Chapter 1 (partial)

I was born James Douglas Fletcher on May 28, 1918, in Logan County, Ohio, to Paul Douglas Fletcher Junior and Janet Elizabeth Fletcher nee Rupert. Math never worked out for the marriage and birth dates, but there was a war.

I was an only child. Complications in childbirth prevented any other children. Growing up on a small farm in Ohio gave me a taste of hard work and learning to be responsible for my actions. It took several painful trips to the woodshed, but by the time I was fourteen, I understood.

I still don't think it was my fault the explosion was that large when I lit off the methane gas in the pile of cow manure.

Not that I didn't do rebellious things. I just didn't get caught. I smoked an entire cigarette before deciding the taste was terrible and wanted no part of it. When I inhaled deeply, the smoke would tear my lungs apart.

If that were what it took to look older and more worldly, I would be happy to look young and naïve.

Beer was a different story. I loved the taste of it. I also quickly learned the price to be paid for drinking too much. Savoring the taste was better than chugging a bottle and having a hangover. One hangover was enough.

By the time I was sixteen, I had learned my way around a bra strap and other things. But the great mystery of life still evaded me.

My father, Paul, had served in the Great War and returned home a Major. While doing well in the Army, he had no desire to make it a career. Any career would have been limited because he was an ROTC callup.

Still, he had fond memories of the Army, at least when he wasn't in the trenches. Those times weren't talked about.

My grandfather Paul Douglas Fletcher Senior, had been with Colonel Roosevelt and the Rough Riders on Kettle Hill. That day was his only real battle in the war, and he would recount the events at the drop of a hat. I could recite the story along with him.

All in all, the experiences of my father and grandfather left me with a desire to be in the Army. I told my parents of my wish when I was in the ninth grade.

Dad told me if I was going to be in the Army, it was best to be an officer. To achieve that, I should go to West Point. To attend West Point, I needed good grades, participation in extracurricular activities, and political backing.

Later I learned my parents, in private conversation, thought this was a phase and that I would never meet all those goals.

In High School, I demonstrated a strength of character that I held for my entire life.

I went out for football and track and field, making both teams. Making the teams wasn't that impressive, considering the size of my rural high school.

I also joined the Chess Club because I truly loved to play, though I never got beyond expert ranking.

Cast in Time Book 6 Available in June 2024!

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More details coming soon.

Earl E. (Ed) Nelson

I have always wanted to be an author. I had my first rejection slip in about 1965. Wish I had saved it. For many years the only writing I did was technical as pesky things like three children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren came along.

My technical writing was in the field of quality in several different journals. I worked in the field of quality for over fifty years, starting as a line inspector and ending up as a Vice-President of Quality and elected a Fellow of the American Society for Quality.

Then a wonderful thing happened. I lost my job and was out of work for almost eight months. To keep from going crazy I wrote. I posted my stories on an online site, and lo and behold people read them and said nice things. Fast forward about eight years and I am retired and writing for the fun of it.

A lot of what is in my stories is based on my life experiences, gasp! Give or take a lie or two that is. The one fortunate thing in my career is that I got to travel worldwide and have been to most of the locations I write about.

In my younger days, I tried hot air ballooning, sky diving, white water rafting, spelunking, and target shooting. I have collected stamps, drove in road rallies, lowly rated by the US Chess federation. I built a Kentucky long rifle and a dueling pistol. I am a licensed HAM radio operator. My hobby is having hobbies.

My true passion is reading. Trapped in a hotel room I would read the telephone book. The TV would not be turned on. I have averaged 200 books a year for the last sixty years. I knew those long flights were good for something.

BTW I was born in the middle of an air raid in England during World War II, the house next door was destroyed and our windows were blown out. That is probably the most interesting thing I have been involved with. Mum never forgave me. Happily married for 56 years I hope my wife doesn’t catch on to what a goof I am.