Since my first post in May 2006 I have shared as many key recollections from my Kwaj days as I can pull from the recesses of my mind, but one remains that has yet to be penned. I think it’s finally time to relate my experiences from being in Miss Beck’s band program. (more…)
I think sometimes my family is somewhat dismayed and confused with my interest in World War II. I can often be found watching shows on the History Channel or the Military Channel pertaining to WWII, especially if it involves the war in the Pacific. Had I not spent 3 years on Kwaj as a young boy, I doubt that I’d be so interested. (more…)
Moving to a new home thousands of miles away from the only home you’ve ever known while starting 4th grade in a new school can be quite a lot to adjust to, and the last thing you expect is to wind up in a classroom full of magicians and mind-readers. It’s a fairly intimidating and humbling experience. 
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I remember an incident from 6th grade that makes a good moral story for kids that inevitably debate the question all of us have asked ourselves at one time or another: if I do something stupid, should I come clean about it and face the heat, or lie like a dog in hopes of avoiding jail time? 
I had that choice one afternoon on Kwaj and made a decision, and it turned out to be the right one. (more…)
As with all things, good or bad, our Kwaj adventure had to eventually come to a close. Today marks the 30th anniversary of our departure on July 25, 1977. 
You’d think that, since this was the last thing we did on Kwaj, I’d remember this event the best of all things I remember about Kwaj. Instead, I remember this no better than our arrival 3 years earlier. 
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It was on this date 33 years ago around 10:30 AM when I first stepped off the C-141 and felt that hot, humid blast of salty ocean air. I don’t remember too many details about that event, and even the exact date and time were lost to me until my folks recently unearthed the original trip expense reports that detailed when it all happened. (more…)
Some time ago I was viewing some Kwaj slides with my folks while discussing some of the details that we collectively remember from Kwaj life. I’m glad I did because I learned some things I never really knew or understood before. 
I’ll share a few of those here since I’ve stated some things in this blog that may not be entirely accurate. 
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If you can’t make fun of yourself, you missed the boat somewhere along the way. I’m about to prove that I’m not above laughing at my own foolishness by posting some items as part of this post, items that you may find as amusing (and pathetic) as I do now. Historically, though, they’re priceless, and I owe it to my parents to have held onto these seemingly obscure bits of paper all these years. Wish I had more like them, embarrassing as they may be. They’re related to a portion of my Kwaj experience that isn’t really much about Kwaj at all, except that it all started there and involved a few of my Kwaj friends. Without further rambling, let me dive into the beginnings of my radio hobby that is heavily rooted in my Kwaj years. (more…)
There weren’t too many things a kid my age could do on Kwaj to earn some extra spending money beyond the meager allowance we could get from our parents. Kevin’s post on his fishing exploits detailed a nifty way to generate some cash inflow, namely fishing and then selling your catch to the Marshallese. You had fun and made some money in the process. Alas, the only job I ever held in my 3-year tour was one that most boys wouldn’t be caught dead doing…babysitting. (more…)
A terrific O’Donnell Web post from Chris reminiscing about the rise of the video game age in the 80s reminded me of my first real introduction to video arcade games, one that occurred some years earlier during my Kwaj tour and in a very unlikely place. That experience dovetails into a separate discussion about the place that, in many ways, became my least favorite destination on our vacation trips: Honolulu. (more…)