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Old Photo of Me

    My brother's wife, Nancy, shared some pictures with me that someone had scanned into the electronic media.  I will be posting them over the next few days here on this blog.The first will be:

    This was taken on January 7, 1972 somewhere in the South China Sea while I was serving on the USS White Plains (AFS-4) on my second cruise to the Far East. I was barely twenty when this was taken.
    I wish to send my deepest thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law, Nancy.
Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink March 8, 2009


Jefferson City Road Trip

    Saturday, January 31, 2009 I had the opportunity to go on a Road Trip.  I had been invited to speak at a "Work Shop" concerning the VFW WebCom Network at the Council of Administration for the Dept of Missouri, VFW.  My nephew, Marvin, heard me speaking of it and volunteered to drive me.  I readily agreed since it is a long drive by oneself.
    I needed to be there by 9:00 a.m. so Glinda and I got up at 2:30 in the morning to begin the milking chores.  We had the chores wrapped up by 4:30 and were back at the house.  I got cleaned up and ready and had a little time to check my e-mail before Marvin arrived promptly at 5:30 a. m. as he said he would.
    Marvin and I left Norwood at 5:35 heading east on US 60.  We passed under the three bridges that lead to Mtn. Grove and entered Texas County.  We decided we needed gas so we took Business 60 through Cabool and stopped at the Sinclair Station to fill up.  I went on in and visited with the young lady on duty.
    We headed north on 63 and the next town we came to was Simmons.  There is not much there now, barely a cluster of buildings to show where the town had been.
    Moving on through Houston it was starting to get daylight. Licking was the next town we came to but the road no longer goes through Licking but merely skirts the west side which is rapidly building around the intersection.
    We continued north and entered Phelps County, and continued on passing by Edgar Springs before entering Rolla where we crossed Interstate 44.  While traveling through Rolla we were passed by three members of the Mtn. Grove VFW Ladies Auxiliary.  We tried to pull up beside them and get their attention by waving but they did not look our way so we dropped back and followed them as we left Rolla continuing north.
    Shortly after passing through Rolla we entered Maries County and passed through the town of Vichy and then through Vienna.
    Leaving Maries County we entered Osage County and drove through the town of Freeburg and then Westphalia before entering Cole County and on into Jefferson City.  We followed the Ladies Auxiliary members right into the parking lot of the Capitol Plaza Hotel where the meeting was being held.  It was now 8:25 a. m.
    We headed in and looked around at one fancy hotel.  It was sure seemed fancy to a couple of country boys like us. It had a very large main area on the ground floor that was open to the top of the building.  We had each had way too much coffee and needed the restrooms in a very bad way but did not notice them right off.  I noticed the VFW District 15 Commander Olin Parks in the crowd and greeted him and inquired as to where the bathrooms were. He gave directions and we sought relief.  Coming out we headed back to the main area where I met Marsha Young who is currently running for the office of Department Surgeon and spoke with her a moment.  We were both hungry so we looked for the entrance to the eating area and found it 'round on the back side.  The waitress brought us a menu and we ordered the "Short Stack" for each of us. While we were waiting we looked around at our surroundings like a couple of hicks who had never been to the city before.  There was a waterfall that was fours stories high falling between the two glassed in elevators.  Our meal arrived and it consisted of two pancakes, two eggs, a handful of bacon strips, a small slice of orange and 1/2 (that's right 1/2) a strawberry sliced lengthwise.  It was good and we cleaned the plates.  Considering where we were we thought the meal was very reasonably priced as it cost less than $15.00 for the two of us.
    Smokers as we both are, we searched for a place to smoke without having to go outside and noticed that it had a lounge off to the side.  The lounge was not open and it was unlit but since there was not even a gate we entered and joined a VFW member from Arnold, Mo at his table.  We were having a nice visit with him when some other smokers started drifting in.  I saw several I had only talked to through e-mail or on the phone and had a chance to visit with them. The lounge is separated from the eating area by only a metal fence about 4 feet high.  So of course the smoke drifts across the room,  makes a lot of sense to me.
    Adjutant Jessie Jones came by to check and see if we were there yet and directed us to where and when we should be.  The time for the meeting came and we entered the "Capitol Room".  The first workshop was not quite over so we sat and listened to it as it was wrapping up.  Adj Jessie introduced me to the members gathered and I had the floor.  The two hours I was allotted passed by rapidly and I did not get all said that I wished to cover but maybe next time it will go just a little smoother.  We had a few equipment glitches right at the first but ironed them out fine.
    The workshop was over and as we were leaving some wanted to visit with me on some of the things that I had covered.  I stopped and answered all who still had questions before we headed on out the door to begin our journey home.
    We pulled out of the parking lot about 12:20, got back on 63 and headed south.  We caught up with Ed and traffic allowed us to get ahead of him before we left the city and back on the two lane roads.  We came up on a slow moving semi-truck and were able to squeeze around him but in so doing we lost Ed and never saw him again.
    Westphalia was the first town we came to on our return trip and we stopped and purchased a twelve-pack of Busch at a convenience store.  On the counter was a stack of local newspapers.  I though about getting one but didn't, I decided I would check it out online but I have had no luck.  I can find references to the newspaper but not a website.  The reason I was so interested is because the name of it is "The Un-terrified Democrat".  I did find out through some of my search that the paper is over 100 years old.
    The sun was out and it had warmed up and the driving was great as we passed through the same towns again.  It was light now and we could look around.  We saw some very impressive churches built of bricks and one made of large blocks of native stone.  One of the towns had a very old cemetery right alongside the road.  We did not see any tombstones that were less than 100 years old.
    We soon were back in Wright County and as we passed under the west Mtn Grove exit I called Glinda and told here we might be a little late as we were still two hours away.  She was on the phone with Mary as we pulled into the drive a very few minutes later.  I got hollered at just a little for teasing her like that.
    The time was 2:58 and we were home.  Marvin, Glinda and I sat and had a beer before we had to head out for the evenings chores.
    It had been along time since I had the opportunity for a Road Trip.  It was great seeing the countryside as we drove along.  I had an excellent driver and we had a great visit while driving along.  I appreciate Marvin volunteering very much.
THANK YOU MARVIN. VERY MUCH
Cheerily
IJ

Comments (0) Permalink February 4, 2009


What a Day!!!

    It started out bitter cold as I headed to do the morning chores. Ed called after I was done and back inside the house and said he would be by to pick me up and he would leave home at 9:45 a.m.  He arrived at 9:40 a.m. much to my surprise.  But I was ready and only needed to slip on my boots and coat and then we were headed down the road.  Ed and I were going to Clever. MO to witness the institution of a new VFW Post in Clever.  The event was going to happen at 1:00 p.m. but Ed and I always like to arrive early to have time to visit.  We were going through Nixa, Mo at 10:45 a.m. and decided to stop at a little Mexican Restaurant and eat before we went on.  We stopped at the La Fiesta that is in the strip mall just on the west side of Nixa Hardware on 14 highway.  Although the sign said they did not open until 11:00 a.m. They allowed us to come in, be seated and then they waited us on quickly.  A lot of cafes just refuse to let a person in until the exact time on the sign, obviously they appreciated the fact that we wished to do business with them.  Ed had three tacos and a side order of rice and I had three tacos and a side of refired beans.  The food was great and really hit the spot.  The place was clean and the waiter was pleasant and attentive.  After eating we headed on over to Clever.  The meeting was supposed to take place in the Clever Fire Station and it was easily found.  When we got there a crowd of VFW members from around the state were already gathering.  The Dept Commander, Quartermaster, Adjutant, Jr-Vice Commander, Surgeon, a past Dept Commander and past National Commander along with the District Commanders from District 14 and District 15 were in attendance.  Several Post Commanders from District 14 were also in attendance.  I counted 60 at one time but I know I missed several.  I sure enjoyed the event as it had been the first one of its kind that I had had the chance to attend.  It seems that more VFW Posts are closing across the US than beginning.  State Rep Jay Wasson from the district that Clever is in came and gave a short speech as did all the Dept Officers, District 14 Commander and the new Commander of the Clever VFW, Lance Pearce.
    After it was all over Ed and I headed for home.  I needed to get home quick so I could feed hay and do the evening chores.  The feeding and other chores went fairly quickly since it had turned into a pleasent and nice day with the temp reaching almost 50 degrees.  Following chores Glinda and I headed to Dawson, Mo to visit her sister Mary and nephews Mike and Marvin.  It was almost 6:30 p.m. when we got there and Mary was frying chicken and french fries.  After a great meal with lots of Jamacian Dipping Sauce we began playing pitch.  The cards seemed to favor Mary and Glinda and Marvin and I ended up with a dismal 4 wins and 6 losses record.  Glinda and I said our goodbyes and headed home around 11:15 p.m. It had been a long day but also a great day.
Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink January 18, 2009


The Romance of Nellie and Kelley
(From the Midpacifican, Issue of Dec 16, 1944)

    With the 96th Division on Leyte - If, on some dark, murky night up front, you hear something moving in the bushes, please make sure it's a Jap before you shoot.  It might be Nellie.  and when you hear an eerie night piercing cry tht sounds like the heart-broken call of a man for his mate, don't be frightened.  It's only Pfc. Ova Art Kelley calling for his lost love, a Leyte lady Caribao.
    The romance between Nellie and Kelley blossomed forth last week.  It was a case of love at first sight.
    Love was the farthest thing from Kelley's mind the day they met.  He hated everything - the Japs, the rain, and particularly the knee deep mud bogging his vehicle.  How he asked himself, was he going to get all those mortar shells up to his company?  It was at least 200 yards away.  And he was alone.
    As he cursed Japs and mud alike, he was startled by a rustle in the bushes.  He reached for his gun and pointed it, his finger tight against the trigger.
    But there gazing at him was a pair of soulful, big brown eyes.
    "There was something about them that reminded me of our own cow back on the farm." relates Kelley, whose home is near Norwood, MO.  "She looked at me and I looked at her."
    The resemblance - at least in the eyes - was so startling that the private involuntarily called out, "Nellie!"
    The lumbering water buffalo, without hesitation, slopped through the mud and parked herself alongside the truck, turning her head coyly and gazing with unashamed affection at her new master, as if to say: "I'm yours, all yours.  What can I do for you?"
    Averting his eyes shyly, Kelley let them wander and - behold! for the first time he observed Nellie had a sled attached to her clumsy though powerful form.
    Inspired, Kelley loaded the shells on the sled,  fastened them with the ropes and the pair made the journey to his unit, Co A of a 382nd Regiment battalion.  Kelley rode on Nellie's back.
    From then on the Caribao Express made many trips from the ammunition point to the front lines.  Afraid lest some GIs steal Nellie, her master had ner name branded just above her left foreleg.
    Then one morning Kelley woke and found Nellie had disappeared.  There were no tracks or other clue to point the diection she had gone.  No one had seen her.  She had vanished from Kelley's life as abruptly as she had entered.
    "It couldn't have been that she was fickle," says Kelley sorrowfully. "I know my Nellie.  She must have been captured by the Japs."
    In case you see Nellie, please treat her kindly and return her to Kelley.  She weighs in the neighborhood of 700 pounds.

The above story is about my Uncle Ova Art Kelley.  You can find a link to his page in wikipedia on the right under my links

Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink October 29, 2008


Navy Days - A long time ago


    The above photo is of myself (left)  and Larry Sisco, one of my shipmates on board the USS White Plains (AFS-4) around 1972. Judging from the background I would venture a guess that we are docked in Subic Bay, P.I.
    The below photo is of Larry and his wife, Judy, at the Last Drop Inn and is a far more recent picture.

Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink October 14, 2008


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