Kerosene Scrub down

Historical/Generational trauma are terms we often hear linked to government boarding schools that were designed to assimilate Native American children to our European immigrant culture.  While researching a project I’m working on, the term “kerosene bath” popped up several times. An example, “[Native] Children were … cleansed with alcohol, kerosene, and synthetic pesticides.” From https://www.midwesternstoriesbsu.com/people …

Interview on Vietnam War Books That Influenced Me

More than five decades ago I patrolled the rivers of Vietnam. Four decades later, I told my stories. I was recently invited to participate in an interview about Vietnam War literature that influenced me. The top five books t are listed, but there were also countless other narratives that I learned from, including the World …

Cost of War MUDDY JUNGLE RIVERS–Epilogue

23 years ago, “Buddha” Ed Thomas died alone in an isolated cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We had lost contact 31 years earlier when I was medevac’d out of an ambush during our Vietnam adventure.  Through a series of events, we had reconnected a few years before he died. I came to realize that if …

My New-Found Family Visits Minnesota

My new-found brother, Louis and his wife Patty recently spent time with us her in the Bemidji area. It was a wonderful week not to be forgotten. Visit these links for a great interview Dennis Doeden with the Bemidji Pioneer did: https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/4699087-Finding-his-roots-Bemidji-man-connects-with-half-siblings-through-DNA-testing Malaak Khattab a reporter with Lakeland PBS did a wonderful job interviewing us. …

Meeting My New Family

Our host family: Patty and Louis at each end; daughter, Elizabeth Rose, Laurel, daughter Camille, and Wendell Back row: Janine, Laurel, Louis, David, Wendell, Laurie Jean. Middle row: Janine’s husband David, Ginger and Larry Grignon and their grandchildren. Three new brothers and baby sister—left to right: Louis, Guy, Wendell, Yvonne, Michael. (I met Larry later …

World War I Student Essay Program

My grandparents, 1915, my grandmother, a Vassar College Student, and my grandfather in his Williams College ROTC uniform. This past Veterans Day I was invited to speak at an area school. I could not because of a schedule conflict. Bemidji School Superintendent Tim Lutz and I started visiting about Veterans Day 2018, the 100th anniversary …