Haunting look from a young fighter pilot of World War II; He did not come home

I see this fellow often, about once a month, during my tours as a volunteer at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He is Donald Emerson just down from a mission flying his P-51 fighter plane over Germany during World War II. This photo was taken in November 1944. He was shot down and killed by ground fire about a month later on Christmas Day 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. The look on his face, well, I can't explain it, but it is haunting. He was 21 years old.
A niece wrote a good book about him, "Donald's Story." I recommend it. I learned from the book he is buried at a cemetery in Holland. One day I hope to visit his grave as well as the one of my uncle, Vernon Du Val. Vernon who was from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was killed during the battle for Normandy, I think like D-Day plus 13. He'd already been wounded when he went back into battle only to be killed again. What a tragedy war is for so many people, truly.

Submarine in Cleveland, Ohio? Who'd ever think it?

I first saw this one dark December night with snow softly falling.I couldn't believe it because I was passing through Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland, Ohio? The middle of the American Midwest? Sure enough, it was there then as it is now.
Then I was hitch-hiking from Ft. Devens, Mass., to Hobbs, New Mexico. And, then in the middle of that night on a ride someone gave me and a soldier buddy we could see this World War II era submarine. I couldn't see it then, but I can see now, as you can, the Japanese emblems on the coning tower to denote missions or ships sunk. It is the submarine USS Cod.

Ford Trimotor, see a true wonder of aviation

If you have never seen a Ford Trimotor, the very first commercial airliner in the United States, watch your newspaper. That is because if you live in the United States you most likely will get a chance to see the one flown around the country by the Experimental Aviation Association located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
I saw it and actually got to get close to it by being a volunteer the weekend it came to Columbus, Ohio. Being just that close to it was fun, and then seeing it take off, fly and land, well, if you like aviation you have to enjoy seeing this wonder of the sky actually fly. I say wonder because, it looks almost something like Jules Verne might have imagined. I say that because of its wavy metal surface, which the designers no doubt believed gave the craft strength. I also say that because of the general look of the plane, from the very interesting tail and the size of the three big engines, the one that sticks out the nose and the two that hang from the wings. Does the craft look interesting or what?
Oh, and the original had wicker seats and had direct connection with my hometown, Columbus, Ohio. That connection came when someone came up with the idea of marrying the Ford Trimotor to railroad service. What happened is people rode a train overnight from New York City, and once they got to Columbus, they boarded the Ford Trimotor. It then flew them, I think to St. Louis. Then they would board another train for the night, and the next morning be awakened for yet another flight in another Ford Trimotor. I do not recall how many hops like that it took to get to California, but it was much faster than going by train. I actually saw a television program about this service that featured Charles Lindburgh flying one leg of the trip.
Again, that is all gone, but the Ford Trimotor owned by EAA is still around for all to see and even fly. People here in Columbus paid $60 for a flight of maybe 15 or 20 minutes. And, they were lined up for the opportunity!

Gene Autry, a little boy's hero

I offer the link at the bottom to a wonderful song sang by the original singing cowboy, Gene Autry. I offer this not only because it is such a beautiful song, but because Gene Autry became someone special in my childhood. He remains special to me even today, and I am almost 70 years old.
He became special to me then because of his singing and because of his radio program I listened to every Saturday or maybe Sunday. His radio program always started and ended with his signature song, "I'm Back in the Saddle Again." I always cried when his program ended, too, though I couldn't tell you then why I did, and I can't tell you now. I also remember that in growing up in Seminole, Oklahoma, there were two kinds of kids: Gene Autry kids and Roy Rogers kids. Roy Rogers was also a singing cowboy. Me, I was always a Gene Autry kid, though in my later years I came to appreciate Roy Rogers for staying a singing cowboy all his life.
Gene became rich, real rich, left show business and, as I recall, bought and ran the California Angels baseball team for sometime. When he did that, I lost track of him generally. But, I still recall one night late a bus in which I traveled stopped in a small town. I chanced to open an eye to peak at a sign, and lo and behold, I was in Chelsea, Oklahoma. I remember then how pleased I was that I opened my eye to see that sign and to know of being in Chelsea, Oklahoma. That was because Chelsea is a town where Gene Autry worked as a telegraph operator for the Rock Island Railroad, and one night none other than Will Rogers came in to have is daily newspaper column telegraphed to New York.
The story goes that Gene played his guitar and sang a few songs for Will Rogers, and that Will Rogers subsequently encouraged Gene to take his talent to New York. I think it was New York, but wherever, he encouraged Gene.
The other thing I remember now in thinking back to all of this is that I stayed most summers at my grandmother's home near Choctaw, Oklahoma. And, on those cool Oklahoma summer nights when the whole world seemed so perfect I heard the train called the Rock Island Rocket clatter along its tracks as it passed through Saviche woods. And, when it did, it always blew its whistle, and when it did that the wolves in Saviche's woods began to howl..
Gene would surely have heard the Rock Island Rocket, and. maybe he even heard wolves howl when that train blew is whistle.I like thinking that.When It's Twilight On the Trail' by Gene Autry

C-119 in a movie? Who'd ever thought it?

Fun! Just caught a clip of a movie featuring an really ancient aircraft, the C-119 or "Flying Boxcar." It really flew in the movie, though the last time I saw one in use was at Ft. Yukon, Alaska. It was being used by the US Bureau of Land Management. Here is the one at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton.
I know of at least three pilots who say they flew it in to the museum, though the aircraft only required two. But, I think I know why so many can say that. When they flew the last C-141 into the museum, I was told six crews were aboard that.
This particular C-119 has a peculiar tail, one that opened like an alligator's mouth. It was used to snare a space craft coming to earth back in the 1960's.
The last unit I knew of personally that had the C-119 was a US Air Force Reserve Unit, the 302nd Tactical Airlift Wing, then at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. Lockbourne was later renamed Rickenbacker.

Dozens of Horse Drawn Wagons, Carriages Parade though Lebanon, Ohio

The first weekend of December is a special day in Lebanon, Ohio, a day when you can see dozens of horse-drawn carriages driven through the town by proud owners. How fun to see these vehicles and their special horses. Some of the houses go back to the 1840's and are interesting as well as fun to see. And, of course, you can never go to Lebanon without going to the Golden Lamb for dinner. After all, Charles Dickens, the famous British novelist, did! How great it all can be!

Beautiful Young Performers from Stephen Foster at Bardstown, Kentucky

These two beautiful young women roamed the streets of Bardstown, Kentucky not long ago to promote a summer production of Stephen Foster, the popular song writer of the 1800's. How beautiful they were. The musical performance was nice, too. Though interesting: very few really young people there. Mostly older, middle-aged.
To jog your memory, he is best known for his songs that continue to be heard today: "Oh! Susanna," "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair," "My Old Kentucky Home," "Old Folks at Home" (better known as "Swanee River," "Camptown Races," and "Beautiful Dreamer." I hope that wherever he is he can know people still enjoy what he did.

Best Frontier Village: In Bardstown, Kentucky

The people of Bardstown do an excellent job of presenting a frontier village, one from the late 1700's. There are log houses and even a mill. The "characters" or re-en actors I met the day I visited were knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Wish I were closer in, I'd be a re-en actor, too! Nice trip!

Kentuckians Killed by Santa Anna's Orders at Goliad

Bardstown, Kentucky, a beautiful, beautiful town south of Louisville, offers with many interesting sights. This, to me, was most interesting: a monument to 35 men of the Kentucky Mustangs, 1st Regiment Volunteers led by Capt. Burr Duval from Bardstown who went to Texas in 1836 to fight for Texas independence. Several hundred volunteers from all over the then United States, including the men honored by this monument, were surrendered to Mexican forces and were then executed by the Mexican General Santa Anna on March 22, 1836  at what has since become known as the Goliad Massacre. The monument is on the grounds of a very well done pioneer village at Bardstown.

Religious Symbols of Ancient Ecuador

These are craved stone images of Ecuador on display in a downtown museum in Quito, Ecuador. I do not begin to know the meaning of all of them, but another museum in the city displays hundreds of them. Most relate to getting into the "after life," and when you read about how the ancients of Ecuador did that, it sounds uncannily  like Christianity. The country must maintain some sense of these images in that there are others I hope to post later that show specially craved pans in which to bake bread. The pans are used on All Souls Day, the religious day in early November that celebrates or honors the dead.

George Washington’s death and last words

I found this interesting, so I share.
From the book, “George Washington’s Diaries,” subtitle, “An Abridgement,” Dorothy Twohig, editor

He took ill Thursday, Dec. 12, 1799. He believed he had ague or a form of malaria.

The account of his last words come doctors who attended him.

One of the doctors noted that Gen. Washington about half past four in the afternoon on the day he died asked that Mrs. Washington be called. Once at his side, Washington told her to take from his desk two wills that he had had prepared and to bring them to him.

He looked at one, told her it was and old one and said it should be burned. A little later he said,

“I find I am going, my breath cannot last for long. I believed from the first that the disorder would prove fatal. Do you arrange and record all my late military letters and papers? Arrange my accounts and settle my books, as you know more about them than anyone else, and let Mr. Rawlings finish recording my other letters which he has begun.” It is unclear from the text who exactly he is speaking to or about, except perhaps the doctors.

Later the doctors went into his room at his bedside, and the general said , “Doctor, I die hard; but I am not afraid to go, I believed from my first attack that I should not survive it; my breath cannot last long.”

And still later, he said , “I feel myself going, I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble with me, let me go off quietly; I cannot last long.”

The doctors found that all they had done had no effect.

About 10 o’clock in the evening he made several attempts to speak, and at length said:

“I am just going! Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put in the vault in less than three days after I am dead. Do you understand me?” When the doctor replied he did, Gen. Washington replied, “Tis well.”

He was buried on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1799 in the family vault at Mt. Vernon

Achtung! Nope, he looks like a German soldier...but...

He is just a volunteer at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio who loves to ride this motorcycle he bought from China. Some days he says the ride is so wonderful, "I just don't want to stop." He rides it about 20 miles to get to the AF museum, and he does all that riding on the back roads.
He said he got it from China and that it once belonged to the army there that had a million or more of them. They were "knock offs," if you will, of a BMW motorcycle. The rain gear and helmet? I didn't ask where he got them.
I keep thinking I'd like one, but then wonder where I would park it, and figure Iwould probably get killed riding it!

Oh, how beautiful: painting of Quito, Ecuador at night

Quito is a beautiful city, especially at night, and this painting reflects that. Funny, too, I paid more to get it framed here in he US than I paid for it Quito! I might add Quito is known as a city of churches as the painting reflects, and the statue on the hill, that can be seen from all over Quito, is certainly a landmark of the city, too.

Spanish-style courtyard drips with beauty

This photo is the inside courtyard of a commercial building right on Independence Plaza, Quito, Ecuador. It is a visual treat and a wonderful place to sit, sip a cup of coffee and be thankful for being surrounded by such beauty. A lot of Quito is like this, the sense of being surrounded by beauty.

Beautiful young women, and they know it

By chance, purely by chance, I happened to be at Independence Plaza in Quito, Ecuador, one morning when this high school band marched in led by these beautiful, really beautiful young women. It was a mostly all girls band, and I cannot tell you how beautiful they all looked. And, guess what, they knew it? Love it! Take a look.

Another view of the Winged Virgin and all the color, too!

See all the color in the houses, the roofs, the sky, the church. I never went to actually see the statue because of all the thieves working around the base. Never felt I needed, too, though as I could see it from anywhere in Quito!

Winged Virgin Mary on the Mountain, Quito, Ecuador

You can see this dramatic statue from about anywhere in Old Town, Quito, Ecuador, day or night. In this photo I did not get exactly what I saw, but close. How beautiful. Oh, by the way, you do not see any neon signs in Old Town at night. The white lights of the city at night all up and down the hills and mountain sides impress and awe, though.

Click the photo to enlarge and really get the impact! Awesome!

Quito, so colorful, so beautiful!

Here is a photo of the inside of just one of the many, many Catholic Churches in Quito. Gold is the central, brilliant color inside many of them. Why? Gold became a central, main part of the religions that preceded Christianity in Ecuador. So, it naturally follows, that gold made its way into churches there when Christianity came along.

Children of Ecuador Proudly Wear Beautiful Costumes

These children made several trips through Independence Plaza in Quito not long ago, and they clearly liked being in their costumes and in doing what they were doing. The costumes represent the various cultures in the country, and they are numerous.

Want to know what the Equator looks like?

Here it is just south of Quito, Ecuador. The tall building with the directions, North, South, East, West supposedly straddle it, and the yellow line you see is IT. Some of the locals told water flows in opposite directions in two sort of basins that can be found on each side of Equator. The area is known, in Spanish, as Mitad Del Mundo.

Beauty of Quito, Ecuador

The wonder of Quito to me is its color. Everywhere you look there is interesting, eye-stopping color. It is in the buildings and the people, too. I attach just a few of the photos of this beautiful city that is at the Middle of the World. These men are members of the guard at the Presidential Palace in Quito. They change on Monday of each week. They all carry spears or lances made from bamboo and wear spurs.

Adventure To the Middle of the World!

My only experience with South and Central America has been with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, unless I add Puerto Rico, also an Air Force Reserve adventure of some years ago and then last year working in Haiti as a volunteer following the massive earthquake.
But, next month, all September, I will be in Ecuador for the second time in my life, the first being one of those Air Force Reserve trips. People on hearing of my coming adventure all ask if I am going on a “mission,” meaning a religious mission of some sort? Many people around Columbus, Ohio seem to do that. They are are surprised to learn by my trip is for pure adventure, nothing more.
Why and how did I select Ecuador?
First I retired from my very mundane, ho-hum job with the State of Ohio at the end of July. So, I began looking for something interesting to do, an adventure, and travel naturally came to mind. I did not want, however, to go as a pure tourist walking around gawking at the sites. I wanted to be a part of something more interesting. And wahla, thanks to the miracle of the web I decided on Ecuador because I found a place to stay where my room and board will be covered in exchange for my teaching English to operators of a hotel. My wife laughs when I mention my teaching English since she is from New England where English is more properly spoken than in New Mexico where we do speak English, but with much less precision and with a bit of a slow, Western drawl. The people I teach should not see that as an issue, of course.
I've also been encouraged to come to Ecuador by a fellow I've also met on the Internet, an American, who some years ago bought and now operates a hotel in Quito. He knows Ecuador and the life there, and he has given me some good information on what to expect when I arrive. He even offered to refer me to what he says are excellent medical doctors and dentists who perform all sorts of procedures at prices much less than in the United States. In fact, he promotes something called “medical tourism,” and it seems to go well for him and for the medical people, too. It goes as well as can be expected until he tells women who come there for breast implants, many who seem to be bartenders from Las Vegas, like in Nevada, that after they've had their operation, they will not be able to nurse a baby.
He says many daytime soap opera stars from Spain make “medical tourism trips” to prop up sagging chins and cheeks. Their numbers verify to him how good the doctors in Quito are. I'd asked about surgery for the sags beneath my own chin, but have elected instead to try a wrinkle cream I've been told will do wonders.
The first time I ran across the American with the hotel he also offered another service which I declined. He sent several pages pictures of very attractive young women offering services of a sexual nature. I did not decline because I am a prude, by the way, but because for one thing I am married and for another I have been in third-world countries before. And, they do have venereal diseases in some of those places that even the most sophisticated doctors cannot name.
Finally, I will describe briefly my first trip to Quito and how because of that I am anxious to return.

It was a trip with the U.S. Air Force Reserve. We staged out of Panama City, Panama, regularly making flights all over South and Central America. Today, those flights are staged out of Puerto Rico following the giving of the Panama Canal to Panama.
This particular trip we did two things that were different from some of the others we made. We flew a plane painted silver or aluminum as opposed to camouflage because the silver was considered a peaceful color and the other meant a war plane. We also were instructed to bring civilian clothes with us to change into from our uniforms once we got to Quito. The reason was the same. We were to arrive for peaceful purposes, not war.
The highlights of that brief sojourn on the ground were memorable. On the one hand, we were taken to something called the “MAC Shop” or Military Airlift Command shop. That was a shop where we could buy all the curios of the country in one place. Every country seems to have them for tourists, like cuckoo clocks in Germany or shoes in, what was it, Nicaragua? I still remember one Air Force fellow I knew, by the way, whose entire view of the world incidentally was curios. You collected all the curios of a country, and then you left.
My most vivid memory of the MAC shop was how while I most of the time just go to a shop, buy what I came and then leave, at the MAC shop it was like someone had turned up some sort of vibes. I was buying everything in the shop as fast as I could pull it off the shelves mostly llama related stuff, scarves, blankets, shawls etc. I've never ever experienced anything like it before or since. Others among my group had the same experience. So, the plane we flew out of Quito was a lot heavier than it was when we flew in. We, incidentally, has the same experience in Puerto Rico, except there it was rum, many, many bottles of very famous rum.
Finally back to Quito, I remember this wonderful, really elegant restaurant we visited. We were told we could buy a steak dinner for $10. I think most of us ordered the suggested steak dinner. The waiters who took our orders all wore these very formal looking white jackets and carried white napkins over one arm. I remember seeing what must have been a Ecuadoran naval officer in a uniform that would have made any American officer jealous for all the medals the fellow sported.
We had our meal, and it was excellent. Most interesting in my own case, I'd ordered cream for my coffee and when it did not arrive, I asked about it? The waiter pointed to a piece of mirror. There was a squirt of whipped cream that I had not seen.
We finished our meal, and that was when the real confusion began. We got the bill, and it turned out that instead of paying $10 each for our meals as we'd been told to expect, the bill was $2.50 per person. One sergeant with us became so confused over this that he tried to have a discussion about it with one of the waiters who spoke very little English. The sergeant could not believe his bill was so low. We all finally did pay, and all of us left more for the tip that we paid for the meal. When we left the sergeant was still shaking his head, not at all understanding how the check could be so low.
So, with what I have lined up and what I remember, I do look forward to my trip to Ecuador. I expect it to be one grand adventure.