STEVE’S CHILDHOOD WAS NOT ON A SILVER PLATTER.
I was born in the state or Oregon in 1947. My first home was on a farm east of Union, Oregon, where my father worked. Later we moved to Melton Freewater because my father was in the Oregon National Guard after he returned from World War 2. He was a heavy drinker and it caused a lot of problems in my parents’ relationship, which shortly led them to divorce.
My mother was left to care for me as a single mom who received no child support from my father. This was a struggle for her but she never gave up to provide what she could for me. I remember a time when we had only canned tomatoes to eat; those she had canned with my grandma and aunt.
After a few months my mother began dating a few men. She finally met a man named Richard from Oklahoma whom she married. Richard’s wife had been killed in a farming accident and left him widowed with two girls who were living with his brother and wife in Oklahoma. Richard and my mother were married in 1957. The next year my half-brother was born. We traveled all over Oregon and Washington because Richard was in construction work.
My schooling was so bad that I was sent to live with my father and his wife, Dora, and a half brother in their home in Walla Walla, Washington. As I started to school there, I was told that I would be held back a grade to try to get my education back in line with the other kids. This caused me some personality problems and I did not get along with Dora. So I was sent back to live with my mother and Richard.
In 1962 we moved to Oklahoma and I then met my two step-sisters. We lived in Spencer, OK and I started to Junior High School in September 1962. This was a better place for me to meet new friends and I felt like I came home where I belonged!
I met a young Christian girl who lit my life up. She changed me in so many ways and we planned to get married when we graduated High School. However, we decided to break off our relationship in order to be sure we were committed to each other. We agreed to separate. I met another girl whose name was Margret. I thought she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Margret and I got married in 1966 when I was twenty years old. I started back to night school that fall. I had a great job working for Oklahoma Natural Gas Company. The marriage was great until I got a draft notice to report for a physical for the service in August, 1967.
Sweet aroma 
Thank you Oneta for this write up. It is touching to know other people take time to recognize others in their lives.
I am quite thankful to you for the story, Steve. I’m glad you made it back to the USA, and have had some rewarding years since then.
Interesting. I was born in the middle of the war and my dad fighting overseas did not see me until I was three years old., I too remember well the struggles of finding reason for life when dad is a veteran. We only learned of his courage and wartime exploits years after when records were opened. NO parades for him he chose humble remembrance of all who fought and gave their lives for what they believed was FREEDOM and safety for ALL, ,,,,,,,,,One day it will be. Thank you Oneta.
Considering that I go to a very small church, I know our veterans there well because they stand on Vet. Day and they sell poppies. I have known Steve for about seven years; this was the first for me to know his story. I asked three; the others declined. It is not something most veterans will talk about. I do hear them say that they have been in certain territories when we discuss geographic kinds of things. I understand. I am thankful. I’m sure we could find more personal stories on internet, but I like knowing the source of the stories. A few have taken the opportunity to make their stories an evangelistic ministry. That’s good also. Thanks to your dad also. Not many of my family were drafted because they were mostly farmers.
My Grandfather grew up in Oklahoma and spent his adult life in Washington. Interesting to see those two states feature so heavily here.
That was a switch-a-roo from Steve’s story; interesting though why those two states which are so extreme in culture and weather.
Definitely.
Lordy–I’m a bit fretful to where this might be going
It has all the makings of a movie, even to its family conflict.
Dear friend, what delight to find this post on my first visit in a few months! As a former resident of Southeastern WA, including beautiful Walla Walla with many dear friends in Milton Freewater, OR, I can hardly wait for the rest of the story. It’s good to see you, Oneta.
Yes, there you are willing to be caught again. You have been reading more than you let me catch you. Are you still living the far country? My family came near to moving to OR when I was a Sr. in High School, or near that time. Daddy’s brother lived in Eugene so daddy put a deposit down to buy a chicken farm there. I’ve blogged about it. Good to have you stop for a visit.