Chapman History

Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 01:24:00 +0000

Fear of Our Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:11:00 +0000

We are closing in on the year 2011 and I hope that this will mean a new beginning for the U.S. Government. Now that the 2010 election cycle is over, it is my hope that the political posturing will subside and our politicians will get down to business. During the last two months, it seems that the lame duck congress has been hell-bent on passing legislation, often in cases where there should be a great deal more discussion before cramming it through.

A case in point is the START treaty. Without getting into the fine points of the treaty, we need to realize that this is an agreement on nuclear weapons. The U.S. has a lot to lose in terms of security if we are hand-cuffed by this deal with the Russians. Trust but verify is certainly what Ronald Reagan called for back in the Cold War. But since then, Russia (no longer the USSR) has certainly fallen on military hard times, with ships and submarines rusting away, and nuclear capabilities falling behind. A Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty plays into the hands of Russia more than the U.S. The treaty's details could not have been adequately discussed, nor could they have been sufficiently revealed to the public. It is certainly good political theater for Congress to cram this treaty through for the President's signature by claiming that it is vital to our security. It may be, but is it so vital that it must be rushed through in the waning weeks of a lame duck congress? Whatever POLITICAL gain that may be won by signing this treaty is shallow if we forsake real discussion of a nuclear arms deal.

This new year could either be a continuation of destructive political posturing or the beginning of a more sober treatment of major issues. Both parties need to stay focused on the greater good and the survival of our nation. The playing field abroad has changed dramatically over the last decade. I fear for the direction of our nation if the sole motivation is political gain. I am not so naive as to believe that politics has not played a role in the critical decisions of past administrations, but it is certainly amplified in the present one. The political shift toward the Republicans has pushed the President and the lame-duck Democrats to shoot for last minute gains before a change in the House. Time will tell if this eagerness for victory has cost the American people their lives.

Obama the new FDR?

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:11:00 +0000

President Obama and the Democratic Party might want to be careful about any comparisons to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR is certainly one of our greatest presidents. After all, he faced crises on the domestic and global fronts that no other POTUS has faced. His legacy is as solid as that of Washington or Lincoln, great men who faced severe challenges as well. But FDR did not end the Great Depression as American mythology would have us believe. The vast array of programs that made up the New Deal sought to tackle the economic downturn (understatement) that began shortly after the inauguration of President Hoover. The explosion (understatement again!) of government programs and intervention under FDR and his agreeable Congress never eliminated the Depression. Americans were going to elect anyone but Hoover in 1932, and all the Democrats had to do was run on a vague populist platform that promised change.

Sound familiar? While George W. Bush was not running in the 2008 election, the Democratic Party treated the election as if he was, shrewdly tying Republican candidates for just about any office with W. Senator Obama also promised change with a strongly populist platform. He avoided mentioning any specifics about his program. He didn't need to. The momentum was clearly in his favor. But like FDR, once in office, he had to act. Both of these presidents enjoyed the support of Congress. This was not because of a tremendous groundswell of bipartisanship. It was due to political control. There was certainly a core group of Republicans that were concerned about the growth of government. The programs surly came flying in although with good intentions. After all, millions of Americans were suffering and the U.S. had a staggering 25% unemployment rate. But despite the tremendous growth of regulatory agencies and job-creating bureaus, the unemployment rate never dropped below 15%. And to emphasize the reliance upon deficit spending, when FDR and Congress attempted to pare back some of the New Deal programs, the economy took another nose dive. War production brought on "full employment." The New Deal was really life support rather than resuscitation.

What is the point here? The Keynesian approach of spending our way out of economic problems was troublesome for FDR. He was concerned with the rising national debt! But the populist approach was keeping Democrats in office. This made it much easier to reach for greater heights. FDR suffered from a degree of hubris. Is that what our current president is succumbing to? Congress under Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are willing to give him a leg up to reach for the heights. The point we need to consider is whether "healthcare reform" is a power grab similar to the genesis of the welfare state under FDR. Who will ever have the guts to take entitlements away from the people who the Democrats have convinced are the victims of greedy corporate America? Talk about a sacred cow! But Obama, Pelosi, and Reid do not have a world war to do the REAL work of eliminating the economic crisis. If Democrats want to play the FDR way, they had better consider the cost. Americans will eventually see that this is an administration that is using the faltering economy to push through their higher agenda. That agenda is going to cost trillions of dollars and it has to come from somewhere. We Americans are not big on taxation. We are likely to see the greatest spike in taxation that has ever taken place in the U.S.A. That is, of course, if there are not significant cuts in programs. The modern progressive Democrats have made little effort to hide the intended source of that tax revenue. It will come from the rich. That sounds great to lower middle class and working class Americans. But the definition of rich is dynamic. How low will the standard for "rich" have to drop in order to secure the revenue to pay for the ambitious programs on the burner. Populist appeals and class warfare always work in an economic climate such as exists today. If prosperity returns, you can count on a strong backlash to expanding the government trough.

Reflections on D-Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:25:00 +0000

I enjoyed this weekend in a very American way. I watched my youngest daughter play in a softball tournament at the local ball fields. Popcorn and soda, cheering and grumbling, and the warmth of a late spring Saturday that gave me a touch of sunburn. That was my June 6th, 2009. And yet, as a military historian, the events of June 6th, 1944 were not far from my thinking. I wish that I could say that was true of every year on that date. There have been years in which the date arrived and maybe even passed before I realized it. Given that I have devoted a substantial amount of study to the Allied invasion of Normandy, that would seem to be unforgivable. But that was not true of this year. I remembered.

I read an editorial in the local newspaper this morning. It provoked a lot of thought on my part. It raised the question of remembrance of D-day. How different is the "memory" of that day today as opposed to during the years immediately following the war. But then those years stretch to decades and the immediacy of the event starts to fade. Annual remembrance on the part of the Allied nations moves from yearly ceremonies to more significant anniversaries. Twenty years, twenty five, forty, fifty, and sixty years. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary, Ronald Reagan gave a moving tribute to the Army Rangers who scaled Pont du Hoc on the Normandy coast. Ever the compelling orator, Reagan captured the meaning of the sacrifice that took place in France forty years previous to his momentous speech which he delivered in front of the stone dagger that stands as a monument for the Rangers. Now, 65 years since the invasion, that monument sits precariously at the edge of the the cliffs once scaled by the Rangers. Erosion of the cliff face because of the power of the sea makes the very location of the Reagan speech a dangerous place to visit; so much so that a safety perimeter has been established to keep visitors from wandering too close to the crumbling ground. (Photographs at right by David Chapman) Although Pont du Hoc has been preserved so that visitors can see the craters from naval guns and aerial bombing, the power of nature takes the hallowed ground away with each passing day. Just as the elements conspire to take the memory of D-day from us, so too does time.

This year, the 65th anniversary was observed on the grounds of the American Cemetary on the bluffs above Omaha Beach. Speakers included French President Nicolas Sarkozy, U.S. President Barak Obama, as well as Prince Charles of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. The words of these men were eloquent. Sarkozy's comments were moving, particularly those lauding the cooperation of the four nations in 1944 and the hope for a peaceful Europe in the coming years. It is my fervent hope that peace will prevail and global war such as that which took place in World War Two will never again plague this planet. War does exist and will continue to do so. No matter how idealistic individual leaders or even nations may be, it seems there will always be those who are not to be satisfied with cooperative efforts and peace. Who provokes who? Who covets the wealth of others? These are but two questions that may provide the answers to whether global war may return. Of course, what the nature of the enemies or weapons used may be will determine not only the outcome of the war but the future of mankind. Normandy should help us recall the courage that leads to the defeat of evil in the world. The Cold War and related proxy wars should remind us of the continuing menace of war.

God bless those who fought in Operation Overlord and the battles that followed. Though our memories may fade, nothing will supplant that June day, that "longest day" in the words of Corneleus Ryan, as one of the turning points of human history.

Amazing Grace

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:48:00 +0000

Amazing Grace
How Sweet the Sound
That Saved a Wretch Like Me

I am always moved by the words of this song of praise to our Lord, Jesus.
When I consider the substitutionary death of Jesus, I am amazed that God would do such a thing for his deeply flawed and rebellious children.

On July 17th, 1996, I received Christ as my Savior. I was baptised by immersion several years later as an act of obedience to God and an outward symbol of my faith. The Lord has been faithful to me, granting to me many blessings. When I chose teaching as my profession, I did not think of it as my calling, but through a decade of teaching, I now know that He has placed me in a position to serve as salt and light to those with whom I work.
After surviving a cardiac arrest in my classroom while teaching, I learned a lot. I learned first and foremost that He has further plans for me. I also gained a deeper understanding of the value of family. My wife and kids are so important to me. My most vivid memory of August 31st, 2005 was waking in the ER and seeing my wife. Other than our wedding day, I was never happier to see her. Of course, when I saw my two daughters the next day, I was happy to the point of tears. The outpouring of love from my family and my in-laws was special. My dad flew in to be with me, an act that just made me love him more. My father- and mother-in-law came to spend several weeks with us to help with the girls and provide moral support for myself and their daughter. I freely state that I am blessed with terrific in-laws, including both parents and siblings.
Finally, I further appreciate the witness that I can be for my students. While I am not blatant and in their faces about my faith, I do my best to live out my faith in class, demonstrating honesty, fairness, and compassion. The Lord gave me a sense of humor to use as a teaching tool. I am extremely honored that He gives my the opportunity to go to work each day and to have fun with my students who teach me as much as I do them. It is always my intent to be the same man in the classroom or in the community that I am in church. Thanks to the teaching of Brother Phillip Smith and the associate pastors at First Baptist Church in Bentonville, I have a deeper understanding of the role that I play in Gods plan for His people.

Thank you God for your Amazing Grace!

Erin Go Bragh

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:23:00 +0000

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A Soldier Goes Home

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:27:00 +0000

George Robert Names

Our beloved Grandpa George Names died Tuesday morning, February 17th. This wonderful man was a blessing to us all.

The following narrative describes his service in the United States Army during the Second World War.

George Robert Names served in the United States Army. He was attached to the 80th Infantry, Third Army in the European Theater of Operations during the Second World War. Private Names landed in Normandy, France in 1944, shortly after the main Allied invasion in June of that year. He fought his way across northern France in pursuit of German forces withdrawing from occupied Western Europe. He saw combat action in the areas of Metz and Nancy in the eastern frontier of France, spending most of his nights in foxholes as a forward observer, frequently within earshot of German troops.

As is characteristic of most who served in combat, Mr. Names’ account downplayed the dangers and brutal realities of warfare. Those experiences are only comprehensible to the few who have been through them and words have little real impact.
In the drive to cross the Moselle River, George Names experienced the common problems of the infantryman, including the malady that eventually led to his evacuation from the war; extreme frostbite to his feet. More terrifying were the sudden exchanges of fire with the enemy that was sometimes only mere yards in the distance. One such incident nearly took Names’ life.

German machine gun fire sprayed across the network of foxholes in which American troops kept watch over suspected enemy positions near the river. While seated in a foxhole with another soldier, Names began to rise from his position in the hole. His comrade pulled him back into the bottom of the hole. His account of the incident was that many of the men around him were wounded or killed and the action taken by his foxhole-mate saved him from the same fate. Clearly grateful, but subdued in his description, George Names told this story to few people. This underscores the nature of this citizen soldier that survived the war and lived a life of postwar peace with his wife of more than sixty years, Vetta Arlene Names.
At the time of his death, George Names left a legacy of both soldier and devoted family man. This quiet man lived to see several generations of adoring family members. He is remembered as a great yet common man who was the embodiment of his generation. One of millions who participated in the war, he would be the first to say that the true heroes of the war never came home. Nevertheless, he was and remains our hero.

President Obama, Ice Storms, Puppy and Praise

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Good Morning World!
As I write, we are in the midst of a major ice storm. It is the heaviest such storm since my family moved here in 2001. We are getting at least an inch of ice and I have to tell you that the new puppy in our house is not excited about heading out into the weather. House training has been a challenge already, but I guess this is a day to throw your hands into the air and say "oh well." She's going to do what she is going to do under these circumstances. We are blessed to have her and even more so to have a home to keep us out of the elements.

President Obama has been in office for a week now and there is a lot of excitement about him and his talk of change. While I cannot say the same for my friends on the left, I proudly accept this man as my president. It is my sincere hope that Americans in general will view him as such and enthusiastically work toward the improvement of our nation. For eight years, it was as if President Bush was considered a pretender to the throne. One might think that he failed to do one positive thing. Few on the left were capable of swallowing their partisanship and vitriol to admit to ANY successes during his presidency. I find it laughable that President Carter, whose presidency was marred with economic misteps and foreign policy failures was suddenly viewed as some sort of guru from whom Bush was somehow supposed to draw invaluable advice to save the nation from "malaise," foreign adventurism, and the evil lord Cheney. Wasn't it exciting when Ronald Reagan arrived on the scene to promise change? Americans soundly rejected Carter in favor of a brighter future with a new commander at the helm.

Of course the crown prince of Hope, Arkansas could do no wrong outside of his personal life. Partisanship was alive and well during President Clinton's presidency. This time it was the Republicans who could not stomach accepting the good policies of the rival party's leader. In many ways, Clinton's eight years in office were marred by continual efforts of the right to undermine the executive branch's actions, whether they had merit or not. There were, of course, mistakes. Some were major. But these could be blamed in part on the impeachment efforts in Congress. "What if" history will ask what preventative measures might have been achieved had the president been able to work with some degree of bipartisan support.

This entry is not meant to suggest that all should be butterflies and rainbows in Washington, but there does need to be a move toward thoughtful cooperation on behalf of the citizens of the United States for whom the denizens of Washington claim to represent. Was the Bush administration haughty, hasty, and single-minded in its pursuit of the president's goals? Perhaps one could say that. But did the Republicans reap what they sowed in the Clinton years? Was the eight year assault on his character payback for the attacks upon Clinton? There would seem to be at least stong suggestions to the affirmative. Have the issues that have plagued the Bush presidency been soley of his doing? Fair-minded observers would recognize the good with the bad. History rarely makes its judgment for several decades. Enough time has passed to make educated judgments about Carter and Reagan. The truth is that insufficient facts have been uncovered or declassified to evaluate either Clinton or Bush.

So now the 44th POTUS is in office. He will without a doubt make decisions that anger the Republicans, and even some in his own party. But isn't it time to consider President Obama the leader of all of us. We can use our constitutional rights to support or oppose him on policies. But institutionalized rejection of our leader because of his party affiliation will continue to carve a divide in this land. Could civil unrest be an outcome of continued ultra-partisanship? This writer believes that to be a realistic possibility. Thomas Jefferson once remarked that sectionalism in early 19th century America would eventually lead to dire consequences. While the nation is not currently geographically divded per se, it is ideologically split. Political partisanship is not without precedent in our history, but few are the times when the stakes of national survival are so clearly in jeopardy from beyond our borders.

I wish to close this posting with praise to the Lord for bringing Harper Stamps into this world. It is always heart-wrenching to know of a couple that desires so strongly for a child only to have those hopes dashed time and again. So it is with great joy that I raise up this child's name as a gift from God to parents who continued to believe and have faith that all things are possible through Jesus. God bless the Stamps and their beautiful daughter. Although her entry into the world was not without difficulty for mother and child, one cannot question the enduring faith of Kelly and Scott Stamps and the legions of those in the blogosphere who fervently prayed for this child's survival. Glory to God in the Highest!

David

A Christmas to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:03:00 +0000

Christmas 2008 has now passed and we are moving into 2009 with a hope and prayer that God will bless this country, our leaders, and our people.

My family and I traveled to Tucson, Arizona where we had four generations come together for a festive time. Lots of card playing and reminiscing. Even more simple enjoyment of time together. Cheryl and I are proud of Ali and Erica for being great travelers. Mercifully, we did not encountertoo much in the way of delays.

Cheryl and Ali (left) and Erica (right) Daddy Dave with Ali (right) and Erica (center)

It is always wonderful to see Grandma Arlene and Grandpa George. They are both getting on in years, but they are still going. I certainly cherish the times that I get to reflect with Grandpa George on his time in the Army during WWII. He was in the 317th Regiment of the 180th infantry, 3rd Army in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). While he does not speak much about his experiences, I do get little glimpses into his experience each time that we meet. The rigors and terror that he faced while in France seep slowly out of a memory repressed. As a military historian, I cannot resist pushing just a bit for more information. Some of it has been forgotten, some better left unsaid. Perhaps what I admire most about George and Arlene is their home-spun simplicity. Life is certainly hard for them at their age, but they retain that dignity of a time that is seemingly in the past, not to be carried on by those of us who have not been tested by the traumatic events of their youth.

At right is the newest addition to our family. This is Cinderella (Cindy). She is an 11-week old pure-bred Maltese. We lost our Mollie two years ago and did not want to get another dog for a long time. Lately we have been anxious to find another little darling and we found her right here in Bentonville. She is still getting used to us and she DOES NOT like to take walks yet.

During a year when things of historic proportions took place (economic crisis, the election of Barak Obama, etc.) We as a family fared pretty well. We are blessed with pretty good health and job stability. The girls are terrific. God is good.

In closing, I say that one of the best events of the year was the birth (actually 12/28/07) of Stacy and Mike's beautiful twins, Ian and Jillian. What else could be better than an expanding family.

God Bless All! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Current economic crisis and politics

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:20:00 +0000

The current election is certainly an interesting one. The economic situation has turned things on their head and it has probably given Senator Obama the election because it takes the primary strong-point of the Republicans, foreign policy, away. While McCain may have some reasonable ideas regarding the economy, he seems unable to articulate them in a way that gains him any additional support beyond his base. I would be surprised if this election is close after all.

As one may recall, the president/party in the White House at the time of financial problems usually takes the blame, whether or not their policies actually caused the problem. In the case of the current crisis, years of encouraging lenders to grant loans to high-risk borrowers have come back to haunt the banking industry, particularly Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. During the last 15 years or so, there have been regular efforts on the part of the Democratic Party to assist lower income individuals in getting home loans. This has been against the council of numerous economists who were not enthusiastic about the housing boom that was created. Remember, booms tend to bust over time. Hear that? That was the sound of a bust! Republicans are certainly not without dirty hands in this, but their issues tend to deal more with deregulation efforts. Many GOP members did warn that Fannie and Freddie were going to be unstable if lending practices were not closely observed. Those calls were poo-poo'd as unfriendly to lower class borrowers. Now the government has had to step in to rescue these institutions as substantial taxpayer expense.

The current stock market instability is very scary but probably temporary. What may prolong it is the insistance on the part of government to interfere too much. It has also gone global because we are such a major force in the economies of the world. Willingness on the part of individual countries to stabilize their situations will play a role in the length of the crisis. Some may not play along with the rest of the crowd for nationalist reasons. Should that occur, things could drag on longer.

Market "panics" are a part of our economic history. Panics over banking and speculation have taken place as early as 1819 and reemerged periodically every twenty years or so. This convinces some that the markets are cyclical; the classic theory of economics. During the early phase of the Great Depression, many in the U.S. government believed this to be the case. In the 1932 election, Hoover took a drubbing from FDR because the latter promised CHANGE from the "failed policies" of the Republicans. Whether it was Republican policies or not, poor Hoover, only in office for a few months when the Crash occurred, took the blame and was unable to climb out from under the economic crisis of his day. Now here we are with a new major crisis and a party to blame. Astute voters will note that Congress has been dominated by the Democrats for the last two years, but because of an unfortunate vendetta against Bush, they allowed themselves to lose focus on their agenda. This Congress faces unprecedented low approval because of their lack of action on the things that they promised to fix. I have been saying for some time (at least five years!) that partisanship from BOTH parties has stalled progress for the American people. NOW is the time to break that practice. I am not convinced that EITHER candidate for president is truly willing to do what must be done - true bipartisan efforts. Despite claims otherwise, McCain is a proven agent of bipartisan action. But Congress will play a far more important role in breaking the partisan chains. The President MUST lead us in that direction. The Congress will have to bring that spirit forward for REAL change to occur.

Iran and Nukes

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Make no mistake about it. Iran is a problem that we created a long time ago. Our support of the Shah of Iran was similar to what American leaders have done in other parts of the world before and after the Iranian Revolution. The issue has generally come down to our support of an autocratic government for fear that a radical government would emerge. Yet our support of a strongman has frequently led to unrest because of the economic gap between the few who run a nation and the masses that have little control over their lives, economically or socially. This brings us to Iran. Shah Reza Pahlavi represented the modern, wealthy side of Iranian society. The poorer masses resented their position and turned to fundamentalist Islamists who decried the Westernization of Iran and called for a return to traditional Muslim ways. The denizens of the streets of Teheran and elsewhere were a prime audience for revolutionary rhetoric. The odd thing is, we were taken by surprise by this. Jimmy Carter was president at the time and certainly accountable for much of this, but the coddling of the Shah pre-existed our greatest ex-president.

So now we face a sabre-rattling Iranian government that hates the U.S. and looks for street cred in the Middle East by calling us the Great Satin and threatening the annihilation of Israel. Iranian nuclear ambitions are well known. How far they really are in their program is hard to say, but the most out-spoken anti-American state in the region seems bent on getting the bomb. Logic should dictate to Iranian leaders that a nuclear attack on U.S. interests would yield nothing but their own destruction. That is, of course if we have political and military leaders in place who are willing to go all the way if necessary. If a small-scale terrorist attack using a nuclear device should take place, the sources for that weapon would be a limited family of nations that already have the technology, or one who is anxious to join the clan.

Will we see the first modern instance in which nuclear weapons are used in hostilities. The U.S. bears the distinction of being the only nation as yet to do so. Will Iran ultimately take such a step. The results of elections in November could narrow Iran's options. But don't expect Israel to sit idle while Iran plots her demise.

Should teachers indoctrinate or educate?

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:36:00 +0000

As another school year comes to a close, I realize how much I will miss (most!) of my students. Being a teacher has wonderful intrinsic benefits, the best of which is the relationship that we build with our students. But I am deeply troubled by the knowledge that there are teachers, certainly some on my own campus, that use their power and position as a teacher to indoctrinate students to their own political and/or religious viewpoints. One such teacher at BHS has a reputation of freely speaking about his own views and blasting any student brave enough to speak in defense of a contrary position. Some have even reported that they are graded lower on assignments because of their own views or beliefs. If this is true (yes, students have been known to exaggerate) then this behavior by the teacher is, in my opinion, an actionable offense. It is one thing to speak of one's own beliefs if it is relative to the subject at hand and is clearly stated as one's point of view. It is quite another to enforce a belief system in class and bully students into conforming to it.

D-Day Remembered

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:07:00 +0000

June 6th always makes me deeply ponder the events of that day in 1944. Having visited the beaches of Normandy and the beautiful lands of Northern France on three occasions, I can appreciate the grounds unto which our allied forces landed 64 years ago. Being there without the guns of war raging naturally fails to provide one with the true sense of what happened on that day, but seeing the terrain and viewing the surf adds dimension to the visions that one conjures up about the events of that day. The deep shell craters of Pointe du Hoc testify to the violence of the day. The mostly submerged remnants of the Mulberry Harbor at Arromanches testify to the ingenuity of the allied planners who sought to overcome the logistical obstacles of not possessing a secured port. Towns and villages such as St. Mere Eglise and Port en Bessin contain visual clues of the fighting that took place, whether the evidence be once destroyed but now rebuilt structures or abandoned Axis defense positions that now house the ghosts of soldiers frightened but determined in the face of the greatest amphibious assault in warfare up to that time. For the few who were there on that day, my romantic musings of Normandy mean little when compared to the overwhelming visual stimuli that bombarded them on June 6, 1944.

I have had the opportunity and honor to accompany a small band of American students to visit Normandy on three separate occassions (2004, 2005, and 2007). Admittedly, there was a mix of interest in what happened there. Some of the students were fully engaged and eager to learn more throughout the 10-day visit. Others were more focused upon the shallow, temporary thrill of a trip to Europe. While the former were hanging on every detail available from guides and museum exhibits, the latter took cat naps to make up for the lost sleep sacrificed during the prior night as they conjured up ways to entertain themselves in ways no doubt contrary to the rules.

Perhaps the great equalizer for most of the students as the visit to the American Cemetary. Even the least interested in the true message of the trip had to come to grips with the magnitude of over 9,000 graves of Americans killed during the Normandy campaign. This immaculately manicured piece of hallowed ground has a powerful effect upon those who cast eyes upon it. It is for this reason that our benefactor, the late Mr. George Billingsly of Bella Vista, Arkansas established an endowment to provide eight students and two faculty sponsors from Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas an annual opportunity to travel to France to see the sites of the last true global war. He did not want Hollywood to dictate what would become the memories of that war. Even if only eight individuals at a time, he wanted some of our youth to have first-hand views of the sites of a truly great struggle, the outcome of which provided them with freedoms that we usually take for granted today. This generous gift has resulted in the planting of seeds. Eight seeds are sown each year. Some will germinate and grow, flowering into the passing of the story to others. This is how we keep the story alive. Although our veterans of the struggle pass on daily, we still have chances to speak to them, to learn, and to honor them. No matter how humble or mundane their contribution may have been at Normandy or anywhere else in the conflict known here as World War Two, we as a people must remember their deeds and enjoy the benefits that they sacrificed time, youth or life to provide.

Photographs property of David Chapman

Bad Weather in NWA

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:14:00 +0000

We had some crazy weather here in Northwest Arkansas. My neighbor lost his trampoline in 70 mile-an-hour straight line winds. I think it went through someone's fence a few houses away. Auntie Em, Auntie Em!

This area has certainly seen its share of heavy storms. We thought the windows were going to blow in this time. Fortunately, the only damage we had was a torn screen on a rear window. The lawn furniture was blown all over the place, but at least it stayed in our yard.

All of us are safe, though a young girl in Siloam Springs died when a tree crashed through her home and crushed her in her bedroom. It makes one thankful for life, health, and a merciful Lord to whom we can lift all praises.

Thinking about Lies and Misstatements

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:44:00 +0000

What is that old adage about politicians? You know that they are lying when their lips are moving. Knowing this to be sadly true, why would I bristle at Senator Clinton's response to the revelation that she fabricated the Tuzla, Bosnia tarmac experience? I suppose what gets me most is that it was not a misstatement. An example of misspeaking would be for her to say that she landed in Sarajevo instead of Tuzla. But to "clearly" remember being under fire and not participating in a welcoming ceremony that was in fact filmed by a network news camera is pretty clearly a lie. The good Senator made statements in explanation such as that she was tired from the campaign or that she had been to 80 countries and was mixed up. She said that she is human and made a mistake. I wonder how many of the 80 trips involved running for cover from sniper fire. Surely not too many (if any). One could reason that it wouldn't be too difficult to keep incidents such as she described straight in the mind.

"I went to 80 countries, you know. I gave contemporaneous accounts, I wrote about a lot of this in my book. You know, I think that, a minor blip, you know, if I said something that, you know, I say a lot of things - millions of words a day - so if I misspoke, that was just a misstatement," she said.

That is pretty profound! You know?

First Lady Laura Bush visited my classroom in February of 2004. The steps that were taken for her security in a domestic setting were impressive. Every part of the visit was planned in advance to minimize any possible risk to the First Lady. My classroom was scoured by security personnel. The police and Secret Service presence was massive...and she was visiting a High School in Arkansas, not a hot zone in a war-torn country. If the military had even the slightest concern that Mrs. Clinton would be in danger, my impression, based on experience with Mrs. Bush, is that they would not have allowed her to be in the line of fire. As I write, several figures from the military are expressing outrage about Senator Clinton's misstatement. Naturally, the implication of her story is that the military failed to secure the airport at Tuzla. When the potential commander-in-chief sullies the reputations of the officers in charge so easily, that could make for a tense relationship.

Enough rambling from me. I am disappointed that she came to the point to where she told the Bosnia story so many times that she actually believes it. It would still be told from stop to campaign stop if the evidence of her lack of veracity were not preserved on CBS video. I hope that the old adage about lying politicians is a lie, and that, my friends, is the truth.

Easter Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:10:00 +0000

It is Easter Sunday, 2008. The girls enjoyed their egg hunt, but it was a bit cold outside here in NW Arkansas. I can't wait for the warmer weather to return. We had some warm weather while in San Antonio last week, but it was still not the way I like it.

By the way, I played golf with Mike on Thursday. I pretty much played like I hadn't been on a course in a while (which is true!). I still had some good holes. We were in the flight path of Randolph AFB, so I got to see a lot of aircraft that day. I did have one very cool experience while in San Antonio that was not family related. Mike took me on base and he got me into a T-1 simulator. I flew a couple of sorties. I tried for a long time to hook up with a tanker in flight, but I was repeatedly over-correcting and had to come back in for another attempt. I got close on several attempts, but never really did the deed. I had mixed results on my landings. I did a lot of bouncing on my first landing but nailed the second. Granted, Mike was in the right seat and handled some of the things that I forgot, but I guess I did okay. I really wish I had learned to fly when I was younger. Now I have heart issues that preclude me from getting a pilot's license. No worries.

My brother lives in Virginia Beach, VA and sees navy aircraft all the time. I think that he enjoys living in a military town, even though he is not in the service himself. He sends me pictures of ships and aircraft often. Living here in NWA, we don't have a lot of big airshows nearby. I would travel a long way to get a chance to fly in a B-17. There are not many left in flying condition, let alone available for public flights. I greatly admire the crews of the bombers that flew in the Second World War. The Allies lost a lot of aircrews in the European and Pacific theaters, but most in the European Theater of Operations. Like anyone who was never actually there, I can only imagine the range of emotions that ran through the crew of a bomber on a combat mission. I think that I would have served honorably, but I also believe that I would have felt a lot of anxiety about the possibilities.

God bless you all today and always. On this day on which remember the risen Savior, let us also take a moment to remember those who fought and died for our country so that we might enjoy the freedoms they served to protect.

Back from San Antonio

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. David Chapman) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:24:00 +0000

I returned yesterday from a trip to San Antonio, Texas to visit my wife's sister and her newly expanded family. Stacy and Mike are the proud parents of twins. After a very long wait for the Lord's timing, they finally have the children that they have wanted for so long. Ian and Jillian are beautiful babies and they couldn't have better parents!

While on my trip, I had the opportunity to visit Randolph Air Force Base. To my great surprise, I found that the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen lives on in the 99th Flying Training Squadron. For information on this distinguished group of airmen, visit the RAFB website. As a fitting tribute to these gallant African-American pilots, the 99th Flying Training Squadron maintains a museum exhibit in the halls of the squadron offices. I found the fact that the 99th lives on to be a fine way of recognizing the history of the squadron. Today's 99th even sports the characteristic red tail of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. Thanks to the U.S. Airforce for their pride in their heritage. In the photo above left, a T-1A Jayhawk flies over downtown San Antonio. The aircraft is assigned to the 99th Flying Training Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Russell Hopkinson)

Classes at BHS have been on Spring Break and we return to classes on Monday. I hope everyone has had a relaxing break. As for me, I did.