“Instead of “Thank you for your service,” try, “We’re sorry you had to expend your blood, sweat, tears and toil to clean up our monumental failings.” Every time you meet one of the dwindling numbers of WWII veterans (and those of all the other magnificent little American wars we’ve fallen into), keep your mouth shut and your brain focused on peace. These “Greatest Generation” folks answered the bell and won the fight. We might not be as blessed next time.”
“To me, as a gay boy, hugging another boy was perfectly natural. It always has been, it always will be. I always felt instinctively somehow that people would disapprove and say I was naughty. And I always felt instinctively that I knew what I wanted and I was going to have it and all those disapproving people could just go suck eggs and pound sand. Even at the height of the worst spiritual and sexual repression that Oklahoma and its churches could dole out, my inner belief has always been the same. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’ve known who I am and what I wanted since I was at least five. And everyone else who is not onboard with that can go over Niagra Falls without a barrel.”
“Instead of “Thank you for your service,” try, “We’re sorry you had to expend your blood, sweat, tears and toil to clean up our monumental failings.” Every time you meet one of the dwindling numbers of WWII veterans (and those of all the other magnificent little American wars we’ve fallen into), keep your mouth shut and your brain focused on peace. These “Greatest Generation” folks answered the bell and won the fight. We might not be as blessed next time.”
Remembering Bill Schock on his 100th birthday … and the 52nd anniversary of Braniff 250 in Falls City. Also … feeling old from … time flying and stuff. Since the AM2431 crash in Durango a few days ago appears to be from weather-related causes, never forgetting the lessons of BN250, as well as CO426, OZ809,…
Back in 2014, I included a chapter in my book detailing Bill Schock’s war experiences as they related to his reporting on the crash of Braniff International flight 250 in 1966.
«This is Bill’s final column» out of countless ones he wrote over 71 years for the Falls City Journal. With this column, he said farewell; the Journal has been sold and moved to a much smaller space in downtown Falls City which it had occupied until 1950. It’s all extremely symbolic of the state of…
This is kind of like how I feel about my (possibly four) upcoming surgeries: I don’t want to do this, but I have to, and I hate it. Received a kind e-mail yesterday telling me of the death of Bill Schock of Falls City, NE, on Thursday evening, six weeks short of his 100th birthday….
The wonderful folks at McFarland did a special rush printing for me and as soon as I get them signed and addressed, they… Posted by Steve Pollock on Friday, August 19, 2016
So this happened: An amazing, wonderful, unique, bittersweet, laughter through tears, hugs and finely developed senses… Posted by Steve Pollock on Saturday, August 6, 2016
Two awesome pieces in the Lincoln, NE, Journal Star by Peter Salter explain why I'm in this neck of the woods. Great… Posted by Steve Pollock on Friday, August 5, 2016
Off I go! Road trip to Falls City, NE, to speak in honor of victims of Braniff flight 250, crashed 50 years ago this Saturday. This one is a road trip; I'm driving. Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, August 4, 2016
To note a much happier occasion: Happy birthday to Bill Schock, owner/editor of the Falls City Journal, who was monumentally helpful to me in the research and writing of the upcoming book. He graciously shared his photos and memories of Braniff 250 with me for publication; four of those are below, many more will be…