Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/345536
GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530-527- 2151ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Thisyearhasevokedmany historical musings. June marked the one hundredth an- niversary of the start of the war. I am not sure anniversary is such a good descriptor for the beginning of a war; I have always associated the word with celebratory events; we will be marking our 49th an- niversary this December, and that will be a celebration.... mostly of my wife's patience. Other topics in the me- dia include the 200th birth- day of the Star Spangled Ban- ner, the '60s and, of course, the World Cup. Several me- dia have had ongoing features about the '60s. My recent fo- cus is on events that happened over 50 years ago while I was in the Army. I was a Chaplain's Assis- tant and was planning on go- ing into the ministry after I was discharged. I was sta- tioned near Washington, D.C. at Fort Belvoir, which was the engineering post at that time. It was a good assignment for a draftee. For most of the time I had my own office, tucked away in the back of the cha- pel, out of sight and out of mind. I had a jeep which came in handy from time to time. Mostly, I had a lot of time on my hands and was able to read and write; I spent a good deal of time studying theol- ogy and history, and I wrote a letter each day to my future and present wife….the same person. I also got to explore Washington D.C. on the week- ends. There were four major events during my last eight months there. The first was the March on Washington in August 1963. Our unit was trained in crowd control. We learned the safest way to form a phalanx with mounted bayonets. We went through the tear gas chamber without our masks, and then had to deploy them over our blinded eyes before we exited the cham- ber. During the actual march we were stationed in Arling- ton, just across the river from the event. The USO provided free books and snacks, and we mostly just lounged around while nothing much happened. ••• The second event was the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was stationed at the Post Chapel but received orders one after- noon that I was being trans- ferred that night to a Con- struction Engineering Battal- ion. After I packed my duffle bag I got a ride across the post to my new barracks. I received new equipment and a rifle I had not seen before. It had an artificial stock, was about the length of the M-1 rifles we used in basic training, far lon- ger than the M-1 carbines we had during the March on D.C., and it had a large magazine clip. While I did know how to clean it, I had no real clue about firing it or loading it. The rumor amongst my new platoon mates was that we were going to fly to Gua- temala and would be build- ing an air field. Like most ru- mors in the Army this one was not true; nevertheless we were very tense, worrying about the potential consequences of a nuclear standoff. I was certain I was about to give my life for my country. Fortunately the confrontation was short lived, and we all can now look back and smile about it. ••• The third event was the as- sassination of President Ken- nedy. We were in the day room being trained about the Army way to do some- thing that seemed boring at the time when someone ran into the training room and shouted "The President's been shot." We all, including the trainer, dashed into the televi- sion room and watched Walter Cronkite tell us what was hap- pening. My Chaplain contacted me and told me to prepare the chapel for a service. We an- nounced the service would be that afternoon, and many sol- diers came to attend. When the Chaplain called upon God to be with us during this try- ing time, the speakers of the electric organ immediately and loudly proclaimed "Blue Dog One, this is Red Fox Two, come in." The timing was per- fect, but no one laughed. I was told later the speakers appar- ently were involved in "sympa- thetic resonance." After the service, we were told all such activities were prohibited, and we had to be prepared for orders to move out on short notice. The unit next door to us was the 91st Combat Engineer- ing Battalion; its command- ing officer was a West Point graduate and a full bird colo- nel. That unit was picked to do ushering duty during the vari- ous formal ceremonies. At one point Prince Phillip appeared to be wandering off in the wrong direction, the Colonel walked up behind the Prince and gently placed is hand on the Prince's elbow. The Prince turned and in a very aristo- cratic voice said, "I have had men broken for touching me." ••• The fourth event took place early in 1964; we were assem- bled and told to prepare for departure to West Virginia where we would be searching for the crew of a B-47 which had crashed. At the time we were not told the plane had atomic bombs on board. The Army always has protocols for various activities; in this case the protocol was to avoid no- tice and traffic. So, we stood by until midnight to leave; not only were we tired, hav- ing been up since 5:45 AM, but we were cold. The weather was bitterly cold, with snow flur- ries here and there; the canvas and plastic doors on the jeep could not keep the little bit of heat the jeep heater gener- ated inside the jeep. I had the Chaplain and two Army doc- tors in my jeep, and we kept talking to keep each other awake. We arrived in a small town in West Virginia and assem- bled in the gym of the local high school. We were assigned a cabin in a seasonal resort for the four of us. There was no running water, although the toilets did work; I am not sure why. One of the doctors gath- ered a bucket full of snow and pronounced the water was safe, and the Chaplain blessed it, we melted in on the stove, and drank as necessary. We played bridge, and wondered what was happening nearby and why the doctors were needed. We stayed there un- til we found out the two crew members had died, frozen in a creek near the crash site. Af- ter we got back to Ft. Belvoir we learned about the atomic bombs. Life is a lot like the Army; it has its own rules, and you never know what it will bring. I am fortunate and appreci- ate the various unexpected turns it has brought me. I look forward to more of the unex- pected. JoeHarropisaretirededuca- tor with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHar- rop@sbcglobal.net. Joe Harrop Looking back; '60s in the Army Cartoonist's take By Lisa Escobar The heat is on in Red Bluff — and this time I mean the temperature. Summer is a good time for educators to reflect, rejuve- nate and renew their commit- ment to their profession. A natural result of sum- mer reflection is writing and I have found it a great ave- nue to rejuvenate and renew my own commitment and to move forward. I would like at this time to express public acknowledge- ment and gratitude for some members of the Red Bluff community that I was fortu- nate enough to have met and worked with these past few years. Improving the quality of education is challenging work that never ends. When I arrived in Red Bluff, I reached out to many members of the community to join me in this work. I found that once the doors to the dis- trict were open and inviting, there was a genuine willing- ness to establish partnerships with a common goal — to pre- pare all students for college career and life. Even in the midst of a very calculated public and unjust attack on me professionally and personally, I felt the sup- port from the community to continue moving the district forward for the benefit of the students At the time of the clear at- tempts to force me out of my position, I welcomed the com- mitment from the Board of Trustees to hire an objective third party to investigate the complaints against me made by a group of teachers. Once I was able to read the "binder" of complaints (which was delivered to me after it was released to the Board and the public), I knew an investi- gation would show that every- thing in the binder could have been resolved with a face to face conversation. The binder was filled with lies, misinterpretations and communication taken out of context all designed to de- stroy me. I am sure I wasn't per- fect and made mistakes being a brand new superintendent but I did not deserve what happened to me. Throughout that difficult time, I was determined to stay professional and follow the Board's advice not to use the media as a vehicle for air- ing conflict in the district. I stayed focused on our im- portant work of improving the quality of education for all students and trusted the Board of Trustees to do right by me. In the end, this did not serve me well. The third party investigation never occurred and my side of the story was never acknowledged nor told. I would have loved to work with the Board of Trustees and the staff to address every voice of discontent amicably which I believe was possible. The residual effects of this experience has been damag- ing to my career, my health and my family. I have no other option at this point but to take legal ac- tion against the district. My motivation for this is not just self-serving. Yes, my rights were violated by the actions taken by the Board of Trustees. Of equal concern are sig- nificant legal and ethical is- sues in the district that must be faced. These existed long before I arrived. There were things said to and about me that I would not want another woman in a leadership posi- tion to endure. There are inequities in the delivery of education that are negatively impacting the stu- dents who deserve a quality education. Business as usual simply cannot continue in the Red Bluff Joint Union High School District. In moments of reflec- tion, there are many things that come to mind that I will value about my experience in Red Bluff. These include the rich friendships I cultivated while there and the staff at the dis- trict who are positive, contin- ual learners and truly focused on student achievement. I still believe the district has the potential to move from a culture of accommo- dation for adults to a culture centered on student learning. My hope is that the com- munity continues to have high expectations for the high school district, continues to be willing to partner and fi- nally holds the district ac- countable for achieving those expectations. The future de- pends upon it. Editor's note: Lisa Escobar is the former Red Bluff Joint Union High School superin- tendent. Another view Reflection: changes still needed at RBHS district Sounding off A look at what readers are saying in comments on our website and on social media. Several chain style restaurants, stores will not come to Red Bluff because we do not meet their desired income demograph- ics... Until Red Bluff gets to work and off of Big Brother's payroll, we won't see these establishments in our area. Have you driven by restaurants at 7p.m. on a weekday?... So, bring it on Starbucks. Jeri Sayer: On report that Starbucks will open a store in the former KFC building on Antelope Rigid, inflexible state regulation screw up a valid avenue for people to climb their way out of homelessness. PATH is self-support- ing and funded through grants and the com- munity, not government. Just proves that statist policies of the le are what will keep communities like Red Bluff sinking deeper into poverty and despair. Ann Taylor-Minch: On closure of PATH thri store do to potential labor law issues My motivation for this is not just self-serving. Yes, my rights were violated by the actions taken by the Board of Trustees. Of equal concern are significant legal and ethical issues in the district that must be faced. These existed long before I arrived. » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, July 12, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4