course in U.S. Marine Corps history and traditions. A major was completing the review and was giving me the once over. Having found no outward flaws with my uniform, he grabbed me my web belt, practically jerking me off my feet. He turned…

Northern Nevada was in the midst of one of the worst droughts in years at the time. And several beavers were starting to dam-up the cause-ways on NAS Fallon. The U.S. Navy decided to kill the animals because the trap and release system they had been using failed. At the time I was on the…

My brother-in-law and I had jus’ finished making a run to the dump when he pointed out a grove of avocado trees. I lamented that a bunch of the green fruits would be perfect for the evening upcoming meal. As quick as a flash, he made a u-turn and parked the truck along the side…