I am going to post the contents of that journal in a series of posts, starting with this one, to both share them with you and, more importantly, knowing that I will be thinking of him as I type each word.

Swanson Shields

Diary No.
17

An account of my trip
to Pontiac, Michigan

from

Lynchburg, Virginia
Aug.
- 1934 -

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but don’t give up. Keep trying.

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My Diary
Swanson Shields
Recorded While
on our Hitchhike
to
Michigan
-1934-

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Forewordd

All the notations written in this book were actually scribbled while on the trip.

Swanson Shields

If you expect to get along
in this world, you’ll have to be
determined and patient. You’ll
never get a job unless you keep
trying fot it. And until
you do get it, never give up
hope. Have patience.

Even in love, determination
and patience are important. The
girl may refuse your proposal
of marriage the first time

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S. Shields

Have you ever hitch-hiked? If

… to be continued …

My father was Swanson Claude Shields, or “Swannee.” He died ten years ago this day. I am his only child.

That is why I am starting this web site, to honor his memory and to share it with both my family members who never got to know him, and with other relatives, with anyone who ever knew him, or knew of him, and to all those who find their way to his resting place on the web.

Dad was also a WWII veteran. He served in Iceland for several years, helping to guard the North Atlantic,and left the U.S. Army at a Lt. I was born in Abilene, Texas, near the end of 1944, not long after he had completed his training as an officer. (He entered the Army as an enlisted man, and rose to the rank of First Sgt., commanding 120 men, before being sent to Officer’s School.)

As part of my volunteer efforts I have recently launched a project, the Chay Project. The goal of the project is to honor our Fallen Soldiers and assist their survivors. The project maintains the site Fallen Soldiers, which contains a list of the soldiers so honored by the project.

By “Fallen Soldier” I wish to honor not just those killed in action while serving their country, but to also recognized that some men, as did my father, returned home as veterans, only to fall to the ravages of time; for example, I now think of my father as a “Fallen Veteran.”

And there are others who have served who at still alive. For example, I just spoke with my uncle, Lynwood Shields, after whom I am named. He will turn 94 this coming Nov. 14th. He is also a veteran of WWII; I believe he served in the Pacific theater.

So, Uncle “Lynn” is a “Living Veteran.”

The current plan of the Chay Project is to create some sample sites to honor some of our soldiers, both the living or the dead. The project also plans to provide guidance and instruction on how to create and nourish such sites.

The project’s first site honors Ssgt. Kyu Hyuk Chay.

This, the second, will honor my father, Lt. Swanson Claude Shields

SSgt. Kyu Hyuk Chay. Fallen Soldier. May His Memory Be A Blessing.

Lt. Swanson Claude Shields. Fallen Veteran May His Memory Be A Blessing.