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Back in 1953, Kodak made a Brownie Movie Camera that sold for $39.75. We really couldn't afford that kind of luxury. But we reasoned, wouldn't this be a special present to give each other for our first wedding anniversary! Lucy purchased it on June 28, 1953. It was going to be great fun to take home movies of army life together in Oklahoma and fun times with friends, so far from home.

We had no idea my Far East orders would arrive in less than two weeks, on July 10th. At that point we began to realize the movie camera would become an excellent way for us stay connected during my long absence ahead, and a perfect way to share my experiences with Lucy.

When I shipped out to Korea that camera was with me constantly. Back then Kodak made it very easy to go from raw footage to finished film. When you purchased film, the purchase price ($3.95) included prepayment for development. Once the roll was finished, I shipped the exposed film to Hawaii for processing, and then Kodak shipped the finished reels directly home to Lucy. In the era before video cameras and iphones, this was the only way for her to see exactly what I was encountering in the field.

Never could I have guessed that 60 years later I would select forty-one segments digitally, and do a voice-over on my ipad!