A Little HelpWhile traveling all over the world

defending America’s freedom, I’ve come in contact with people of all nations,

tribes, and tongues. Differences in culture and beliefs abound, but a few basic similarities remain: the parents

love their children and want the best for them, and hurt and loneliness are

commonplace.

AppalachiaGrowing up in East Kentucky, we didn’t have

much: no running water, an outhouse, and food was scarce. Even though we lacked many of the things most Americans take for granted daily, I’m thankful for my upbringing. It has

made me a stronger person, something I keep trying to instill in my own kids. Children today

have more than they’ll ever need, and know little to nothing about the hurt and suffering

going on all around them.

HurtIn small town Appalachia, there’s not much to do, and very little money. A

lot of the people are on social security and food stamps, or working in the coal mines. Add in the fact that parents get

more federal help for additional children and you end up with hungry

kids and rampant drug abuse.

FamilyEven with the struggle to survive, the

one thing that always amazed me about growing up Appalachia was the

strength of the families back there. The parents and kids alike truly enjoy

and love spending time with each other. Unfortunately, the a lot of that

time is spent watching television.

BoredomI have a strong desire to help the people in

Appalachia as well as Cambodia (we’ll touch on that one shortly). I’ve taken food stuff and

clothes back and given to people there, but my meager offering didn’t make a dent in the

overall need there. I also wonder if there’s something else I could bring to help the kids

stay out of trouble. With nothing but TV ruling the lives of people back in the area, alcohol and

drugs begin to look pretty appealing.

ReadingI’m thankful my father got me into

reading at a very young age, even if it was Stephen King. After I got past the

nightmares, I worked my way into other authors.

Reading allowed me to go into another place, another world. I got to experience what the characters were going through;

I loved it.

The MilitaryI was an average student in school, not really interested in college, nor could I

afford to go. The army came calling and I accepted. It wasn’t easy, but I’m eternally

grateful for the start on life that the military gave me. It not only strengthened

my body, but my mind as well. Most people will never know the limits they can push the body past, by simple determination.

New WorldGrowing up in such a small town, I

never went more than forty-five minutes from my home, so when the

army gave me orders for New York, I was terrified. It was hard adjusting to the cold and unfriendliness of the

northerners, but once again it strengthened me.

DeploymentsAt the age of 19, I received orders

for Desert Storm; terrified once again, but I did what I was told.

Returned home stronger, got my first experience with people from another country (another world to me). From

there I deployed to Cambodia, and got the eye opener of a lifetime.

NeedThe people in Cambodia were in desperate need of

food, shelter, and believe it or not, someone to listen to them. We befriended many of the soldiers from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and saw

first-hand their need for someone to genuinely listen to them. Too many times we passively listen,

waiting for the opportunity to tell our own story. During our two months in the country, we toured

the Killing Fields, the torture museums used by the evil Colonel Pol Pot and many of the local flea

markets around Phnom Penh.

EvilIf you haven’t heard of Colonel Pol Pot, I suggest you open up Google

and type his name in. His genocide of his own people set Cambodia back

in time decades. He killed off all skilled tradesmen, surrounded

himself with peasants, and sent the country into the dark ages.

TorturePol Pot didn’t waste ammunition on

the people of Cambodia, he had them tortured to death, and beat many of them with bats (children included). Hearing and seeing such evil left us

Americans furious.

MarketplaceI mention the marketplace, because

Cambodia has over six million anti personnel and anti tank mines all over the country. At

the market, we regularly saw the result of these mines on the children. Parents would put their kids (most with missing limbs from the mines) out in front of their booths to beg

us for money as we went through. It was heart wrenching and it worked…we regularly

gave them money.

Not so differentI mentioned two different regions,

although not all that different. The people all have the same basic desire to take care

of their families, to feed them and clothe them, to watch them grow and learn in a

safe environment. In Cambodia, starvation and anti-personnel mines are

the enemy. In Appalachia, starvation and drugs are the enemy.

2 Decades LaterI retired from the military three years ago

and started writing novels. I’ve penned two about the Appalachia region, and just

finished one about Cambodia. My desire is to bring light to the hardships in the areas,

and hopefully make us think before we trade in our two year old vehicle for the latest and greatest one on the market or

purchase that new iphone or ipad.

NeedAfter giving food and clothes to the area, I’m starting to think the biggest need in both areas mentioned is time. Investing

time into their lives. The Appalachia Service Project helps repair many of the dilapidated homes

around the Appalachia region. Many live in structures similar to the huts I went

through in Cambodia.

TimeDo you have time?

My heart is with the people of Appalachia and the people of

Cambodia. Not sure where to start, but need to start somewhere…