My Etsy Shop

My Etsy Shop has reopened.  https://southforkcreek.etsy.com

The Bear

The Bear

When I was a kid, my Grandpa Vincent Prater told me a story about a Bear that lived up the holler near their house. He and my Grandma lived for many years up on South Fork (Hwy 1098) in Breathitt County, Kentucky.

The story goes like this; Grandma would bake pies and put them in the open kitchen window to cool. But she always had to make an extra one for a Big Ole Black Bear that lived up the holler. The Bear would smell the pies, come down out of the holler, lumber up to house and grab one of the pies. Then would run up a giant pine tree that was there next to the house. He would sit there high up in the tree and enjoy his pie. This was sort of a regular thing.

Finally, Grandpa got tired of the Bear’s shenanigans and decided he'd fix that Bear. So, one day he went out into the yard and cut down that big pine tree and hauled it away. The next week Grandma made her pies and put them in the window to cool. This time Grandpa was sitting at the kitchen table waiting for the Bear. He didn't have to wait very long before he saw the Bear coming out of the holler, making his way toward the house. Just like every other time before, the Bear lumbered up to the window and grabbed a pie.

But this time he ran thirty feet straight up before he realized the tree was no longer there.

Written many years ago...

Memorial Day

                                Fallen Heroes

If our Fallen Heroes could speak to us, this is what they might say...

Thank you for being here today, to honor me in this way.

I truly appreciate that some of you have come from far away.
Thank you for the flowers and the flag you've placed on my grave.
For the tears over the years, and the sweet memories you save.

Thank you for the cards and letters and the goodies you always sent.
For waiting by the telephone, you’ll never know how much it meant.
Thank you for being there each time I stepped off the plane,
For the tears, the hugs and kisses, even in down-pouring rain.

Thank you, wives, husbands and friends. I'll forever hold you in my heart.
For raising our children and teaching them the reasons we were apart.
Thank you, sons and daughters, for giving me purpose, hope and faith.
I did my duty upon the sea, and on distant lands, so you’d always be safe.

Thank you for the street, the highway, the school and the mall.
In my honor they carry my name, a reminder to one and all.
I am sorrowfully aware of the sadness and anguish you have borne.
No, the sacrifice was not too great, please don’t forever mourn. 

Thank you for honoring me today, I’m forever grateful, though I cannot say.
     

         23 May 2025.                                                               John V. Prater

New Entry

 Saturday, April 26, 2025 - found me sitting in the back yard, spending time with the Lord reading my daily devotional and enjoying my morning coffee. I began to consider where I am currently regarding my walk with Jesus and reflecting on where I was just about a year ago. Deciding I would write a few paragraphs for my blog, I started to scribble some words in my journal – to transfer to the blog later. What started out as a short blog entry grew to nearly eight handwritten pages in the journal. Looking at the time, I also realized I had been sitting there for more than three hours. My simple blog entry had become a full-blown testimony.

The above is the opening paragraph to my newest entry on the Spiritual Constructs page. To continue reading, please following the link provided, or simply choose the Spiritual Constructs page on the right.

https://johnvprater.blogspot.com/p/spiritual-constructs.html

To my Readers

In my post, dated 7 January 2025, I officially re-opened this, Blog. I included the layout, and the number of pages and links to other sites. I also stated I would provide updates about newly added pages or new page entries.  That has not happened. Partly because I've found that the construction of the Blog has been ongoing. Things have been very fluid, ever changing. And at present, it appears, I have no readers or follows. Until I'm sure I have readers, there is not much reason to post an 'update' each time I add new pages or material to the current pages, or links.

If you are reading my Blog, I am pleased, and hope you are enjoying it. Of course, there are no real expectations of comments. However, a single word in a comments section, (located at the bottom of each page) or by becoming an anonymous follower would be very helpful. This would indicate the need for me to provide posted updates, to keep you informed.

"Of what good is the gift of creativity, if not shared with others?" 

"So help me God."

         Oath of Enlistment

I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the Officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

U.S. Marine Corps 1974 - 1976 

U.S. Navy 1977 - 1998

Senior Chief Petty Officer U.S. Navy (Retired)

More than fifty-one years ago I stood on line with several other men and women. And with our right hand raised, we all recited as one, "The Oath of Enlistment." I was honored to say those words that day, as I joined the U.S. Marines Corps. And, over the next two decades, I repeated those words many times, at each re-enlistment. Never, was I uncertain about what I was saying - promising. During those twenty-plus years, I served under five Presidents.

Today, I am long retired from Military Service, but still hold tight to the "Oath." I believe, my promise to "Support and defend the Constitution of the United States..," remains valid. How ever, the portion of the "Oath," that reads; "I will obey the orders of the President of the United States..." would have stuck in my throat if our current President had been in office during my enlistment. Although I have always respected the Office of the President of the United States, I hold no regard for this sitting President.  

At present, I am more than ever before, disillusioned, disappointed and ashamed of the current "Leader of the United States." I consider myself fortunate that he wasn't my "Commander-in-Chief" during my proud years on active duty and subsequent period in the fleet reserves. I would have had much conflict regarding my oath.

As a Professional Soldier (generically speaking), the principle of obeying or following orders is simple. Although, all orders from superiors are expected to be obeyed, military training also teaches critical thinking and ethical considerations. It is the duty of the Soldier to disobey illegal orders. "All orders must not violate any laws or regulations." 

And so... As a child of God, Marine, Sailor, and Citizen of this great country, I find myself facing serious spiritual, moral, and ethical dilemmas.  

Do I obey what is writen in Romans; chapter 13 verses 1 - 5 about submission to governing authorities? Or do I side with Peter and the Apostles?

"We must obey God rather than men." - Acts; chapter 5 verse 29.

Their reply when the High Priest and Sadducees reminded them of strict orders prohibiting them from teaching in the name of Jesus.

So, Help me God be strong, faithful and wise.

Fifty Years Since

Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of a day remembered in history - 29 April 1975.  This day and the next several that followed became the closing chapter of a book which had begun nearly twenty years earlier. The book was titled; "The Vietnam War." A book that had its prelude written in the early months of 1955, and the first chapter beginning on 1 November 1955. America was eventually written into the book, with her first chapter being opened on 8 March 1965.

What makes the final chapter of "The Vietnam War," so important that I (the writer) would revisit it?  Bear with me for just a few more lines, and I'll explain.  

In any book or story, whether, fictional, non-fictional, or historical, there are characters. Without characters there can be no story.  Also, in a story there are major characters and there are minor characters, with each having their own special role in the story.

Again, what does all of this have to do with me? 

History has recorded, 29 April 1975, as the beginning and end of the final chapter in the book, "The Vietnam War." On that date, I was just one month past my nineteenth birthday, a Private First Class in the United States Marine Corps and had only been in service for one year and one month. I was one of thousands of minor characters in this new chapter. The subtitle: Operation Frequent Wind - The Fall of Saigon. 

On that day and the days that followed, I was awakened, and thou not physically, I was wounded. Emotional and spiritual wounds, crushing my heart and invading my mind. The anguish, the crying and the losses suffered, were overwhelming.   

What did fate hold for the old? Was the future bright for the young? Were the cries of the little ones quieted? A thousand stories of a thousand souls, unknown. However, the silent story of a silent one, is revealed.

Still today, fifty years since, in the recesses of my brain reside images, sounds and smells. At every opportunity they rise to force recollections. Yet here I sit looking at these old pictures, while a flood of emotions rush over me and I find myself caught between present and past. 

To read previously written material regarding this one episode in an unnumbered chapter of my own book, please go the "Reflections Page." There you will find, After Operations and Sound of Silence.