Poem: The New Boy at School

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The New Boy at School

He was sitting on the front row center
Of his health class, all those years ago,
As he listened to the teacher’s lecture.
He glanced at the clock hoping it was time to go,
Beneath the clock was a blond girl wearing Doris Day’s style of hair
She looked him square in the eye and smiled, he couldn’t help but stare.
When he returned her smile she nodded and blushed

Then crossed her legs in a way that showed the bare thigh
Between her garters and her hose
And he knew right then when class did end
He had to go and say hello.
When the bell rang he walked over to her desk.
Before she could even get out of her chair
He held his hand out to help her up.
She was glad he was there.

Then he introduced himself and asked her name
As the other kids stood and stared.
He carried her books as they walked to her next class
He could smell her hair and knew it was Prell

By the end of the next class he held her hand
As they looked out at the rain
Her hand was small, soft to the touch
And sent electric charges to his brain

Then he walked her home from school.
Now the rain had gone away.
He listened to what she had to say.
He asked about her family, her dreams,
And if he could be her beau
When she said yes he kissed her hand.

A smile came to her face.
Then she sat down her books
Pulling him close in a loving embrace
She kissed him on the lips
Moved his hands to her hips
For she knew he was really shy as could be.
Then she stepped back and looked at him
Once more she smiled lovingly.
And at the window was her mother watching all she could see.
And mom smiled remembering the days of her youth.

He asked if he could take her to the football game.
Then he told her he was too young to drive.
She agreed to meet him at the stadium
They would watch the game then gaze at the stars.
When he got there to his surprise she was part of the cheerleader squad.
He stepped back and looked at her as her school spirit overflowed
And when she saw him she blew him a kiss and his heart started to race.

The new boy at school felt like he finally belonged
Then the band played the fight song and all was right with his world.
He was at the football game with the pretty blond cheerleader girl
He was sitting in the center of the front row
As she and the cheerleaders put on their show

© July 19, 2011 by Jimmie A. Kepler

Summary: Light in August – Chapter Two

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I’m sharing my thoughts, reflections, and a simple chapter summary as I reread the book chapter by chapter. As we look at chapter two we should be aware of the time of chapter two. Chapter two introduces Joe Christmas, the major character in the book.

Our first look at Joe Christmas is from Byron Bunch. He thinks that Christmas looks as though he belonged to no definite place in the world, no definite home or community. This description evokes the idea of the Christian symbolism connected with Joe Christmas. I am not going to go into depth on this them. There are many commentaries that will explore this in mind numbing detail. This is pretty deep stuff! I like to say we first see Christmas as he’s hired to shovel saw dust at the mill. He first dresses in a new straw hat and in a white shirt and khakis … and he doesn’t have a lunch. After his first pay check he shows up in overalls (the unofficial uniform of the mill) and brings his lunch.

Faulkner pleasures in playing or punning on names. Note that Lena thinks Bunch is actually Burch until she meets Byron. And the Bunch-Grove-Burch relationship is a rather lusty pun on that connection.

In chapter one, we saw that Lena gladly accepts food and willingly offers to share her own meager food with strangers; now we hear that when Byron Bunch once offered Joe Christmas something to eat, Christmas harshly rejected his benevolence telling him to keep his “muck.” This response offers another basic contrast between Joe and Lena. We also learn that in contrast to Lena, who seems to blend in with her natural surroundings, Christmas emphasizes the difference between himself and the world he lives in. However, we see a relationship between Lena and Joe in Joe Brown’s (Lucas Burch’s) connection with both.

Chapter two reveals all the main characters in the novel. And all of them seem to have an unusual relationship with the community. One of the motifs, or ideas developed is man’s relationship to his community. And in this chapter, we see that all the characters are in some way isolated from their community. For example, we hear that Christmas has nothing to do with his fellow workers. Brown is new to the town and does not seem to fit in. Even though Byron Bunch has lived in Jefferson for several years, no one knows anything about him except the old Reverend Hightower, who is also an outcast from the town. We hear of Miss Joanna Burden, whom the town has rejected because she is friendly with the Negroes. And Lena has just arrived pregnant and unmarried. Thus, Christmas, Brown, Bunch, Lena Grove, Hightower, and Joanna Burden are all mentioned in this chapter, and all are in some ways isolated figures, or at least outside the normal flow of the community.

Essential to novel’s development is the way Byron reveals that Lena’s lover is in the town. The fire which coincided with Lena’s arrival into Jefferson also prompted Byron to talk more verbosely than usual, and through his harmless gossip, he inadvertently reveals the whereabouts of Lucas Burch (alias Joe Brown). The fact that he does reveal this information aligns him with Lena and he then feels partly responsible for her welfare. In later chapters, his feelings of involvement ultimately cause him to try to involve Hightower.

Summary: Light in August – Chapter One

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“Light in August” by William Faulkner is the book for the first time Faulkner reader to start with. The book is very readable. Unlike some Faulkner stories, the story line is easy to follow. He is not as verbose in this work as in some of his others where monologues within the story derail the reader. The plot is more typical than any of his other works. The average reader will appreciate the book and get a hunger to dip into other works by this southern master writer. I am going to blog my thoughts, reflections, and a simple chapter summary as I reread the book chapter by chapter. So naturally, I’ll start at the beginning, chapter one.

In chapter one we find a young woman named Lena Grove. She had been living with her brother in Alabama. She was living with her brother because her parents both died the summer when she was twelve years old. Her mother died first and then her father. As the tale begins she is travelling from Alabama to Jefferson, Mississippi. At the end of the chapter we find out the journey takes her one month. But as the chapter unfolds we find her walking barefoot. She is in her teens and she is pregnant. A couple of local men notice the girl and discuss her wondering who she is, where she is from, and what she is up to. They also notice she is not wearing a wedding ring. One of the two men is named Armstid. As he is heading home in his wagon he gives her a ride and takes her home for supper. His wife is cold toward the young woman, though they feed and care for her, allow her a good night’s rest, and the Armstid wife even breaks a little rooster china bank giving the coins to Lena. Then Armstid takes her to town the next morning where she can get a ride on to Jefferson. There she hopes to find Lucas Burch, apparently the man of her affections and the father of her baby. The chapter ends with Lena saying she’s only been on the road four weeks and here in Jefferson already. More to come after I reread chapter two.

Review: Light in August

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“Light in August” by William Faulkner is the book for the first time Faulkner reader to start with. The book is very readable. Unlike some Faulkner stories, the story line is easy to follow. He is not as verbose in this work as in some of his others where monologues within the story derail the reader. The plot is more typical than any of his other works. The average reader will appreciate the book and get a hunger to dip into other works by this southern master writer. In the days ahead I will do a chapter by chapter summary of the book.

The Day My Life Changed

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On July 11, 1977 my life changed. If you look up that date in history, you will find nothing historically significant happened on that Sunday. It was historically significant to me. That day was the watershed event in my life.

July 1977 found me on active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Army. I was serving as Battalion Maintenance Office, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division located at Fort Lewis, Washington. Life was good. I had a beautiful, intelligent wife. I had a new son born in January that same year. My career was going great. I had just gotten a commendable rating during an annual general inspection in maintenance. I had been named an Outstanding Junior Officer of the Ninth Infantry Division because of the commendable rating. I was offered a regular army commission.

I always tried to be the best I could be, and do what is right. But, after all of this, I still had a empty, unsatisfied, void, and alone feeling. Beginning in my teen age years I had tried such as social drinking, women, materialism, partying, and hanging with the right crowd to fill this unexplained need I had. I knew something was missing from my life.

I was attending church. I noticed a group of men that seemed to have what I was missing. I attended a Bible study with them. Here I found that God has given us an important manual for life, the Bible. He has the answers to the problems and emptiness we may face. I found out I was here for a purpose, and not by accident. I learned Jesus loves me, and desires to have a personal relationship with me. But, sin separated me from Him.

I realized I had a sin problem. The Bible says: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 But no one is perfect! We have all sinned and therefore cannot save ourselves by simply living a good life. Why?

I learned there was a penalty to be paid for my sin. The Bible says: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

I learned God gives us a promise. The Bible says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

I learned that God made provision for me. The Bible says: If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

I prayed to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus. I prayed, Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the grave so that I might have eternal life in Heaven with You. I willingly repent of my sins and ask you to come into my heart and life. Take control of my words, thoughts, and actions. I place all of my trust in You for my salvation. I accept You as my Lord and Savior, and this free gift of eternal life. Amen.

Since then all has not been perfect. I have messed up from time to time. Heck, I’m messing up big time in some areas right now. But maybe knowing God personally through Jesus Christ His son has kept me from messing up too much. When I blow it, He is there for me. Now I have had direction and purpose in my life. I know where I am headed. I have the Bible to give me the principles for daily living. I am never alone. I have had real peace for the last 34 years.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Do you know for sure heaven is your eternal destination? If you only hope so or aren’t for sure, why not nail it down today and pray the prayer I have written above. I want you in heaven with me and Jesus. It’s your choice. Pray to accept Christ now. Today is the day of salvation.

Never Too Old – Go For Your Dream

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“The world stands aside,” said David Jordan, “to let anyone pass who knows where he is going.” This applies to those, who learn where they are going late in life as well as for the young.

At 40, James Michener published his first book. He authored more than 50 titles – 26 historical fiction novels, 31 nonfiction books, and 13 of his works were adapted into TV mini series or made into movies.

At age 53, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first female prime minister.

At 65, Winston Churchill became British prime minister for the first time and started the epic struggle against Hitler. Churchill received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 at age 79 for his numerous published works, especially his six-volume set The Second World War. He wrote the six volume set when he was in his 70s without any assistance or ghost writers. The photo is of Sir Winston Churchill.

At 69, Ronald Regan was elected President of the United States. He served two terms. He was 77 years old when he completed his second term in office.

At 70 and again at 80, former President of the USA George H.W. Bush parachuted out of an airplane.

At 72, Golda Meir became prime minister of Israel.

At 75, Ed Delano of California bicycled 3100 miles in 33 days to attend his 50th college reunion in Worcester, Massachusetts.

At 80, Grandma Moses, who had started painting in her late 70s, had her first one-woman exhibit.

At 80, Winston Churchill returned to the House of Commons as a member of parliament and also exhibited 62 of his paintings.

At 81, Benjamin Franklin skillfully mediated between disagreeing factions at the U. S. Constitutional Convention.

At 96, George C. Selbach scored a 110-yard hole-in-one at Indian River, Michigan.

On his 100th birthday, ragtime pianist Eubie Blake exclaimed, “If I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.”

How about you? Have you slowed down, packed it in, given up, and checked out? If I know the Father, I know that He has something wonderful still in store for you! It’s never too late. Why don’t you call God up and ask Him what that might be. His number is Jeremiah 33:3 “Call upon Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know!”

Picture Source: Churchill V sign HU 55521.jpg This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: 1) It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or 2) It was commercially published prior to 1961; or 3) It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1961.

Poem: We Never Lived In the Now

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We Never Lived In the Now

Your face shows your age,
though your countenance is still glowing.
Your age says grown-up,
but you’ve never decided where you’re going.

You’ve grown older.
Yes, I’m older too.
The remainder of our lives is before us,
oh, what’ll we do?

What were the dreams
you had so long ago?
What was your vision?
Where did it go?

You traveled your way.
I went mine.
A history so different,
yet lives intertwined.

The gray now shows in our locks,
showing how much we cared.
Your grin still lights my life,
my smile brightens yours when shared.

You lived for then.
I lived for when.
We never lived in the moment.
No we never lived in the now.

Copyright © 2008 by Jimmie A. Kepler
Originally published in WORDS..RHYMES..POETRY & PROSE!

“The Pacific War: The Strategy, Politics, and Players That Won The War” by William B. Hopkins

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“The Pacific War: The Strategy, Politics, and Players That Won the War” is the best book I have read on the Pacific War Theater of World War Two. The book presents the decision-making processes, strategies, and at times politics that guided the Allied Forces to victory. You are there decision by decision and campaign.
This is both an extremely readable book filled with recent scholarly research. It is as entertaining as a novel. The prose is amazing. I cannot over emphasize how well written the book is. It has an amazing freshness readers will enjoy and is a book you will read from cover to cover. The book covers all the familiar episodes as well as censored or little known events that played a major role in final victory.
The book begins with the first few chapters setting the background. The chapters that follow tell the story chronologically. The chapters are so well written they could stand as independent historical journal articles. They cover the various campaigns.
You receive insights into all aspects of the war. You learn about the big picture items like Plan Orange (a series of United States Joint Army and Navy Board war plans for dealing with a possible war with Japan during the years between the First and Second World Wars) and it’s implementation.
You learn of the economic mobilization of the USA. You learn of the size of the role of Australia’s involvement in the defeat of Japan as well as the size of General MacArthur’s ego. You learn of the role of breaking code and how it was critical to victories in the Coral Sea and Midway.
The battle between the Army and Navy over command and control amazed me. The infighting between services was childish. It shows the need for strong command and control – I think of the removal of an Army general by a USMC general which from the facts given was justified, but caused inter-service strife. You learn how 1944 presidential candidate Thomas Dewey was made aware of the role of the code breaking by General Marshall to keep him from causing grave injury to the war effort.
The role of the submarines is given due credit. The problems with the torpedoes at the war’s beginning and their resolution show bureaucratic failures and American ingenuity.  The decisions to keep US Army Divisions out of Burma and China as well as the struggles between Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai Shek and Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stilwell, Commanding General, China Expeditionary Forces. You learn the details of the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Philippines as well as realize General MacArthur’s personal obsession with the Philippines.
I highly recommend the book. It should be required reading for every Army, Navy, and USMC officer. It should be included in every military and university library as well. This is a very import addition to the history of the Pacific War in World War Two.

Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II

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Phil Nordyke’s “Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II” is an excellent. It is must reading for any student of World War II. Mr. Nordyke does an great job as he takes us with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) from its beginnings and training in the United States, through its deployment to North Africa, and through its campaigns in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Holland, the Bulge, and Germany before returning home.

The book takes it title from the 505 PIR’s record four combat jumps in Sicily, Salerno/Naples, Ste Mere Eglise/Normandy, and Nijmegen/Holland. Stars representing participation in combat jumps had been worn unofficially on parachute wings during and after World War II. FYI – this practice did not gain official sanction until after the 1983 invasion of Grenada, Operation Urgent Fury.

I took about six weeks to read the book. I found it a book that that demanded I read every word on every page. Be prepared for some very graphic descriptions of the training and combat. You’ll feel the heat of north Africa. I was disappointed as I read the Hermann Goring Fallschrim Panzer and 15th Panzer Grenadier Divisions were on Sicily, that General Bradley knew it, and because of secrecy of Ultra they did not pass this information on to the attacking forces! “This was a cruel deception of our own forces, but necessary in order to protect the secrets of Ultra.”

Mr. Nordyke does an excellent job of using primary sources. At first I was a little confused when I encountered an incident that was described from multiple persons points of view, but quickly saw the value in seeing the way more than one person viewed/remembered an incident. It helped paint a more complete picture. Pages 300 – 301 and the actions of Private Camille E. Gagne’s response to the killing of First Lieutenant John Dodd is one example. The coverage giving to the 505th’s role in Nijmegen/Holland is very detailed and had me feeling I was were there.

The 505th PIR’s involvement didn’t stop after it’s fourth jump into Nijmegen/Holland. They played a key role being deployed by truck into Belgium’s Ardennes Forest as the 82 Airborne Divisions helped stop Hitler’s in The Battle of the Bulge in freezing December 1944 and January 1945.

The book has exceptional maps and an amazing index. This book should be required reading for active duty members wearing jump wings. It is a must addition to any military historian’s library and would be an excellent addition for all university and community libraries.

The German Wars: A Concise History, 1859-1945 by Michael A. Palmer

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This is not another book on the history of the German military. Instead, Michael A. Palmer’s excellent volume takes a wide-ranging approach looking at political, social, economic, and military developments across Europe, and the United States of the period. He outlines the history of the European political and military landscape.  Between 1859 –1945 the German were engaged in the War of German Unification, Franco-Prussian War, World War I and World II. They won two of wars and lost two wars.   

Dr. Palmer’s book is a small volume. Including indexes, it is only 248 pages. There is an amazing amount of information contained in this small space. While not a detailed tome, the author supplies enough information for you to get the general picture of a subject.  For example, he surveys the reasons for World War II, including the role of the Treaty of Versailles and the Kellogg-Brand Pact but does not get bogged down in the finer points.

Dr. Palmer’s book has a wonderful blend of scholarship and readability. He communicates the information in an interesting manner. I loved the sidebars he has throughout the book. They cover a variety of subjects relevant to the wars. They expand and explain various points. For example, he does an excellent job of explaining the strategic bombing in World War II. In February 1944, the around the clock bombing of the Eighth sand Fifteen Air Forces quickly ground down the Luftwaffe to their knees. Learning of the role the air war hard in reducing German production output by as much as forty percent amazed me.

Excellent critical thinking is demonstrated in the last chapter title “Conclusions”. The focus of the chapter is conclusions that can be drawn from the wars.  He shows an innate error in the German plans for World War I and World War II. He shows how the leadership anticipated the wars quick conclusion. They failed to plan for a war that lasted more than a few weeks. For instance, German war production for World War II did not reach maximum efficiency until the war was several years along. Why? The Germans thought their prewar supplies would be sufficient for a short war.

The origination of the index at the book’s end is very helpful. First, there is traditional index. Next, battles, military units, organizations, people, places/geography, wars, and weapons organize the index. This makes it easy to locate information.

This is an excellent book  – well done, Dr. Palmer. It is highly readable. It would be an excellent addition to the library of any military historian, public library, university library as well as personal collection of persons with interest in European or Trans-Atlantic History.