My 90th birthday party

As I sat in my daughter Karen’s home in Vacaville, Calif. with a house full of my kids, grandkids and friends, I thought of my growing up in Jenkins, and joining the Army Air Corps at 16 years old.

I would serve my country for the next 7 years with five tours overseas.

After I retired from the military, I managed a oneman print shop for the largest construction company in northern California for the next 40 years. I also managed a senior softball team during those 40 years.

I was asked to write about my military career for The Mountain Eagle, my hometown newspaper. I’d never written a story in my life.

I was told the readers would decide if my stories were okay. Now, at 90 years old, I’m still writing.

Contributing writer Everett Vanover lives in California