We lived in Jackson for about one year and then moved to a small little farm outside of a town about one hundred fifty miles from New Orleans, LA. It was on this little farm that I learned much about life. We were very, very poor...inside plumbing, electricity, telephones, and television we only got when I was a senior in high school. I was the last of six kids and life was a joy. We, kids, did not realize that we were poor and had less than most of the other kids in school. This did not affect us very much. We knew that we were loved and were happy and that was all that mattered to us. We took care of each other. When one was in trouble, we all were in trouble. When something was said or done to one of us, we all got into the fray.

And then one day the older ones began to marry and leave home. Within two years four of my older siblings were married and gone, leaving my youngest sister and me to fend for ourselves. She and I grew closer and continued to defend the other when the need arose. Then ten years later she married also and left home leaving me alone with only my parents who were becoming very old at the time.

I soon got a job and began to work. I was able to buy some of the things we had wanted so long. I got mad one day at work and on my lunch hour I went to the recruiting office and joined the Army. I was lucky enough to get into the ASA...the Army Security Agency. The ASA was supposed to be an elite undercover unit which I soon learned was not the case. It was different with the personnel a bit more intelligent than the rest of the Army, however undercover was just a catch word. I was glad when my years in the military was over. Things had changed when I did finally return home.