2 – Early Military
When I left for Basic Training, I left my guitar back home. But, at Tech School, I had a lot of free time. So, I went into town and bought another 6-string and started writing songs. Actually, I wrote a lot of them and still have the original note sheets from that time period. I’m not sure, by my present standards, that they are any good. But, it was a start.
And the same held true at my first duty station in Florida. I continued to write songs, many of which are actually in my present “play folder:” such as “Cold Wind’s Blowin'” and “Just Can’t Make this Town.”
I left that guitar at home, too, when I left for Vietnam. But, of course, I bought another one over there (and it was *really* cheap). And, of course, I wrote a *lot* of songs there, too. I’m not sure where that guitar went after my tour of duty was up.
3 – Late Military
My last duty station was in the Washington, DC, area. There I graduated to an electric guitar. I don’t remember the specifics. But, I do remember the amplifier had a grounding issue: if you touched the back panel there was a good chance you’d have a shocking experience.
I continued to write songs, as usual. But, one song in particular has a special story. About mid-year, the USAF put out a request for essays about “What’s the price of Freedom.” Well, I didn’t have a thought in that regards. But, I did create a song on the idea of “What’s the Cost of Freedom.” I didn’t submit it because I didn’t think it matched what they were expecting. But, the song still hangs in there. In fact, back in April of 2007, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) was asking for material on how we “Take a Stand” and I submitted a Pod Cast based on that song (listen to it here, I’m the second from the left, click on my image to listen). The song itself got a low approval rating by someone higher up. But, I got some nice comments from the Show crew via email.
OK … on to the Post Military years.