Beginnings

I think that we Jews have done right in making the year begin in the month of September. Look at the number of beginnings affecting our own family.

September will represent the first full month that Annie(Ambivablog) and Jacques will occupy their new home in Chapel Hill,  North Carolina. At this moment they should be en route from NYC and their 5th floor walk-up to Richmond, VA to spend the night at the home of Annie's sister Sara Monroe.  May their new home in NC be a blessing, starting tomorrow.

One year ago on 9/1  beloved Jean got her new left knee, which has brought her a much more mobile life.

Shortly granddaughter Rachel Monroe will be on her way to Morocco on a Fulbright scholarship. Her kid brother Alex begins his freshman year at Weleyan College. (His dad and our son David went to Amherst, and I to Williams to round out the Little 3).

Grandson Matt Shirrell will begin his new job at Cardenas School in Chicago. For the last couple of years he taught 2nd grade there, but now he becomes math and science teacher for the entire school (K-3). He is a family hero.

Back in 1985 I emerged from quadruple by-pass surgery in late August after 22 days in Michael Reese Hospital (there had been complications). I do not forget those first few outdoor tottering steps in the September sunshine accompanied by my old friend David Simonds.

Of course kids of all ages are going back to school.

Somewhat prematurely I wish you all a healthy, stimulating, productive, happy new year.

Ancient Mariner

Comments

[Rhea]

Good Yuntov (spelling?) (Happy Rosh Hashanah)!

[William Nielsen]

I was in Class 30 of OCS that graduated in Sept 1943. Do you remember Capt. Iron Lung McClung who was the Battalion
Commander at that time??

Drop me an Email

[Orlando Stevlingson]

I stumbled across this site purely by accident, but the name "Iron Lung McClung" caught my eye. Must be the same guy who was upper level staff at Camp Gordon's The Southeaster Signal School while I was there in 1954-55. Didn't know him personally (I was an E-2), but one windy, cold day on the parade ground, he stepped out of his official vehicle long enough to tell us to stand tall and that he knew it was cold.

There was a rumor about his conduct in Korea, but I won't pass it along.

[ted rosenthal]

I was at Fort Monmouth OCS in 1952-53 Class 5. "Iron Lung Mclung" was, I believe, a Lt. Col. at that time. I frequently heard his voice across the parade ground bellowing: "Candidate, get your head out of your asshole"

Ted Rosenthal

[Derek E. Engstrom]

Colonel Iron Lung Mcclung was Base Commander at the South West Signal Corps. School at San Luis Obispo, CA from February thru April, 1953. He introduced me to the Army's way of marching. Later he was decked by some E1, Drafty Private when he tried to take his rifle when he was on sentry duty. After he picked himself up, he told the private "Nice Job".