For most Veterans Day special editions, I write an introduction.

For a variety of reasons — valid or invalid — this time I did not: I started early enough and found enough veterans willing to tell their stories, but I procrastinated and found myself, in military jargon, behind the power curve and having to go balls to the wall to meet my Oct. 30 deadline, not appreciating that Nov. 8 was the day the special edition would appear in the Register because Nov. 11 is a national no-mail holiday.

I failed to realize I had less time to bring the stories together so they could be laid out and proofed. And on several days leading up to deadline-day I found myself fighting some sort of flu-like syndrome. Finally, I thought of putting off the intro until the presidential election was over and I could gauge what the future might hold for the men and women who would be our next generation of veterans.

Our nation will be led by a commander-in-chief who not only evaded military service but on multiple occasions made disparaging remarks about those who did serve, including those wounded or killed while serving our nation. Would our incoming president perhaps try to use the military to go after those he deems to be “the enemy within,” — in some instances our fellow Americans?

However, the above reasons (excuses?) became moot points.

As you can see in this year’s Veterans Day tab, the veterans’ stories fill all the page space I was allotted to tell them. No room for an intro; no room for wire copy from other sources to fill out the edition, as occasionally happened in other years.

In the end, my job is to tell the stories of veterans, interpreting as best I can the stories they tell me. If you have the opportunity to run into any of the veterans I wrote about — in this or other years — get them to tell you their stories in their words. I do the best I can, but my time, talent, and print space don’t do them justice.

As an octogenarian myself, I especially enjoyed visiting with Dr. Ron Tesch and Harry Thompson. And in visiting with nonagenarian Chuck Cecil, himself a superb story-teller, I found myself laughing heartily as I later read what I had written about his pre-Navy, Navy, and post-Navy days, stories full of humor and good information. Someday I’d like to hear more about his days on the “bull gang.” I’d also like to hear more about his days on “liberty” in downtown Atsugi.

Ron Tesch’s story was one of the most interesting ones I’ve heard from a Vietnam veteran. To be part of a negotiating team that met with the Viet Cong  face-to-face and procured the release of three American POWs — what a living history lesson to share with his children and grandchildren.

I don’t need to tell any of you who know Harry Thompson what a helluva good guy and gentleman he is. Like me, a few of you had the fun and thrill of getting a ride in Harry’s 1941 North American AT6A N8BP trainer and seeing the Brookings area close up. Those days are gone, since he sold that bird. He does, however, have another plane he keeps air ready.

Of all the stories I’ve heard in putting the Veterans Day special edition together, Harry’s tale of his clandestine days as a non-Aggie, non-ROTC cadet at Texas A&M may be the best. It’s laughing-out-loud quality.  

I also relate to Navy “lifer” Scott Graham. We started our Navy careers in similar fashion, but 20 years apart, each of us at 17 years old signing on for a “minority enlistment” that had us leaving active duty the day before our 21^st birthday. I joined the Navy in 1959, Scott in 1979. And we both stayed: myself for 35 years, Scott for 27. Those were the days, my friend.

Over the years of writing veterans’ stories, I’d like to think I haven’t neglected telling stories of some of the many women who served in uniform. One of the women veterans whose story I had told recommended Donna Goodwin and she agreed to tell her story: Goodwin knew from day one that she wanted a career in the Air Force and wanted to go into administration.

The ASVAB found her better suited for “mechanical” duties, such as “corrosion control.” She saw herself as an “aircraft painter.” She stayed with the Air Force for six years; however, she found that she could serve full-time in the Colorado Air National Guard. She did and carved out a military career in what she called “the best of all worlds.”

Finally, my thanks to VSO Matt Pillar and VSA Rusty Brandsrud, two combat veterans who served in Afghanistan and are now serving their fellow veterans by helping them get all the benefits they earned and are entitled to, for their service to our nation. Fellow veterans, these guys know their stuff; they fought for our nation and now they’re ready to fight for your veterans benefits. Drop in and get to know them.

I’ve lost count of how many Veterans Day Special Editions I’ve worked on here at The Brookings Register. At least 15-plus years. It remains my favorite assignment. I’ve met men and women who served in World War II (the “Greatest Generation”) and Korea; most it not all of them are gone and there are none around that I know of whose stories I could tell. Now I find fewer Vietnam veterans; some of us are now in our 80s and younger veterans of that era are in their 70s.

I’ve found quite a few veterans from our nation’s seemingly never-ending conflicts in the Gulf and elsewhere, guys like  Matt Pillar and Rusty Brandsrud. Perhaps I could tell their stories next year … but?

I find that with this Veterans Day tab behind me I am 30-plus years beyond what Frank Sinatra called the “autumn of the year.” Will I be at The Brookings Register for a Veterans Day Special Edition in 2025?

Inshallah. Have a nice day.