Our family would drive to "The Country" (Rural Southern Alabama and Georgia)
during the summer to visit his mother and my mother's father her home town in
Georgia.
I don't believe my father was ever in the armed services. It was never mentioned one
way or the other by anyone. I never asked.
His valuable, vintage Colt navy pistol, his passion, excitement for military movies and
TV shows intrigued me to think he may have had possible ties to the service or wanted
to serve.
Maybe his passion for the military, connected to his job with aircraft engines made an
armed service connection in his mind. Maybe he just loved those type of movies, I still
do.
My father, as well as my mother, rightfully felt that all of their children should have all
the basic knowledge of home survival and independence.
This included, but was not limited too, changing oil, spark plugs, tires, knowing the
difference between a Phillips heads screwdriver and a monkey wrench, knowing what
size, the purpose of nails to use, how to change a lightbulb, how to clean and use a gun,
etc.
My mother ensured everyone knew how to wash, iron, fold clothes, sew, cook, clean,
etc. They both understood the importance of independence and basic survival...
She often put emphasis on the things she did not want her sons to rely on from their
wives.
Many of those things our father often relied on her for...She repeated that often. My
father supplied the same for my sisters. They would prove their points with
redundancy.
IT WORKED!