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--Background Journal----Personal Journal-- --History & Travel Journal Book 1-- History & Travel Journal book 2-- --Family Journal----Privacy Journal for my Descendants--

CHAPTER 6 PART 4


MY LIFE HISTORY US ARMY


My employment during this period of time: From April 1958 to July 1958, Company B 13th Infantry Fort Carson Colorado; July 1958 to October 1958, Medical Specialist School Fort Sam Houston Texas; October 1958 to October 1960 at 225th Station Hospital Germany; October 1960 to March 1961 at 87th Transportation Company Fort Lewis Washington; April 1961 to September 1963, US Army Support Detachment and US Army Dispensary Fort Douglas Utah; September 1963 to October 1964, 1st Cavalry Division Korea; November 1964 to July 1965, US Army Support Detachment Fort Wayne (Detroit) Michigan; July 1965 to April 967, VI US Army Corps Battle Creek Michigan. See Chapter 8 Present Day Forts/Post, for information about Forts that I have been assigned to on active duty and at Annual Training with the US Army Reserve.
In 1958 the Boise-Stanley Highway Association was established. Voters defeat "Right to Work" initiative. My sister Donna Kay Wakley married Ronald Stowell on the 6th June 1958 at Preston Idaho. He was born on the 14th March 1935 at Preston Idaho. De Verl Stowell was born on the 6th of November 1958 at Preston Idaho. In 1959 Brownlee Dam was completed on the Snake River. Micheal Lynn Wakley was born on the 31st October 1959 at Downey Idaho.
I arrived at Fort Carson, Colorado on the 30th of April 1958 to start basic training with Company B, 13th Infantry. Fort Carson is located at Colorado Springs, which is a center of one of the most fabulous resort areas in the world. Here may be found almost any form of outdoor recreation known. In this area there is the mighty Pikes Peak, towering more than 14,000 feet; it can be scaled in season by automobile and cog railway and the year 'round by foot. Other attractions to be found in this area are the Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, Cave of the Winds, Ute Pass, Cripple Creek and Victor Colorado, Gold Camp Road, Rampart Range, Cheyenne Mountain, the remarkable Will Roger's Shrine of the Sun, Prospect Lake, Seven Falls, and so it goes, so many in fact that you will have a difficult time deciding which to see first. By all means plan a trip to Colorado Springs itself, a city known for its lovely homes, and beautiful churches; famed health and pleasure resorts. Boulder is the home of the University of Colorado and site of Colorado's first schoolhouse. Boulder Canyon, Roosevelt National Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park are nearby. Central City is the first town on Gregory Gulch, scene of the first great gold rush to the Rockies and called "the richest square mile on earth," Now the town is partly "ghost". Cripple Creek is the mining era, one of the richest gold fields in the world. Royal Gorge is a deep and colorful canyon on the Arkansas River, near Canon City. An 880-foot suspension bridge swings across the top of the Gorge, 1,053 feet above the river. Fine architecture, murals, and statuary at Denver mark the state capital's beautiful Civic Center and Capital Hill. The city park has a color lighted electric fountain in the center of its lake. Rare western history collections are in the Public Library and the State Museum. Denver is the home of the first Juvenile Court, the Emily Griffith Opportunity School and the University of Denver. Denver was settled in 1858, incorporated in 1861, and named the capital of the Colorado Territory in 1867. Although most of the city was destroyed by fire in 1863, it was rapidly rebuilt. In the 1870's and 1880's rich lodes of silver, gold and copper were found in the nearby Rocky Mountains, giving rise to an influx of miners and fortune seekers. Makeshift boardinghouses and noisy saloons, such as the famous Silver Dollar surrounded plush opera houses, featuring singers imported from the East to bring culture to the city. Ornate mansions of the city's fine street were often owned by illiterate miners who had made fortunes overnight. As the boom quieted in the 1880's Denver began its steady growth as a commercial, shipping and food-processing center. A private mint formed here and purchased by the US Government in 1862, is one of three Federal mints still in operation. I visited Fort Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs, Royal Gorge Bridge l053 feet above Arkansas River, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Grad Junction, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Pikes Peak Highway and Cog Train, Rocky Mountain National Park, Burlington, Vail, Glenwood Springs, Cripple Creek, and Fort Carson Colorado.
I went from Fort Carson Colorado to the US Army Medical training Center at Fort Sam Houston Texas on the 4th of July 1968 where I attended Medical Special School until the 1st of October 1968.
Fort Sam Houston is located at San Antonio Texas, an historic Old City and busy industrial community. Among its many interesting places is the Alamo, where 187 Americans made their last stand. I visited the following in Texas – Amarillo, Abilene, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, the Alamo, Kelly AFB, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, Mission Concepcian, Mission San Juan, Mission la Espada, Texarkana, and Fort Davis Texas, a frontier outpost that battled comanches and apaches. I went from Fort Sam Houston Texas in October 1958, stopping at St. Louis MO, Fort Dix, NJ, and New York City. I visited Little Rock Arkansas, Newark, Trenton, Fort Dix New Jersey, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Coney Island, UN headquarters, Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Terminal, and Fort Hamilton. In Pennsylvania I visited Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg. All this places were visited going over to or coming back from Germany.
St. Louis Missouri is the largest city in Missouri, situated on the Mississippi River just below its junction with the Missouri. Founded by French fur traders, St. Louis is still an important market for raw furs, as well as a center for grain and the production of stoves, machinery, and other manufactures.
New York City is the greatest metropolis in the world today. New York City embraces five boroughs-Manhattan, business and financial district; Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, industrial and residential areas; and Richmond (Staten Island, reached by bridge. Flags of all nations may be seen on vessels in its heterogeneous harbor. Major among its attractions are Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange; Central Park and other parks, boulevards, highways, and tunnels; Bronx Zoo; Aquarium; Greenwich Village; the Bowery; Chinatown, Harlem; famous cathedrals and churches; Broadway and Time Square; Metropolitan Opera; Empire State, United Nations Building; and other skyscrapers; City Hall; great museums and art galleries; General Grant's National Memorial; Statue of Liberty National Monument; Radio City; Columbia University; Brooklyn Navy Yard; Governors Island; Coney Island.
As of 1958 when I went to the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
is bordered on the north by the North Seas, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea, on the east by East Germany and Czechoslovakia, later East Germany and West Germany became one nation, on the south by Switzerland and Austria, and on the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. I was stationed at the 225th Station Hospital Munchweiler just outside of Pirmasens Germany with its old inns, churches, shops and narrow streets that attract many travelers.
I worked in the personnel office at the hospital.
Deciduous trees such as oak, beech, and pine make up a third of Germany's forests. Heavy spruce growths are found in the mountains, while pine and larch predominate in the sandy lowlands. Cuckoo clocks enchanted my visit to Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe, Saarbrucken, Zweibrucken, Kaiserslautern, and Landau. Germich-Portenkirchen is an international winter-sports resort in south Bavaria. The highest peak in Germany, Zugspitze (9,721 feet) is nearby. Rheinstrein Castle, North of the Whirlpool at Bingen, by the springs of Mattiaci-the baths of Wiesbaden. Today it's one of the most popular health resorts of Europe. In the old Port of Frankfurt an Main, a few of the buildings erected in the Middle Ages still stand, and the Bird Pond, which fascinates young visitors to the world famous Hegenbeck Zoo, which is in the Stellingen district of Hamburg Germany. Just one month before I was do to come home I meet this girl by the name of Renata or Renada. If I would of meet her the first month I came to Germany I may of got married to her. I took a trip to Spain, England, France and Switzerland, in July 1960 just before I came home to the United States. First I went to England by air, than came back to Germany and went by car to Switzerland. Then I took an airplane hop on an USAF Airplane to Dreux France the first day and the second day went to Chateauroux France and Madrid Spain.
In Madrid I saw a bullfight near the waterfront and breakwaters.
The Gran Via in Madrid is one of the main thoroughfares. Open air-restaurants extend out into the sidewalks; Avenida Jose Antonio is a fashionable business street in the heart of Madrid. From Madrid I took a Spanish airplane to Barcelona where every Sunday young and old join in the regional (or folk) dances. I went from Barcelona to the Pyrenees, a mountain chain between France and Spain by railroad. In the Pyrenees there are few valleys more beautiful than the Vall'ee d' Ossau which runs northward from the cleft summit of the Pic du Midi d' Ossau (9,467 feet height). In the Pyrenees is the famous shrine at Lourdes were I spent two days. From Lourdes I went by train up the coast of France and then to Paris. Paris is the capital and largest city of France; situated on the Seine River. Paris is a city of the world rather than of France alone. For centuries, artists, writers, revolutionaries, dreamers, expatriates, and intellectuals have found their home here. The Seine River divides Paris into two sections. Its wide avenues, large, ornate monuments, and fashionable shops create the stately air of the Right Bank. Montmartre, the home of lavish nightclubs, is here. The left bank is the governmental section and the focus of intellectual life. Its most celebrated districts are Montparnasse, noted for its small cafes; the Faubourg Saint-Germain, and haven for both aristocrats and artists; and the Latin Quarter, for centuries a preserve for students. Two woods stand at opposite ends of Paris, the Bois de Boulogne, with the Longchamp and Auteuil racetracks, and the Bois de Vincennes, dating from the 13th century. The Arc de Triomphe, commemorating Napoleon's victories, was begun in 1806 and completed 30 year later. At its center is the tomb of France's Unknown Soldier, guarded by an eternal flame. The Arc is situated on the Place de l'Etoile, or Star Place, so called because 12 avenues radiate from it. The Louvre is one of the finest museums in the world. Among its treasures in 1960 were Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the statues of the Venus de Milo and Nike of Samothrace. One of the city's most famous landmarks is the Eiffel tower, built for the Exposition of 1889 by Gustave Eiffel. From Paris I returned by train to Germany stopping at Strasbourg France, where there are soaring Gothic Cathedral's I returned to the United States by steamship by way of Southampton England (4,166 miles).
In 1960 the population of Idaho was 667,191. There was seven-month strike at Bunker Hill Mine. Barbara Jean Stowell was born 29th of March 1960 at Preston Idaho. In July and August there were forest fires in Halls Canyon and Idaho City area. When I came home in September 1960 my sister-in-law La Vona and my brother La Mont were having some trouble while I was in Germany and my sister-in law became interested in me when we went to Eastern Idaho State Fair. We where both very thankful that nothing came of this many year later. I was assigned to the 87th Transportation Company at Fort Lewis Washington in October 1960. Olympia, with its new capitol buildings on an impressive site overlooking Budd Inlet, emphasizes character of the city as state capital. A suburb of Tumwater, first American settlement was Puget Sound (1845). Olympia is the gateway to famed Olympic Peninsula recreation area. Olympic National Park occupies the heart of ragged Olympic Peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound; there are preserves, primeval forests of giant trees and native animal life, zones ranging from temperate rain forests to mountain glaciers. Mt. Rainier National Park rises from near sea level to over 14,410 feet, Mt. Rainier, a dormant if not extinct volcano, is dominant natural feature of the state. The park has permanent snowfields and glaciers, high meadows and crystal clear lakes, and a great variety of trees and flowers. Paradise Valley on the south side has hotel and camping; Yakima Park on the north has cabin camp and picnic grounds. Tacoma is an important lumber-manufacturing center. Large smelters handle copper ores from all parts of the world. In Point Defiance Park is full size replica of Hudson's Bay Company Fort Nisqually, first white settlement in the area. Nearby Fort Lewis is one of the largest permanent army posts. Seattle is the metropolis of Washington and the Pacific Northwest. Salt-water harbor of Elliott Bay is rimmed by port facilities for largest ocean going vessels; the fresh water harbor via government locks is a haven of fishing and pleasure boats. Scenic boulevards link waterfronts with hilltops and provide views of distant mountains. University of Washington, farmers' Public Market, Frozen Fish Museum, Volunteer Park Conservatory, Smith Cove docks and Lake Washington Bridge are of interest. Industries are varied-lumbering, airplane manufacturing, aluminum fabrication, shipbuilding, and others. The Puget Sound Island includes beautiful Vashon and Bainbridge, island suburbs of Tacoma and Seattle. Whidbey, the largest island, has access to the mainland via Fidalgo Island, by a bridge across tide-ripped Deception Pass, the San Juan group of nearly 200 habitable islands and hundreds of barren rocks. Protected waters and sheltered coves are a paradise for yachtsman, fisherman, picnicker, and campers. Seattle began as a small lumber settlement in 1851. The town was plotted in 1853 and named for Chief Seattle of the Duwamish and Suquamish Indians. Although incorporated in 1869, Seattle remained as small lumber town until it was made the terminus of the Great Northern Railroad in 1893. A huge fire destroyed the downtown area in 1898, but recovery was rapid. The city burgeoned under the impetus of the Alaskan gold rush in 1897 and the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. During World War II the city's aircraft industry boomed, and in the past twenty years Seattle has emerged as a major industrial center. Portland Oregon is the largest city of Oregon and one of the leading lumber-shipping ports in the world; also know as "the City of Roses." The annual Rose Festival is held in June. Points of interest include the Portland Art Museum; the Civic Auditorium, which houses the Oregon Historical Society Collection; the Rough Rider Statue of Theodore Roosevelt; the statue of Sacajawea, the "Bird Woman," in Washington Park; the sunken rose gardens in Peninsula Park; and the Forestry Building. Mount Hood, Oregon's highest mountain, rising 11,245 feet in the Cascade Range is east of Portland. Its impressive snow-capped pyramidal peak can be seen from a great distance. Comparatively easy to ascend, by tramway and chairlift, it is a popular recreation area, offering magnificent views from its summit. Portland was founded in 1845 and chartered in 1851. Portland expanded rapidly as a supply point for the California Oil fields. The establishment of the salmon industry after the Civil War and the arrival of the first railroad in 1883 gave further impetus to the city's growth. From 1897 to 1900 Portland was an important base of supplies for the Alaskan gold rush, and in 1905 it was the site of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. During World War II the city emerged as a major shipbuilding port. The floodwaters of the Columbia River inundated much of the city in 1948, causing considerable property damage. I visited the following in the State of Oregon and Washington –Portland, The Dalles, Pendleton, Baker, Salem, Coos Bay, Mount Hood Wilderness Area, Columbia River Gorge, Eugene, and Ontario. Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass, Bellington, Everett, Tacoma, Mount St. Helens, Vancouver, Yakima, Richland, Ellensburg, Moses Lake, Spokane, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Space Needle, Pioneer Square, U.S.S. Missouri by Seattle Whitman Mission National Historic Site, and the State Capital at Olympia.
In 1961 the Oxbow Dam was completed on the Snake River. W.A. Harriman and E. Roland Harriman provided that their holdings at Railroad Ranch eventually become a state park, providing that the state establish a professionally managed park system. Ernest Hemingway dies in Ketchum on July 2, 1961. Family Scripture Study, Individual and Family Prayers, Family Home Evenings: The plan of salvation, The life and teachings of Jesus: Repentance , Prayer, Fasting, The Word of Wisdom, The Lord's standard of morality, The meaning of the sacrament, Tithing, Gratitude, Honesty, Reverence for God and His creations, Preparing for baptism, priesthood ordination, or marriage, Reading the scriptures, Keeping the Sabbath day holy, Learning to forgive others, Gaining and sharing a testimony, Sharing the gospel with others, Compiling histories of family members, Understanding and accepting death, Solving family problems, Managing family finances, Sharing the work of the family, Appreciating and enjoying music. On 17th of July 1961 Charlene Stowell was born in Preston Idaho. In April 1961 I was assigned to the US Army Garrison at Fort Douglas, Utah and in February 1962 I was assigned to the US Army Dispensary at Fort Douglas, Utah. In March 1962 I became a Specialist 5 E5 in the US Army. In April I met Glenda Nielsen who I dated until July when she started going out with another boy when I was not in Preston Idaho, so I broke up with her.
I met my wife on the 8th of September 1962 at Salt Lake City Utah. We were married on the 8th of December 1962. My Wife was born on the 25th of October 1943 at Salt Lake City Utah to Milton E Canham and Thelma Richardson Canham. She was given the name of
Barbara Jean Canham.

When I meet Barbara something came over me. I had a felling that we meet in the premortal life. It seems that I had known her forever. This made me believe that we were meet of each other, since we lived with our Father in Heaven as spirits before we were born. We were individuals and were created in the image of our Father. We were, however, unlike him in many ways. He was much more fully developed spiritually, and we did not have a physical body, as he does. To enable us to become like him, our Father in Heaven prepared a plan that allowed us to come to the earth.
In this mortal life, we are given opportunities to become like our Heavenly Father. As we are born into this life, our spirit enters a physical body.
Barbara and myself were married within three months from the time we meet. We meet on the 8th of September, got engaged on the 8th of October and married on the 8th of December 1962. Your first big date was going to the Utah State Fair September 1962.
  How do I love my wife? I expect my love for my wife to last for the rest of my life.  Even when my wife is hard to  deal with, I remain committed to our relationship.  I am actively supportive of my wife's well-being. I have a warm relationship with Barbara. My wife is able to count on me in times of need. I am willing to share myself and my possessions with her. I give considerable emotional support to my wife. I communicate well with her. I value Barbara greatly in my live. I feel close to her. I have a comfortable relationship with my wife. I feel that I really understand her. I feel that I can really trust her. I share deeply personal information about myself with her. My relationship with Barbara is very romantic.  I find her to be very personally attractive. I idealize her. I cannot imagine another person making me as happy as my wife does. I would rather be with her than with anyone else. There is nothing more important to me than my relationship with Barbara. I especially like physical contact with her. There is something almost "magical" about my relationship with her. I adore her. I cannot imagine life without her. My relationship with her is passionate. When I see romantic books I think of my wife.  I fantasize about my wife. I know that I care about her. I am committed to maintaining my relationship with her. I could not let anything get in the way of my commitment to Barbara.  I will always feel a strong responsibility for her. I view my relationship with her as permanent.  Because of my commitment to my wife, I would not let other people come between use. I have confidence in the stability of my relationship with my wife. I will always feel a strong responsibility for her. I view my commitment to her as a solid one. I cannot imagine ending my relationship with her. I am  certain of my love for her. I view my relationship with her as a good decision. I feel a sense of responsibilty toward her. I plan to continue my relationship with Barbara.
My Lady: She is the captor of my heart, She is the treasured prize, She is the one I love, My lady and my queen. My lady is so beautiful, Inside and outs, My lady has taught me lots of things, Like what my life's about. She is my lady, My confidant and friend; I will love my lady, Until Earth is at its end. I promise to be noble and true, and your protector too, I will say yes and not maybe, Because you are my lady.
The dream is real, See how I feel? Dreaming it with you is great it is now you are the one you are the one...The one I prayed for, The one I long for, and the one true thing I seek. You are the one that makes my heart sing you are the one thing I need. Don't try to guess why. Some things are not for the ear to hear. They are for the heart to feel. They are from the Lord above. You are that one. The one I share with and care about. The one who loves with all your heart? Forever more not to part, you are the one.
The man I love is special not only on this day each memory created forever treasures stay. Father to our children the man that I adore. Days are blessed with happiness I could not love you more. This life cannot be measured when you are at my side the days are filled with sunshine my heart so filled with pride. Wonderful reflections of all you've given me. You beside me sweetheart I love you endlessly.
Taught with deepest reverence the joy within the land. Learned it from my Father Streams of life all spanned memories all gathered in fire's special glow. Lessons life has gathered these things my Father sowed kept within my special dreams. The walks I'll always keep treasures of my fleeting youth, emotions running deep, smiles he gave so readily hearts that never sleep. Things my Father taught me the bounty I will reap
My wife Barbara and myself had a little girl born to us on the 7th of August 1963 at Salt Lake City Utah by the name of Jeannie Renada Wakley.

If all things in life were plain to see, I wonder what you think of me, would you see the inner self, or would you look for outer wealth? Can you hear the unspoken word, Could you read the unwritten text, or would you look for clues, Of what to happen next? Will you stop and hear my heart, If I didn't do my part, would you help to ease my pain, would you leave me or remain? If I fall and stumble too, Could I call upon you? Will you share the good and bad, would you joke when I am sad? Can you see beyond the flesh, Can you be my happiness? And if dream a certain dream, Do in my eyes, you see the gleam? I ask all this, of you my sweet, That you would make my life complete, I promise to love you and do my part, And keep you close within my heart. In goodness and health, In bad times, and in ill, I will not faultier in my will, And when I am gone, and then until, I will be here, loving you, STILL.
Waterfall Love: You and I are destined to be, Our dreams have become reality, Every day, our love grows strong, the love we share, cannot be wrong. Our love is like a stream following the mountainside, Sometimes it is narrow, sometimes it is wide, Sometimes we hit rapids and sometimes we are still, Our love does remain, our destiny and our will. And then there are times, the best I recall, They are found among the falls, The trusting drop of our loves fate, Is like the way I fell for you, my foretold mate. The silent stillness, after the falls, knowing not, confining walls, We do make our way downstream, Wake me not from this waterfall dream.
Falling In Love with You: Another day goes by, Again, my heart is heavy, Weighted down by an emptiness, That only you can fill. I have asked myself a thousand times, If I am just dreaming about you and me, The answer is clear and constant, We are destined to be. I am falling in love with you, Deeper, I fall, with each moment that I live, The words I love you ring out constantly, I have so much love I want to give. My bed is so cold since you left, It is hardly a place to rest, Perhaps it will never be the same, and perhaps I've had the best. And when I sleep, I dream of you, Your hair, your smile, your touch, I am falling in love with you, I want you so very much. And once upon a life or two, I need to say once more, I am falling in love with you, The best is yet in store.

Darrel La Mar's Best Old Fashioned Dessert
1 to 2 cans Fruit Cocktail (drain the juice)
1 to 2 hand full of Miniature Marshmallows or more if you like marshmallows
Lots and Lots of Whipped Cream
Stir together in a large bowl
Note: On holidays add small broken portions of chopped assorted nuts and/or raisins
Note: On holidays add some real Fruit to the bowl


Salt Lake City Utah is the State Capital of Utah, situated in North-central Utah, southeast of the Great Salt Lake. Led by Brigham Young, a group of Mormons seeking refuge from religious persecution in the East founded Salt Lake City in 1847. The settlers transformed the dry, desert area into irrigated farm land, built a gigantic temple (requiring nearly fifty years to complete), and established the city as the center of the Mormon religion. During the California gold rush of 1849, Salt Lake City prospered, as a supply point for miner's en route to the West Coast. In 1849 the city was connected to the first transcontinental railroad, the Union Pacific. Expansion continued, and when Utah entered the Union in 1896, Salt Lake City became its capital. In 1961, Salt Lake is an important air and rail hub and a distribution point for a rich agricultural and mining area. Manufacturing, communications, and defense projects are also important to the economy. Salt Lake lies at the foot of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. Temple Square, in the heart of the city, contains the most important buildings of the Mormon Church; the Mormon Temple, an imposing building of gray granite; and the Tabernacle, housing one of the largest organs in the world. Other reminders of the city's heritage are the Pioneer Memorial Building and the Beehive House, former home of the Brigham Young.
In 1962, the Lewis and Clark highway (US 12) in the Lochsa Canyon Idaho was completed. In 1963 the Idaho Legislative Council was established. Idaho State College in Pocatello attains University status. Lewis and Clark Normal becomes a four year college. The horseracing Act, to permit pari-mutuel betting, becomes law over Governor's veto (first override in twenty years). Idaho celebrates Territorial Centennial.
I was assigned to the lst Calvary Division in the Republic of Korea (Land of the Morning Calm) in September 1963. I first took an airplane from Salt Lake City Utah to San Francisco California. Sir Francis Drake, sailing under the English flag on a voyage around the world, arrived in the San Francisco Bay area in 1579. A mission and fort, named Yerba Buena, the place of the good herb, were founded in 1776 at a site chosen by Juan Bautista de Anza. In 1846, during the Mexican War, Commodores John D. Sloat and renamed San Francisco took the village for the United States the following year. In 1848, gold was discovered in the Sierra Nevada and the California gold rush was launched. The disastrous earthquake and fire, the single most important event in San Francisco's history, occurred in 1906 when the San Andreas Fault, a long crack in the earth's surface on which the city is built, suddenly shifted. The city was almost completely destroyed, but it was quickly rebuilt and its growth has continued unchecked. San Francisco has become the leading industrial and commercial center on the Pacific Coast.
I went from San Francisco to Honolulu Hawaii by steamship, being there for one day before going by steamship to Yokohama Japan. I stayed at Yokohama Japan for one day before going by steamship to Inchon Korea.
Honolulu is a romantic south-seas tourist center, home of fabled Waikiki Beach and its sentinel Diamond Head, as extinct volcano, is the capital of the newest state. Iolani Palace, the present capitol, served as the royal palace from the 1880's. Its Throne Room is kept as it was during the reign of king Kalakaua. Polynesians probably migrated to Honolulu in the eighth century; however, the first European, William Brown, did not enter the harbor until 1793. The city's strategic location halfway between America and Asia and its excellent natural harbor facilities were important factors in its growth. I visited Honolulu, U.S.S. Arizona National Park, Waikiki, and Pear Harbor. I got to Korea about 30 days from the time I left the United States. I was assigned to Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division from October 1963 until October 1964. In Korea I helped by teaching English and being a Boy Scout master at an Orphanage in my spare time. Korea is one of the major outposts guarding the free world against Communist aggression. Korea is a typically Asian country, with customs, culture, and way of life different from ours in many respects, and with characteristics distinctly its own. You will find a land of contracts-of beauty and poverty, of tradition and modernization, of intelligence and inexperience. You will also find a people eager to learn, friendly to the United States, and most anxious to develop a modern nation in freedom. The average man is taller than the Japanese is but shorter than the Northern Chinese is. Korean women are usually small, like most Asian women. The family is the primary social unit in Korea, and family relationships have a powerful influence in Korean society. The traditional Korean family is large, as it includes grandparents, parents, sons, daughter-in-law, and their children. When a Korean girl marries, she leaves her family unit and becomes a part of her husband's.
A Korean father is the head of the family unit, and the authority is unquestioned. When the father dies, the oldest son becomes head of the household. The role of the Korean woman is mainly that of mother and homemaker. Korean women may appear to be cold and unfriendly. Actually, they are just shy. Older people, especially grandparents, are held in special honor. According to custom, the first cycle of a man's life ends at age 60, when he is considered "reborn" and enters the second cycle. The next person in line becomes the head of the family, and the old man devotes himself to advising younger people and to leisurely pursuits of retirement. Rice is the staple of the Korean diet. It is eaten at every meal, with other foods included for variety. A favorite dish is Kim-chi, made of highly spiced pickled vegetables. Other foods eaten with rice are dried fish, charcoal-broiled spaghetti, mashed soybeans, sinsullo (meat, fish, eggs and vegetables). Many Koreans believe that, upon death, members of the family become ancestral spirits. They are not sad over the death of an older person who had many children, for he has become immortal through the living members of this family. At traditional Korean wedding ceremonies the couple's exchange marriage vows at the bride's home, where they drink ceremonial rice wine from the same cup. Then the bride goes to her husband's house, where she meets her father-and mother-in-law, and the women of her new family inspect her clothes and dowry. Old marriage customs required the bride to keep her eyes closed and not speak or smile while the rest of the family feasted. Today she takes part in the celebration. When a Korean male child reaches his first birthday, he is formally introduced to his family and friends at a special party. Relatives and friends bring gifts of money, usually placed in envelopes so that no one can see the amount. The infant is attired in special bright-colored clothes prescribed by immemorial custom, including light blue trousers, a peach-colored jacket, and a dark blue vest with three silver buttons down the front. Topping the special outfit is a black, peaked cap with the words "Long Life" and "Good Fortune" painted or embroidered in gold letter on the sides." The child is placed before a table on which is piled various things, representing a different trade or profession. Tradition says that whatever items the child grasps first-a tailor's needle, a scholars writing brush, or an artisan's tool, for example-indicates his choice of a career. Koreans are great music lovers. Music has been an important part of Korean life for nearly 2,000 years. Many instruments still played today were invented century's age. Traditional Korean music is based on a 5-note scale, as in the United States we are accustomed to an 8-note scale. Seoul, the capital, with a population of more than 2,000,000 is the largest city in the Korean peninsula. Four mountains surround it, the Namsan of the South, the Naksan of the East, the Inwagsan on the West, and the Pukhansan on the North. The Han River flows westward through the city. South Gate is Seoul's oldest structure, built in 1396. In addition to the South Gate, two others, the East and West Gates, still stand. A short walk in a northerly direction from the South Gate will bring you to the heart of Seoul. Here you'll find most of the big hotels, shops, department stores, theaters, business offices, and foreign embassies. Here, too, is Seoul's Civic Center, dominated by the impressive City Hall. Nearby are the National Assembly Building and most of the government officers. Seoul's special lure and charm are its palaces, parks museums, and monuments of its colorful past. One of the most famous and interesting of these ancient places is Duksoo Palace. Pagoda Park named for the beautiful 13-story pagoda located there. One of the most interesting places in Seoul is Changduk Palace and the Secret Garden. Most of the Yi dynasty lived within the palace area, which dates from 1404. The 56 building and the grounds are now a national shrine. Here you will find beautiful throne rooms; royal chambers still furnished in regal splendor, and the only blue tiled roof in Korea. The Secret Garden, landscaped in 1623 for the recreation of royalty, it regarded as one of the most enchanting spots in the country. Along its sloping paths and trails are numerous quaintly shaped ponds and pavilions.
Other places of special interest in Seoul include: Gyumgbok Palace at the foot of Pukhansan Mountain; Suko Jun (Stone House), the first foreign-style building erected on the grounds of a Yi dynasty palace; Hwanggoodan (Alter to Heaven), an octagonal pavilion built in 1895, where a figure of the God of Heaven was sacrificed to the spirits of heaven; Jungneung, a peaceful, secluded spot and site of the royal tomb; Namsan Kongwon (South Mountain Park) on the western slope of Namsan Mountain. There are cool brooks, wooded areas, and well-paved roads for delightful rides in the evening and trails for hiking. At Ddooksum Park on the Han River, about 10 minutes walk from the East Gate; you will find facilities for boating and other recreation. Inchon, 24 miles west of Seoul, with a population of 40,000 is the seaport for Seoul. It was here that one of the most successful amphibious operations in modern warfare took place on 15 September 1950, when General Douglas MacArthur directed the UN forces in a surprise landing that changed the course of the war. A statue of General MacArthur commemorating this event stands on the ground of Mangook Park. Inchon offers one of the finest sea views in Korea. Offshore are numerous island, most of which have excellent beaches. The 30-foot tide, one of the highest in the world, is one the most fascinating sights at Inchon. The worst blow of 1950 came in June, when the Soviet-aided army of North Korea invaded South Korea. Truman sent U. S. troops and gained backing from the United Nations. But after the Chinese Communists intervened, it becomes a three-year war that no one would win--much to the frustration of Americans accustomed to victory. The North Korean People's Army invades South Korea. United Nations forces under General Douglas MacArthur join South Korea in the war. World War II hero Douglas Mac Arthur reversed the course of the war in Korea, only to lose his job after making rash public comments disputing the president's war aims. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel. The Korean peninsula was a flash point left over from World War II. A Japanese colony since 1910, it had been divided after the war into two nations separated by the 38th parallel: Soviet backed North Korea and U.S.-supported South Korea. On June 25, 1950, nearly 100,000 North Koreans smashed across the border and overran Seoul, the South Korean capital. President Truman saw the invasion as a Soviet test of American resolve. "There's no telling what they'll do if we don't put up a fight right now," he said. Because the Soviets were boycotting the United Nations Security Council at the time and were consequently not there to cast a veto, the U. N. approved sending a multinational force to defend South Korea. U. S. and South Korean troops made up about 90 percent of the force at its peak; its commander was General Douglas MacArthur, the fabled American hero of World War II. At first only overwhelming air superiority prevented the U. N. forces from being driven into the sea. But in September MacArthur mounted a marine assault behind enemy lines at Inchon, 30 miles west of Seoul, in a bold stroke that cut off thousands of the enemy. Other U. N. troops pushed northward, reaching the 38th parallel by October 1. MacArthur slashed on toward the Yalu River, the border with Communist China. Suddenly, a vanguard of more the one million Chinese assault troops swarmed across the Yalu, stunning U. N. forces. In some of the bloodiest combat ever endured by Americans. The Chinese drove them back into South Korea. Weary marines and soldiers retreated from North Korea. Trapped near the Chosin Reservoir, the troops had to fight their way to Hamhung, some 40 miles away, for evacuation. The numb, exhausted troops reflect the suffering that U. N. forces endured as they retreated from Chinese troops who launched a ferocious surprise attack across the Yalu River in late 1950. In December 1950, a line of U.S. troops winds through North Korean hills on a 40-mile march to the sea. Temperatures that winter reached 20 below zero. By early 1951 U. N. resistance stiffened near the 38th parallel. MacArthur was burning to hammer China and North Korea into submission—with atomic weapons if necessary. The president, however, feared an all-out attach could ignite a third world war. Determined to negotiate an end to the conflict, he ordered the general to keep his opinions to himself. But in April 1951 MacArthur arrogantly disobeyed orders and went public with his strategy, declaring, "There is no substitute for victory!" Truman promptly fired him, in a move that outraged millions of Americans. After two more years of fighting, North Korea agreed to a cease-fire in July 1953. The truce left the two Koreas still divided and virtually devastated. An armistice ending the Korean War is signed at Panmunjom in 1953. Korea's Human Cost: American Forces deaths: 33,629, Wounded and Missing: 103,284. Other U. N. Forces: Deaths: 2,550, Wounded and Missing: 9,076. South Koreans (military and civilian) Deaths: 591,285, Wounded and Missing: 1,293,592. Communist Forces (North Korea and China) Deaths: est. 1,347,000. U. S. troops are still there today protecting the truce and border.
In 1964 in Idaho the combined convention and primary system was implemented, parties attempt to restrict the number of state primary candidates appearing on the ballot. Federal Court ends reading in Boise public schools. The state parks department, water resource board, and personnel system created. Nez Perce National Historic Park established in north central Idaho. Boise Junior College was given 4-yuear status. In 1964 Selway-Bitterroot Wildness Area was established. It was included with other lands when Wilderness Act was passed so the first area in Idaho seen by white men (traveled by Lewis and Clark) yet remains in its original condition and extends into Montana. My Grandmother Bertha Olive Thornton Wakley died on the 4th of June 1964 at Blackfoot, Bingham, Idaho and burial was at Downey, Bannock, Idaho on the 8th of June 1964. Vicky Stowell was born on 23rd of Dec 1964 at Preston Idaho. Trust in your heart, feel what is real, Let go and allow yourself to heal, trust in your heart, for it knows what to do, it is seeking to find, something for you. Trust, that all things will be for the good, your heart will love, as it always should, nurture for once, yourself and be whole, get back what is lost, and search for your soul. Trust in your heart, to do what is right, then something will happened, a splendid delight, you will feel so much better and things will progress, and at last you will feel, true happiness. I tell you sincerely, true love does exist, and is always found, by those who persist, let go of all things, that tare you apart, be whole, be you, and trust in your heart.

Grandmother's Wakley's Mormon Gravy
4 tablespoons meat drippings (bacon, beef, pork or ham)
3 tablespoon flour
2 cups milk
salt, pepper and paprika
Remove any meat from pan and measure fat. Return desired amount of fat to skillet. Add flour and brown slightly if desired. Remove from heat and add milk, stirring well to blend. Return to heat and cook and stir until mixture is thick and smooth. Season to taste. Serves 6 to 8. Serve with potatoes, biscuits, corn bread, or even pancakes or waffles.

I left Korea in October 1964 by airplane, landing first at Tokyo Japan, then Honolulu Hawaii, San Francisco California, and Salt Lake City Utah. I was assigned to the US Army Support Center (Fort Wayne) Detroit Michigan November 1964 until July 1965 and then reassigned to VI US Army Corps in Battle Creek Michigan until I left the US Army after having 9 years in on the 24th of April 1967. While we were in Michigan my wife and myself had a new baby girl by the name of Karen Le Wakley, born on the 17th of May 1966 at Battle Creek Michigan.
Celebrate Me: Remember the good we shared, In all you do, celebrate me, Remember how I taught you things, Like what are lives are meant to be. Smile for me when you're feeling blue, Think only of joy when thoughts of me enter in, Do not cry for me, A new chapter in my life, do I begin. I am certain that I'll miss you, Sure as snow upon the mountain, My love for you will not end, and I pour forth from my hearts' fountain. So as you mourn, and begin to heal, remember always, it is you I adore, Forever and ever, I am at peace, celebrate me, once more.
I Watched the Sunrise and I thought of you. Over the mountains it was a clear, crisp morning and the sky was a deep shade of purple. I could not help but think of you. I was wondering what dream you were dreaming at that very moment. As I sat, I saw the darkness turn to light and all the vibrant colors came to life. Again, my thoughts returned to you, and with that awesome beauty before me, I thought how wonderfully colorful you have made my life. After a short time sitting and watching, the day began with jubilant light. As the light became more intense, I felt as though you had joined me there. Just for a moment, I felt your presence, and the warmth of your touch. As the reality set in, that you were not there, sadness came over me. Just for one moment, sadness that we were separated by so many miles or are we? Were you there with me? Did you see the same sunrise I saw? Did you hear the words; I love you whispered when I spoke? All these things, I feel when I think of you. I miss you so when we are apart and rejoice in knowing soon, we will be together, In the mean time; my thoughts are of you and how much I love you. Solitude and beauty, all this I see and feel. All this, while I sat and watched the sunrise and thought of you.
Forgiven: I never meant to hurt you, I never wanted to fight, I wanted to let you know that I now have clearer sight. You mean so much to me, and I could never do without your love, The many ways that you inspire me, Gentle as a dove. So please forgive my imperfections, and grant my wish today, That I should have your unconditional love, I love you in every way.
Family Activities: Parents should plan times when the family can do things together. Picnics, camping trips, family projects, home and yard cleaning, swimming, and wholesome entertainment is a few of the many activities that families can enjoy together. A family that enjoys activities together will feel greater love and harmony. Children will be more willing to listen to their parents and follow their advice. Parents will be able to teach the gospel more effectively.

My Sister's Yummy Yams and Apples
6 to 8 yams; cook until tender; slice
6 to 8 medium apples, sliced
Layer apples and yams. End with apples on top.
Sauce:
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 pound butter
Bring to boil 2 cups of water. Slowly pour over mixed dry ingredients, stir to blend. Cook until thick. Pour over apples and yams Bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Yields 12 servings.

While we were in Michigan we came home on the 1st of November 1966 for two weeks for my sister Donna Kay Wakley Stowell funeral who died in Salt Lake City Utah. As I viewed Marsh Valley from my father's house, memories stirred. School days! The pain of learning almost secondary to a fine remembrance of friends, happier times those were. More memories; the homes and structures in the valley hadn't changed, with only a sprinkling of newer ones. Crops like sugar beets, potatoes, and wheat were bursting silently from the ground. From the soil and seed was produced this rich progeny…calm was another offspring. So as to keep things, lively, and bright, rainbows of flowers swarmed in a sea of greenery splashed by the sun. Mountains like huge tidal waves, casting dark shadows and cloaked regally in the glimmering pines and cedar trees thick about them, green everywhere! Birds provided a joyful accompaniment to the visual splendor that reached right through you and became part of you and you it. One didn't walk over or through this valley, you walked with it like a friend. Like a friend it shared its beauty with smells and sounds with you. That Marsh Valley is a gift to mere mortals we should all thank God knowing that he may have shared part of his house with us.
In 1964 we visited the following places in Wyoming – Buffalo Bill Historic Center, Devils Tower National Monument, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Grand Teton National Park, Hot Springs State Park at Thermopolis, National Elk Refuge (worlds largest elk hear) at Jackson, Yellowstone National Park, Guernsey, Casper, Riverton, Cheyenne, Laramie, Rowlings, Rock Spring, Evanston, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Sheridan, Cody, and Gillette. Illinois – Chicago, Joliet, La Salle, Moline, and the Illinois Bach State Park. Indiana – Gary, South Bend, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, University of Notre Dame, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Indian Dunes National Lakeshore. Iowa – Davenport, Iowa City, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs. Ohio – Toledo, and Cleveland. In Michigan – Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Port Huron, Holland, Pioneer Village, and Warren Dunes.
Nez Perce National Historic Park was established in 1965. Twenty-four historical areas in north central Idaho retrace the history of the Nez Perce Indians, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and numerous other developments of early Idaho history. In 1966 Governor Smylie defeated for 4th Term. Voters uphold 3 percent sales tax in referendum. Northern Pacific ends passenger service between Lewiston and Spokane. In1967 Legislative compensation commission established. International Boy Scout Jamboree held at Farragut State Park. The State Gem Stone was adopted by the 1967 Legislature. Collectors treasure the Idaho Star Garnet throughout the world. This stone is considered more precious than Star Rubies or Stare Sapphires. Normally the star in the Idaho Garnet has four rays, but occasionally one has six rays as in a Sapphire. The color is usually dark purple or plum and the star seems to glide or float across the dark surface. The state horse, the Appaloosa, is an intelligent, fast and hard working breed. An easy going disposition and exceptional abilities give this horse a great deal of versatility that no doubt contributes to its rapidly rising popularity. Once the war-horses of the Nez Perce, today the Appaloosa serves as a racehorse, in parades, ranch work, and youth programs. The coloring of the Appaloosa's coat is distinct in every individual horse and ranges from white-blanketed hips to a full leopard. In 1968 Hill's Canyon Dam was completed. The Great Rift Natural Landmark was established, the longest rift system in the United States and deepest in the world. The Big Southern Butte Landmark was established. Rises 1,500 feet above the Snake River Plain and was a geographic landmark for early travelers on Goodell's cutoff from the Oregon Trail. Hells' Half Acre established. Contains lava flows determined to be only 4,100 year old.
While in Michigan we were at "Detroit, the Motor Capital of the World." The Rivera Murals at the Institute of Arts depicts its industrial greatness. In the channel of the Detroit River lies the great amusement park, Belle Isle. In the Detroit Zoological Park, at Royal Oak, animals roam in open areas resembling their natural habitat. Grosse Point, a residential section, fronts on Lake St. Clair. Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a French officer, founded a fort and settlement at the site of Detroit in 1701. The British gained control of the area in 1760 and thwarted an Indian attack three years later during Pontiac's Rebellion. In 1796 Detroit and its surrounding area passed to the United States, and from 1805 to 1847 it was the territorial and state capital of Michigan. Although Detroit fell to the British for a short time during the War of 1812, William Henry Harrison recaptured it in 1813. Two year later it was incorporated as a town and in 1824 it received its charter as a city. We went from Detroit on a weeks leave to Niagara Falls Canada/New York USA, by way of Windsor, London, and Toronto Ontario Canada before coming home in April 1967. Niagara Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Also other places we stayed at in Michigan were Ann Arbor where the campus of the University of Michigan extends over half of the town. The famous Nichol Arboretum features lilacs and peonies. Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are central points in the state's southern fruit belt. Benton Harbor holds annual Blossom Festival; fruit is marketed wholesale at the Municipal Fruit Market. Dearborn is the home of Henry Ford, Greenfield Village, model of early American town; exhibits, historic buildings moved to this site- Henry Ford's Birthplace; Logan County Courthouse, where Lincoln practiced law; Edison Buildings, including Menlo Park Laboratory; and Luther Burbank's office. Holland Michigan is a Dutch settlement. Dutch settled here in 1847; it is now famous for the Annual Tulip Festival, the Netherlands Museum, and the Sooden Shoe Factory. Lansing is the State capital and important automobile manufacturing center.
As I've walked through life: I've learned-that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I've learned-that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I've learned-that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I've learned-that you can keep going long after you can't. I've learned-that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I've learned-that either you control your attitude or it controls you. I've learned-that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first; the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place. I've learned-that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I've learned-that money is a lousy way of keeping score. I've learned- that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. I've learned-that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up. I've learned-that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I've learned-that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. The same goes for true love. I've learned- that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. I've learned-that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I've learned-that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological. I've learned-that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I've learned-that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others; Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've learned-that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. I've learned-that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do. I've learned-that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I've learned-that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret, It could change your life forever. I've learned-that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. I've learned-that your life can be changed in a matter of minutes, by people who don't even know you. I've learned-that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help. I've learned- that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I've learned-that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

225 Station Hospital Germany

St. George at Munchweiler Germany


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