Posted by Peanutscreams on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
He was an astonishing man, a man of hopes, a man of dreams, one of vision, one of confidence. A genuine soul, devoted husband, tender father.
His untimely death at the young age of 51, on Christmas Eve of 1966, left behind a wife and six young children. This was a tragic event for everyone, but for his children, sadly losing their father on Christmas Eve was a traumatic shock beyond imagining. The Dad they loved so very dearly was forever gone. They would by no means really know anything about what made him such a wonderful man - his life, his background, his character, appeal, spirit, his experiences in life would never be revealed to them. . . or would they?
Now after 40 years, an amazing discovery has been found. His children, known in this generation as "Baby Boomers", have opened a long-lost treasure that has answered many of those unknowns and revealed to them the father they barely knew.
From letters preserved in a time capsule, {his old Army trunk} comes a testament of a portion of his life during a crucial time when America was at war, in letters he lovingly sent home to his dad, mother, brother, and sister - long before he knew that a little girl on his huckster route would eventually be his wife. He speaks to his kids today . . . and to all Americans.
This man was my father, he would have been 97 this week. In honor of him I am submitting an excerpt from one of his letter's written in May of 1945.
Charles C. Black
Phillipines
May 17, 1945
Hello,
This evening I am at home in a very muddy rice paddy. Perhaps no where in the world muddier than a rice paddy. It is deliberately made to be that way. A field for rice is divided into comparatively small plots with the dirt banked up to keep the water inside. The ground is plowed, and worked into a thin soupy mud. The seed is sown by hand, the farmer wading knee deep to do it. For no telling how many generations this spot of ground has been prepared that way. But just as the rainy season seems to be beginning, I moved in. So with a gang of GIs around, this place kind of resembles a hog pen. Fortunately though the place will drain to a certain extent so after a while it won’t be so bad.
Donald Pettis Says:
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 @12:00:31 PM
Thats way cool Butch, must have been tough for you growing up. By the way I really enjoyed our pickin session today, you are making some serious progress.
Peanutscreams Says:
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 @4:49:14 PM
Thank you Don, yes, growing up without my dad indeed presented many challenges way beyond the norm. The letters we discovered are so amazing. Four years of weekly coorespondence to his family. My sister and brothers have successfully secured copyrright's and are in the process of publishing.
So now days when I'm not practicing on the blossom or reading threads here on the BHO I'm learning a lot about his life experiances during and before world war II.
I also enjoyed our pickin session today. Thank you for your encouragment, fun instruction, and the kind compliment.
MiG-19 Says:
Saturday, May 12, 2012 @4:59:04 AM
Butch,
that is indeed very cool. I have a stack of letters my grandfather wrote home to his mother and father when he was in WWI, and it is incredible to get inside of his head to read these. Congratulations on the find, and I for one will buy a copy when you do get it published.
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