-
Recent Posts
- Coming Home April 18, 2024
- The Road to the Future January 30, 2024
- Today’s Topic: Flight Surgeons January 7, 2024
- Three Special Gifts for Christmas December 23, 2023
- Once again we revisit the Christmas from Hades December 22, 2023
Subjects
-
Join 144 other subscribers
Copyright notice- An American Family, 2013- 2023
© John Norvell
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to John Norvell and an American Family with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Category Archives: Norvell Family History
50 years ago – the end of air combat over Cambodia – some thoughts
This year is a significant anniversary for me. First, 55 years ago-1968, I entered active duty as a new Air Force 2nd lieutenant stationed in Washington, DC. I had planned to go to flight training, but my vision changed, and … Continue reading
Rabies Shots
Today Dear Reader I have one word for you: Bats. I sense your confusion. Is this another political commentary, an observation on 2020, or am I giving an insight into my general mental health? Well, no, it’s about the mammal: … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Norvell Family History, NY, NY History, Ontario Co
Tagged Bats, Rabies Shots
Leave a comment
On the Road Again
Nearly 50 years ago, I began traveling with my aunt, who often visited me when I was still a bachelor, she had just lost her husband to cancer. Our first adventure occurred while I was in Nav School, we decided … Continue reading
Posted in Alaska, American History, Anchorage, Arizona, Norvell Family History
Tagged Alaska, Auntie Mame, Grand Canyon, Travels with family
1 Comment
Tales of My Phantom FNG Moments
Everyone who has flown has been an FNG more than once. For the uninitiated that is a F’ing New Guy. The term FNG has been used in the Air Force, I can bet, as long at there were aircrews. It … Continue reading
Summer of ’69: How I saw the astronauts and almost went to Woodstock
Fifty years ago three major developments competed for the attention of America: The Race to the Moon, the so called “Flower Power” movement, and the Vietnam War. In that long ago summer of 1969, two would play out on the … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Norvell Family History, Washington DC
Tagged Apollo 11, Flower Power, Moon landing, Summer of 1969, Woodstock
1 Comment
Murder in the Family
A distant cousin of mine, William Walker Norvell, was a member of a prominent Beaumont, Texas family. By the 1920s he was married to a woman named Aurelia H. Adams ( 1866-1928). She would meet a violent end at his … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Norvell Family History, Texas, Texas History
Tagged Beaumont, family scandals
Leave a comment
Every year Santa came until 2015
Since 1971, Santa Claus has come to my house. That was the first year that a 12 inch-tall standup Christmas card of Santa, holding a pipe with a heart applique in the billowing smoke, arrived in the mail. It … Continue reading
Speech Given at the First Annual Veterans Dinner at Finger Lakes Community College
Remarks by Lt Col John E. Norvell (USAF Ret.) November 10, 2017 President Nye, Dr. Pierce, ladies and gentleman and members of the College community, thank you for inviting me to speak tonight. As a former history professor I routinely … Continue reading
Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Air Force, American History, Bolling AFB, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Family History, Fighter Aircraft, Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, New York State History, Norvell Family History, Ontario Co, Thailand, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB, Veterans, Vietnam War
Tagged Bolling AFB, Cambodia Bombing
6 Comments
The Norvell Boys Write to the President
In the 19th century, Americans often wrote to the chief executive asking for jobs or advice on how to conduct their lives. Two such letters were sent to Thomas Jefferson by members of the same family. The first one was … Continue reading
An American Family 