A look inside...
Middle Tennessee Waterfalls
Editor Nathan Bonar
Contributors Dave Marshall Rose Pollard Dr. Mike Carrigan
Publisher Creative ink
Creative Director Sears Hallett
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Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com
Photography Paula Hallett mixthatdrink.com
Deposit Photo pg: Cover, 3, 5, 7, 16
Rendevous in Normandy
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Retiree Spotlight Kenneth French Jr.
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That Ole B-17
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Veteran Book Review
This latest issue is intended for growing. For reaching out and doing something new. Making new introductions while honoring the past. While entertainment is always the goal for the articles and compilation of items in the Retiree Life Magazine, we also strive to include sources of knowledge, encouragement, and, better yet, things we hope are important to you. In my office, I get to listen in on war stories from a varied age range of veterans, and it has changed my perspective on many things to hear the situations they find themselves, in and how their training and heart pulled them through. One thing I can say with some surety is, veterans like to hear those stories, or at least the 40 or so veterans that stick around during the day and talk with staff members about deployments. Perhaps listening to these stories brought many of these articles to mind. In this issue, I get to introduce you to a friend who is starting a new path after a 20+ year career in the military, while we also get the honor of reading the first journal entry of a Vietnam Vet. We get an up-close look at Middle Tennessee waterfalls. An ode to a military base in West Tennessee might spark a day trip to visit a small yet cogent World War II museum, also a moving poem from a Clarksvillian’s visit to Normandy.
Nathan Bonar, Editor nathan@creativeinktn.com
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Tennessee offers myriad options for those who enjoy the outdoor, from caves to crawl in, waterfalls to jump over, and hiking trails to get you there and almost anywhere in between. The caves and trails of Tennessee are inspirational to say the least, but this article focuses on our waterfalls. The natural areas of Tennessee are second to none. The wildlife is mystical. The foliage inspirational. It can be difficult to decide where to start with so many scenic options to pick from, so let’s discover some of the waterfalls Tennessee has to offer. You can almost throw a dart on a map of Tennessee and hit a town that has a waterfall, but the big ones, the ones that make your mouth drop a little, those are what we are after here. One of the local favorites is Burgess Falls in Sparta. Burgess Falls is home to four sizeable waterfalls. These waterfalls flow over towering limestone steps with some ferocity. The trails are on the strenuous side, but the views are worth the effort. In addition, there are rope bridges that you can cross over near some of the waterfalls, and there is a butterfly garden for those budding entomologists. Also, Middle Falls and Falling Water Cascades reside here. Burgess Falls has adequate parking available for those stopping for a day visit. The trails are well defined, but those with small children may want to wait until they are a little older for this demanding trail.
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Next, Fall Creek Falls is a huge park of more than 26,000 acres in the Cumberland Plateau region. Here you will see one of the tallest waterfalls in the Eastern United States. There are kayak rentals available, activities for children, camping and cabin rentals, even a golf course. You can book large events for the group lodges or plan a picnic at one of the pavilions. However you look at it, Fall Creek Falls offers as many activities as it does acres of land, and, of course, there are ropes courses. You would be remiss to miss this vast landscape of untouched nature, not to mention, here you get to see Coon Creek Falls, Rockhouse Falls, Cane Creek Falls, Piney Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades. South Cumberland State Park is a gorgeous park located throughout 4 different counties: Grundy, Franklin, Marion, and Sequatchie. The park has more acreage than Fall Creek Falls and boasts some of the most impressive hiking in the region. There are plenty of overlooks to gaze upon the glory of nature with floating bridges for the daredevils and secret passages that one can discover. While you are there, you can indulge in the miles of hiking trails, like the Fiery Gizzard at 12.5 miles or the Savage Gulf and Stone Door trails, with over 55 miles. But the centerpiece to this vast sinkhole wonder are its waterfalls: Horsehair Falls, Foster Falls, Greeter Falls, Suter Falls, Boardtree Falls, Ranger Creek Falls, Horsepound Falls, Laurel Falls, and Yellow Pine Falls. Our next stop is Cummins Falls in the rolling hills of Jackson and Putnam counties. Though Cummins Falls State Park has only one waterfall, it is still in the top ten largest in Tennessee and is surrounded by unparalleled beauty on the Eastern Highland Rim. Cummins Falls comes with a neat history, too. In the 1790s, Sergeant Blackburn, a Revolutionary war veteran, was awarded the land in lieu of pension which was later purchased by John Cummings, who built a mill on the land. In 1928, when the mill washed away, the land was not rebuilt, and the locals would fill the area for recreation. Rock Island State Park in Rock Island is a magnificent vision of what the convergence of rivers can look like with its numerous waterfalls. Twin Falls is the largest in the park, others include Badger Falls, Badger Flat Falls, Great Falls, and Lower Great Falls. You will have plenty to take up your day while soaking in the sun. This is also the park for those not so interested in the strenuous hikes because you can see the two major falls from the parking area. Our last waterfall is found in Ozone Falls State Natural Area in Cumberland County. This is one of the larger waterfalls at 110 feet, and the residents love to spend time by this rock-strewn pool. To boot, this is a famous waterfall, as it appears in the 1994 live action movie The Jungle Book. It seems no matter where you are headed in Tennessee, a waterfall is going to greet you or meet you along the way. 4
June 6, 2019 marks the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. This past fall we were given the honor to publish a poem penned by Dr. Mike (Vernon) Carrigan. The poem entitled “Rendevous In Normandy” was written following his visit to Normandy.
Having been born in 1951 and raised in Clarksville, TN, I have always been aware of the 101st Airborne Division and proud to share my community with it. Moreover, being a student of history and more importantly having had several WW2 veterans as patients in my medical practice, I’ve always wanted to see the Normandy beaches, including Sainte-Mère-Église, and the American cemetery located there. I fulfilled this bucket list item on a beautiful November day last year. In route on the bus, I saw in my mind’s eye the beach attack on D-Day morning, and pictured an individual soldier bravely leaping from the landing vehicle and storming the beach, ultimately meeting his death shortly thereafter. I could almost see what he saw and feel what he felt, a special, providential rendezvous. I then saw myself honoring him, crying, over his grave and placing a rose. Little did I know, as I wrote the poem on the bus prior to arrival, that we would attend a special memorial ceremony at which we were all given a rose to place where we wished. I asked God to send me to the correct grave, and I read my poem to Sergeant Willard Clouse of KY and the 82nd Airborne. I cried in the cold wind and laid my rose in honor just as I had seen and recorded in the poem. Indeed, a provincial rendezvous. 5
Rendevous In Normandy I, standing on forlorn beach, Cloudy, alone, Lost in thoughts, Arriving into my mind On the echoes of the wind Speaking of yesteryear. Marvelous rendezvous. Seeing brave young man Surrounded by courageous comrades, Yet so eerily alone, Heart fast pounding, Ribs thrusting with precious breath In a rendezvous with certain death. Soaking salt water, Heavy steel pack, Now watching, waiting, Running on sordid sand, Wistful wind in face, Sending his thoughts on its winsome wings to me. For our mysterious little rendezvous. Guns popping, Bullet sand jumping spirals, Bombs exploding, Sand craters making, Friends dying all around, Crimson rivulets of blood Flowing to the now sacred sea, A watery rendezvous So painful for me. Climbing hill, The end in sight, But still in grip of deadly fright. Confidence now building,
Continuing to climb, Sudden piercing pain in chest to find. Noise abating, Brief patient peace descends. Then carried in the sweet darkness of death To that last rendezvous On the caravan to this land’s end. Now resting forever As a part of the rich, fertile French soil, Exchanging old life For a new freedom of others with sweat Of his sacrificial toil. The eternal friend In wonderful, eternal rendezvous With the people of Normandy. I, now standing over sacred crypt Of my new found friend, With warmth in heart, Red rose in hand, And tears in wind blown face, Vow never to forget my thoughts that day In brief rendezvous On stolid shore of Normandy!
In memory of the men who served in the “Rendezvous with Destiny” on D-Day, June 6, 1944 Mike Carrigan 11-12-18
Follow the Hiring If you are thinking of returning to school, but you aren’t quite sure what you want to do, then take a cue from who is doing all the hiring. Mixing your interests with a job that pays is only sensible. You have a whole career behind you now, so choosing a degree or career path post military service can be a drain. Doing plenty of research on the school you want to attend and what the program entails will be a good foundation for success. Let’s go over some of the best majors by category.
Computer Science falls under the umbrella of STEM and has an impressive average salary of around $110,000. This degree leans into the theoretical side of computers with the types of applications that can be found and how they can branch off into other sciences. But if you are not into reading about the theoretical applications of a computer, perhaps a degree in Information Technologies is up your alley. Information Technologies aims for web applications and development, IT management, or software developer with an average salary of about $80,000. If numbers are your thing, then a Mathematics degree can lead you to a career as a math teacher or an analyst for companies, because mathematicians are needed in every industry. Of course, a Biology degree would fall here, and those degrees can find jobs in labs, working with wildlife, or conservation, with an average salary of $60,000 and up.
Do you enjoy numbers and making the deal? Then business and finance majors are looking to be some solid investments. One degree in particular seems to be outgrowing all the rest: Management Information Systems is a combination of computer and business skills with an expected growth of 15% through 2024; national average salary is $135,000. Marketing is another in demand area where a demand for communication skills intersects with business. The marketing degree you earn can place you in the running for positions that have an average annual salary around $130,000. Business management will test those skills you fostered in the military as you create new solutions and maximize growth for companies.
Haven’t found it yet? What about public service majors, like nursing or education? Those with nursing degrees are always in high demand, just like educators. These jobs are not going to leave, we will always need someone to care for us and someone to educate us, and if that is your calling, then you can expect a nursing salary in the area of $65,000 and an educator will fall a little short at approximately $55,000. If you plan on being an educator, STEM and English are the two most in demand subject areas along with foreign language teachers. Hopefully this offered you some help on what options are available for you as you traverse this next chapter of your life and career.
Business isn’t your thing? Then STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, is another area experiencing some fast growth in its associated fields. Physics tops the list with the highest earning potential. A physics degree can prepare you for a career in a research science position, healthcare, or engineering, to name a few.
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My Father...Semper Fi by Rose Pollard My dad was born June 16, 1930 in Lyon County, Kentucky. His name was LaVern Roy Pollard, and he was a proud Marine. Shortly before his death in October 2008, he wrote this short bio about growing up poor in the hills of Kentucky, the path that led him to the military, and his colorful career as a United States Marine.
Delivered to Roy and Ada (Dunnagan) Pollard, the boy’s first view of the world was from a coal oil lamp, as it would be many years before electricity and running water would come to those barren hills. The only heat was from a fireplace, and water from a spring or well. Places like Hematite and Woodson Chapel would be considered primitive by today’s standards. The only sounds in the night were from a whippoorwill, or an owl, or a coyote out on Jenny Ridge. If you listened closely, above the baby’s cry, you might’ve heard hound dogs or a fox running out on Long Creek.
I stumbled upon it by accident several years after his death, tucked away amidst papers, keepsakes, and old photos. Like many soldiers who experienced combat, he never talked about his time at war, except maybe with other soldiers. I learned more about my dad from this short piece than I did from all the time I spent with him when he was alive. I cherish this journal, and I’m honored to be able to share it now with his other family, his first family, the men and women he so proudly served with – the U.S. Military. This is his story:
His father was a sharecropper, hunter, and trapper. He made crossties for the railroad along with Clive Judson and Charlie Littlejohn. The world was in the throes of the Great Depression, and money was hard to come by, but these were a hardy and resourceful people . . . part of The Greatest Generation. It would have been absurd to think that this baby, born of such humble beginnings, would someday dine with kings, walk on the Great Wall of China, climb the pyramids of Egypt, hunt killers (both man and beast) in the African jungles, and track enemies of his country in the dark alleys of French Morocco. He would sail the seven seas to rescue American nationals from dangerous areas, and fight in three wars – in the Battle of Taejon in Korea, in the jungles of Africa, and in the rice paddies and snake-infested jungles of Southeast Asia.
All events narrated below are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. These events are verifiable by the Defense Dept. under the Freedom Act. This, of course, precludes classified information, due to the writer having signed the “Official Secrets Act” before being posted to the Belgian Congo, West Africa for temporary duty with a Belgian paratroop command unit. Darkness had fallen across the hill country of western Kentucky, and the heat was oppressive. A harsh summer rainstorm had moved in from the west, crossed the Tennessee River, and drenched the hillside farms. The rains filled the creeks to overflowing, and then moved on east across the muddy Cumberland River. On this stormy night, in a two-room log house on a hill overlooking the old Center Furnace Hematite area, a baby boy was brought into a world scarred by depression and strife – a world of wars and rumors of wars.
The boy attended three schools in the Between the Rivers hill country – Rolling Mill School on the east bank of the Cumberland River, Hematite School in the Hematite area, and Woodson Chapel School in Woodson, Kentucky. Children who attended school would walk or ride a mule through the woods and wore shoes only in cold weather. Schools were one-room affairs with a single water bucket for all to drink from and heated by a potbelly stove. Girls and boys were required to play on opposite sides of the playground.
His grandmother Reba Dunnagan delivered the boy, as doctors did not travel these hills during wet weather. 9
The boy’s father taught him how to hunt and trap animals, both for food and for money. Furs were sent to the Taylor Fur Co. in St. Louis. He trained his son to be an expert marksman, taught him how to move through the woods as silent as a ghost, and never to kill except for food or money. Later in life, these skills would greatly benefit the boy along his chosen path. Realizing that farming and working in a sawmill for his uncle, John Henry O’Bryan, was not his idea of success, he decided to pursue a career in the military. He chose the U.S Marine Corps and was sent to boot camp. At that time, the Marine Corps training camp was run by hardcore professionals, mostly veterans of World War II, who had an intense dislike of civilians. You had to be a Sergeant or above to be married. The word was that if they wanted you to have a wife, they would’ve issued you one. The drill instructors’ job was to eliminate the physically and mentally weak from training; nothing less than perfection was tolerated. The day began at 3:00 am and ended at 10:00 pm. Brutality was commonplace, and duty to the Corps and fellow Marines took precedence above all else. It has been said by some that The Marine Corps boot camp at that time was as bad or worse than Alcatraz Prison. When Graduation Day finally arrived, it was a magnificent occasion, for both parents and graduating Marines alike.
Upon graduation, the young Marine from the secluded hills of Kentucky was posted to Tent Camp #3 ½ in the California Mountains, home of the remnants of the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion of WWII fame, which was commanded by the legendary Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller. It was here the new Marine would receive his intense, advanced combat training, parachute training, sniper marksmanship, and camouflage training. He received cold weather training at Pickle Meadows, CA, later renamed the Three Marines Bridge. A small contingent of Marines was sent to a location north of Hong Kong, China to guard a rail station. Shortly after arriving in Hong Kong, the Korean War broke out, and the U.N. forces were being driven into the Pusan Perimeter and in danger of being pushed back to the sea. All of the Marines were brought back to the brigade and sent to Korea to help hold the line until more military forces arrived. The fighting was fierce and close-up, but the Marines held the line. He was assigned to a sniper unit, and after 6 months and 37 confirmed kills, he was promoted to Corporal and sent back to the states to train more snipers in the pine forest of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. To be continued . . .
Kenneth French Jr. - Sergeant 1st Class (Retired) Ken is an intelligent man who loves his history. I met Ken at Austin Peay State University while he is working towards a bachelor’s degree in history to pursue a teaching career. Since I am also aiming for a job as a teacher, and we have dedicated some time to the potential paths that one can take post-service, I felt his opinion would be a valuable asset to those entertaining ideas of a future career, not only in teaching, but any field that interests you as a learner and has the ability to enrich your life. I sat down with Ken the week before finals on APSU’s campus to hear his thoughts on his goals, his service, and advice he may feel compelled to give those of you who want to extend their horizons. Tell me about where you’re from. Well, I’m from Washington state, Lakewood-Tacoma area, Lakewood wasn’t actually a city when I was growing up, it was a suburb of Tacoma, right outside of Fort Lewis. I went to high school there. Lived my whole life in that area until I joined the army in 1990. Why did you want to join the military? Well, I came from a military family. My dad and both of my grandfathers had served in the military. And I figured it was a good way to pay for college. Do my turn, serve for a little bit, and then do my college time after I had done my military time. I planned on coming in for two years and doing whatever the Army needed me to do, and then getting out and going to college, but I ended up staying and making a career of it after all. What is an overview of your career? I started off in the Signal Corps and straight out of training just got sent over for Desert Storm. I was one of those lucky groups that didn’t have orders, so they just sent us all over there. Came back to Fort Reily, immediately got sent to Fort Stewart in Georgia, did a couple years. I got stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Had some fun there and got a chance to do the local culture, like the dragon boat races, climbing Mount Fuji. Came back to New York state and was at Fort Drum up there and froze my tail end off for 3 years. And then went to some new schooling and changed my job and did Bragg and spent the rest of my career at Fort Campbell. Why did you stay in Clarksville post retirement? Well at the time, my daughter was in high school, and then she went to school here at Austin Peay, so we were staying while she was in college, and then about the time she graduated, I had retired by then and doing contract work for the government, and I decided to go back to school because I was tired of being gone all the time. 11
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What was your favorite place you visited while in the service? That would have been Japan. Do you have one anecdote you would like to share? Well, it’s not really military related, but I think one of the funniest. Scuba diving is really big there because, even though they say Japan, it is actually down in the Pacific, and there is lots of snorkeling and scuba diving and things like that. There was this a really popular place, Bolo Point, it was a big bowl and there was a reef up in the middle of it and the snorkelers would go over that. One day I was out there snorkeling and I noticed that everyone else had gotten out of the water, and I was like what the heck is going on, so I got out and went up to the cliff, and they said “Wow, you sure were brave with all those sea snakes,” and I said “sea snakes, what sea snakes.” So, I looked over the cliff and about 40 of them had come into the bowl and they had been swimming all around me, and I didn’t know it because my face was down in the water the whole time, and I didn’t realize until I had gotten out and looked down. Tell me about why you decided to go back to school? Well, a couple of reasons. The main thing was my GI Bill was expiring because I got out before they changed the dates—one of the first things. The second one was just that some of my military skills for contracting most of the higher paying jobs for the skills I had all wanted me to go overseas. Then the jobs stateside that I was qualified for were all IT, and I wasn’t interested in IT, so I decided I would have to change if I was going to stay home and not go overseas. So, I had always been interested in history, it was kind of an occupational hazard in the military because you travel to all of these historical places or have historical events, so I decided I would go back to school and become a teacher. How did your military career help you prepare for a career as a teacher? Well, once you get past the lower ranks, you are pretty much doing teaching all of the time because you are responsible for teaching your subordinates their job, teaching them how the military culture works, how they’re supposed to be working, training them on new tasks and constantly assessing them. Basically, it is a mentor style of teaching. Then my last job in the military we trained foreign militaries, so pretty much the last 20 years I had already been teaching in some capacity or other. Do you have any tips, tricks or advice, for someone finishing their career in the military and want to pursue school? Looking at all the fields and seeing what interests you and figure out which one helps you best. Mine, I wasn’t exactly going for the higher paid, I’m retired. I was looking for a retirement job. So really, I was happy with the average teacher’s salary and that mid-grade. For me, it wasn’t about making a lot of money because an average salary is going to give me a decent salary when I combine it with my retirement. So, looking at all their options, what they need to live, what they need to live comfortably, and what they actually think they might enjoy doing. What do you say is the best thing you learned from the military? Best thing was how to deal with stress. That is an almost daily, constant change. Never knowing what’s going to happen from one day to the next, you know, not in a bad way or stressful way, it’s just every day is different. You have different problems that come up, so being able to handle sudden changes as you had to do it. You couldn’t stop and say “I don’t want to deal with this.” 13
Interpreting Military Skills for Civilian Careers Your military career is what sets you apart from the herd, and it gives you a definitive angle when applying to jobs in the market. The skills you learn during your service are difficult for those who are not familiar with military culture. They don’t understand the amount of moving that takes place. The shopping in PXs and commissaries. These people were not in charge of million-dollar equipment on a daily basis. They don’t register how small the world can be through the eyes of a veteran, so it is up to you to display your abilities in a format and clear language that exhibits rather than inhibits your skillsets. Here are the best ways to show off those military skills you’ve earned in the military. The resume is a process. Creating a master copy that can be tailored to individual job postings you respond to gives you an edge in the search. First, it is imperative to include information specific to the job you are applying for, so not all the information and skills you have are necessary for every job you apply for. Hiring managers receive so many resumes, they do not have time to filter the content until slimming down the number of candidates. If you are searching for a job in the defense industry, then your military skills will need less translating. You will have to process your military skills more for job postings outside of a military or defense sector. The language you learn in the military is unique, one filled with acronyms and abbreviations, so a civilian may have trouble interpreting some of your previous jobs in the military. This is only a small bump, military.com has a new search engine which allows you to enter your MOS, AFSC, or Rating, to get a detailed description of your job in civilian terms, and it even matches you to a job you would qualify for, and well worth a look. The idea is to gain the interest of your audience—the hiring manager, so using accessible language is the first hurdle. Next, make a hard list of the skills you possess, awards you have won, and other like qualities. This list you have compiled is how to explain what you know, let your experience do the talking. Those hiring managers who read your resume are looking for keywords, and all the more reason to pay attention to your resume’s language. Anne McKinney’s “Resumes and Cover Letters that Have Worked for Military Professionals” is a great resource for breaking down that military jargon for your resume. You may have been a cook in the service, and a cook you could be out of the service as well, but for those interested in another path must investigate the specific keywords that profession highlights when searching resumes. Learning those keywords will allow you to deliberately use your best skills to set your resume apart from the herd. Another possibility is to enlist the aid of a resume writer. They can give you specific insight into the position you are applying for while also detailing your resume to fit the areas you are interested in working. The world post service is open and ready for you to apply. 15
West Tennessee is the quiet plain of the state, but it has some history that makes some noise. In 1942, the US was scrambling to add training stations around the nation to produce the high demand of soldiers and pilots needed for the effort in Europe. With need for qualified personnel to fly and deliver troops and supplies, the War Department began scouting property in the Halls, TN area. The residents were behind the construction of the base and even ran articles in the newspaper touting the need for the base, as well as Congressman Jere Cooper who encouraged the building of the Dyersburg Army Air Base. The property for the air base was purchased on 13 April 1942, and construction began. Construction lasted into 1943, and by the summer the base consisted of 300 buildings where cotton fields were just a year before. The base was comprised of more than hangars and barracks, it was built to be self-sufficient, so it included hospitals, social clubs, and stores to buy necessities, even a library. The buildings were not built to last though. Materials were used sparsely to create this self-sufficient base, and metal was hardly used at all. Henry Lowenstein’s book The Rescue Man: A “Snafu Snatching” Rescue Pilot’s Extraordinary Journey gives descriptions of the Selman base in Louisiana, a similar base to Dyersburg AAF, and he describes it as the “cheapest, temporary character with structural stability” only sufficient enough to satisfy the current needs of “its contemplated war use.” The base sprouted up, but it did not offer a place for the families of the soldiers who were pouring into the base, so the community came together and transformed rooms, like attics, garages, and closets, into areas for families to sleep. West TN was determined to give their aid any way they could to help US troops. The base was well received having visits from Roy Acuff, Governor McCord, and VP Harry Truman., With the local public providing support, Dyersburg AAB was ready to train pilots. The base trained for the second and third phases of “combat crew training,” which were centered around working as a team on these flying fortresses. The crews would endure special training for bombing, gunnery, and flying “under instrument flight conditions” as well as squadron and group operations as it pertains to formation flying in the combat box. This base, though short-lived, produced the crew of the Memphis Belle, the inspiration for two motion pictures. As fast as the home of the 910th Quartermaster Company Aviation was built for the cause, when it ended, the base was disassembled just as quickly. Even though the base is no longer standing, the Veteran’s Museum is dedicated to DAAB, and would be happy to have you as a guest. The museum is open weekdays from 9-4 pm and on weekends from 2-5pm. If you are interested, the museum holds a number of events throughout the year, most of which are dedicated to the memories and lives of those we have lost through their service to our country. 16
Red, White and Blue Sangria 2 750ml bottles dry white wine 1 cup triple sec 1 ⁄2 cup berry flavored vodka 1 ⁄2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 ⁄2 cup simple syrup 1 cup blueberries 1 1⁄2 cups hulled & sliced strawberries 1 cup raspberries 1 1⁄2 cups fresh pineapple chunks Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl or pitcher and stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve well-chilled with a good scoop of fruit floating in each drink, or serve over ice. Use fresh fruit for this recipe. Frozen just won't be great. To make star-shaped pineapple pieces, cut long & wide pieces of pineapple off the side of the fresh fruit. Use a star cutter to cut shapes.
Malibu Driver 2 ounces of Malibu coconut rum 4 ounces orange juice Chill your ingredients first. Build the ingredients in the glass of your choice. Stir, and serve.
Limoncello Collins 16 ounces limoncello 12 ounces gin 8 ounces fresh lemon juice 16 ounces chilled club soda Pour the limoncello, gin and lemon juice into a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours. To pre-garnish the glasses, press three very thin lemon slices against the inside of each glass, add ice, and put in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to pour, get out the pitcher and glasses. Give the pitcher contents a stir and fill each glass about 3 ⁄4 of the way. Add about 2 ounces of club soda and top with a mint sprig.
Blueberry Mojito 1 Cup Fresh Blueberries 4 Ounces Rum 10 Fresh Mint Leaves 2 Teaspoons White Sugar Juice of 2 Limes 6 Ounces Club Soda Ice Cubes Blend or muddle blueberries until smooth. Set aside. Use a muddler or wooden spoon to blend in mint leaves and sugar. Stir in rum, lime juice, and blueberry mixture. Pour into glasses over club soda & ice. Gently stir. Garnish with extra blueberries, lime, and mint if desired.
Drink recipes and photos courtesy of mixthatdrink.com
Locked In: A Soldier & Civilian’s Struggle with Invisible Wounds by Carolyn Furdek Carolyn struggled with mental health issues after returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. This memoir details how she coped with the pain for over a decade. An accomplished soldier and competitive athlete, Carolyn suffered an episode of paranoia and communication breakdown while serving on deployment. She was hospitalized, but the invisible wounds did not manifest in the ways tested, so Carolyn suffered for years, carrying the weight of her mental health issues. A happenstance meeting with a doctor changed the course of her life, and now she has written this memoir as a homage to those who suffer like she does, those who have been to the breaking point and persevered.
We Were Soldiers Once … and Young by Harold G. Moore & Joseph L. Galloway No list of veteran authors would be complete without this gem. Moore and Galloway recount the fighting at Ia Drang Valley in 1965 during the Vietnam War. Not only do Moore and Galloway include their thoughts on the conflict, but they write this as a collective memoir. Reviewers agree that this book brings to light many of the behind the scenes aspects of the war while also shedding light on the aftermath of war. Moore and Galloway’s book not only registers the cost of war, but it gives the reader a chance to see the emotional reactions of these soldiers.
Your Next Mission: A Personal Branding Guide for the Military-to-Civilian Transition by Lida Citroen There are sources for everything, so why not a military-to-civilian resource book? Citroen’s pack this guidebook with powerful employment resources. “Your Next Mission” has a clear mission to support your transition from active military to civilian life by addressing many of the common hurdles associated with the shift. The book hosts interviews from key executives from top companies, transitioned veterans, and advocates alike. Providing tools and insight, this guidebook gives you a boost for those new roles with the tools to succeed. Citroen delivers the method to create your own personal brand and how to promote your value through social media, and effective ways to amp up that elevator pitch.
With the Old Breed by E. B. Sledge A magnificent illustrated text, “With the Old Breed” recounts the memories of E. B. Sledge during his time in World War II. Sledge’s book was so pivotal for the writing of military history that it sparked the HBO series “The Pacific.” This memoir recounts the battles at Peleliu and Okinawa with such vitality and honesty, it was an immediate classic. Like our first two books on this list, Sledge’s text gets into the nitty gritty of war, showing the impacts of war on his morality and relationships. Sledge’s memoir touches on military strategy, yes, but those who revel in this text say it has earned its place as a classic because Sledge details how he feels during his deployment. 19
An impermanent division that left a permanent footprint As the first of the Nazi Concentration Camps, the Dachau site wasn’t always intended to harbor the more than 65,000 prisoners it held by the end of World War II. It began based out of the ruins of an emptied munitions factory in the city of Dachau in 1933 with a comparatively measly capacity of around 6,000. But with the help of the 20th Armored Division who were housed at Camp Campbell from March 1943 through December 1944, the Allies liberated the forced labor camp and its prisoners on April 29, 1945. The 20th Armored Division was activated at the then impermanent Camp Campbell on March 15, 1943, after a grueling slog from Fort Knox, Kentucky, which was the original home of the 8th Armored Division. The division was formed from the remnants of Fort Knox’s 8th Armored Division with the 20th’s leadership coming from Camp Polk, Louisiana, according to John O’Brien’s “A History of Fort Campbell.” “The 20th trained more than 30,000 replacements for the armored forces in 1943-44,” O’Brien’s book reads. “The work was grueling, and the cycles were repetitive.”
After their first few years of preparation in the states, the 20th was deployed to the European Theatre of war, arriving in France on February 18, 1945. They bounced from camp to camp in Europe, even assisting the 101st Airborne Division near Delhoven, Germany, before arriving in Dachau in the days leading up to the liberation of the camp. The 20th, alongside the 45th and 42nd Infantry divisions, ultimately liberated the concentration camp on April 29. Dedicated to the valiant service of the 20th Armored Division, this monument sits in the outdoor park across from the Don F. Pratt Museum, constructed out of the division’s shoulder patch and nickname, Liberators. The monument was dedicated on May 30, 1999. In addition to the monument in the states, there is also a permanent plaque in Dachau commemorating the service of the 20th that was dedicated on April 28, 1996, the day before the 51st anniversary of the camp’s liberation. Though the 20th Armored Division had a relatively short history between their installation in 1943 and deactivation in 1946, their service left a large footprint on the European theatre during World War II to the tune of close to 70,000 lives saved during the liberation of Dachau.