In "Baker's Dozen: a Fantasy Novel", I depicted the Canadian military (personified by Paul Baker Colson) in a very negative light. I would like to explain that that character was basically like what I consider I would have turned out to be if I had stayed in the Armed Forces for a 25 year stint. I was briefly, in the late 70s, a recruit private. I made it, though just barely, through Basic Training at CfB Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. I went out west for infantry training at Camp Greenwood. At that point, I decided that this was not the life for me and went AWOL This was followed by some very embarrassing and demeaning situations. The end result was an honourable discharge, which surprised me as I had lied when I joined up about my past mental health status. There followed two years in Calgary, where I had work most of the time but spent most of my money on drink. These two elements of my past gave me the character of Baker, because I had seen some members of the infantry, who had both rank and a problem with alcohol. I did not in any way, however, wish to paint all military men with the same brush. I have no right to...as I said above, I was never a warrior.
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Reviewed by johnny larue
11/15/2009
You have to respect someone who comes clean about some of the less savoury of his personality traits.
Jack Kelly was a child performer, son of New York model, Nan Kelly, brother of actress, Nancy Kelly, brother-in-law of actor Edmond O'Brien and cinematographer Fred Jackman, Jr. On TV, from 1957 until 1962, he was James Garner's brother on the show,
The story of Ron Hull, paralyzed in a surgical accident back in the dreaded polio epidemic days, was able to overcome most of the stigma and stereotypes and "pass for normal" for 30 years. As Ron's paralysis increased gradually through the next 20
