The "Lost" Chapter

     Uncle Roy shared this story about life in the Navy, but later decided to keep it out of the book. To honor his wishes, it is not in the book; but I couldn't resist sharing it here as a special treat for his fans!

The Brig   

   Boston has always been good to servicemen, ever since the Boston Tea Party. I spent about 2 months in port there, waiting for the ship to get ready to go. During this time, we were housed in a building on base.

     When I filled out my forms for the military, I checked that I had experience with small arms. Then, later, after shooting on the firing range, they labeled me as a “sharpshooter.” So, in Boston, one of my work details was to “exercise” the men in the brig. The brig was the jail for sailors who were being disciplined for rule-breaking. They stayed for different amounts of time and were always coming and going. My job was to walk them around the base while they picked up trash and did other little projects, mainly to keep them out of the buildings and out of the officers’ hair. This particular work detail came with a small arm.

     The Navy had some funny rules about small arms. You could have all the ammunition you wanted, but you had to pay thirty-nine cents for each bullet you used. If there was any trouble, we were to fire one warning shot, then after that, you were on your own. Plus, if one of the jailbirds slipped off and escaped, the one who was on watch had to serve out the time for the “run-away” until they were returned. I made a decision that I would never serve out someone else’s time in the brig.

     Every time my rotation came around, I started off with a little pep talk. I said, “Now listen. I will not serve your time, and I’m not going to pay for any extra bullets. If you try to slip off, you won’t go far.”

     I guess I got my bluff in, because I never had a bit of trouble with any of them trying to get away. They never gave me a bit of trouble.

The End of an Era

     It is with a tremendous sense of loss that we must report Roy’s passing from this life on August 12, 2019 at the age of 89. He left behind his hoe, his ranch, and a void in his family’s hearts too big to fill. Even after penning his story, I still wonder what it would take to produce a person of his character today. As the old saying goes, “He broke the mold.” His passing truly marks the end of an era.

      Please watch for the forthcoming sequel: “Sharecropper’s Legacy.” In this upcoming project, we hope to pay tribute to the impact Roy had on those whose lives he touched.

Sharecropper's Dream has been republished!

     We are happy to announce Sharecropper's Dream has been republished! Everything about publishing is difficult and time-consuming for an old person who didn't grow up with computers (I'm speaking of myself, not Uncle Roy!).

     The original version of Sharecropper's Dream, published in 2014 (I can't believe it has been that long!), is available at the following link to Westbow Press:

                                                   
                                                         Original Sharecropper's Dream

The revised version is available on Amazon:

Sharecropper's Dream Revised Edition

     I opted to republish the book with Amazon so I could purchase any number of copies at a better rate than I could from Westbow Press. While reformatting, I discovered some typos (!), and grammar and spelling issues (!) in the original which I gladly corrected. I also added a conclusion regarding Uncle Roy's passing. 

     I contemplated adding back in the chapter which Uncle Roy nixed, but decided to honor his wishes, and just include it here on the blog instead. That's not technically in the book, right? 

     If you enjoy reading Sharecropper's Dream, please leave a review on Amazon. Reviews sell books, and we want Uncle Roy's story to reach as many people as possible! I enjoy sharing his memoirs with those who never had the opportunity to meet such an incredible man. It is somehow comforting to know the book allows him and his story to "live on," even though, for Uncle Roy, the harvest has been gathered, and he is reaping the rewards of his labors.