Colleen Cahoon

  General Notes:

This area will change, once I decide exactly what it is that I would like to share with the world, at large, and with my extended family in particular. Like most folks, I have had a few adventures, a few misadventures, many joys, and a few almost unbearable moments and sorrows.

Relatively late in life, I met, liked, and loved a tall, dark, and handsome man who could carry on entertainingly interesting conversations. I met him through a high school friend, Peggy [nee Spinks] Foudray, who had married into his family. I was introduced to Kenneth Robert Foudray, eldest son of Robert Lee Foudray and Marjory Bonneau. One thing lead to another. The wedding took place on 3 Nov 1985, in Sweeny, Brazoria, TX.

What else might I mention? Hmmm. I am this site's originator and I originated in Corpus Christi, Texas though I have siblings born in Oregon and California. My family was moved around a lot, when I was growing up. I started first grade at the age of 5, not because I was bright, but simply because kindergarten was not offered and the option was, due to my birthdate, to start at five, or at seven. Mom and I both opted for me to start at five. Though, I could write my name, I was of course eager to learn the "Magic" of reading! She was eager to have one less kid in the house! :)

First grade for me began in Roswell, New Mexico. The family lived there for a time, as my Migrant Master Bricklaying father was working on the "area 51 site". My brother, Peter Stewart Cahoon, not so long ago, pointed out that Dad must have had one heck of a clearance, to work there. Naturally, I regret not knowing then, what I know now... I would have asked him some "X-file" type questions. :)



I joined the U.S. Army, back in the Vietnam Era Days. Having grown up visiting libraries, all across America, I hoped to have the opportunity to see in person, the great art museums of Europe, which I visited in books. That was not to be, due to "red-alerts" that required me to be able to "report for duty", within specific time frames. I was assigned to the field command post; it would not have been so easy to cross the border and be "lost for the day", unnoticed, as some of my friends were able to do, occassionally. My absense would have been keenly noted, because I was a field radio operator, handling the radio and landline communications when we were in field training... which seemed to be, always.

Fortunately, I did get to see some gorgeous castles, meet some wonderful people, learned to drink without ice, and enjoyed some awesomely scenic train rides. Most of all, I came to truly appreciate my fellow soldiers. Though I appeared to be a "Private Benjamin, from the poor side of town," (meaning that I was not your typical "spit-spot-soldier-type,") I did take my "job" very seriously, having been raised to give an honest day's work, for an honest day's pay. And of course, the job could affect the lives of countless brother soldiers, so when I was on duty, I paid attention.

If called upon, I would have fought side by side with the young men in my company; at that time in history, it was most unlikely that I would be asked to do so, but I would have, just as I knew that they would fight at my side. To me, that was all the more reason to do the best I could, in my job capacity, as a radio operator. I took great delight in my turns, at maintaining the airwaves. I would teach many a young upstart of an officer, that it did not matter to me, that they had rank and that I might actually recognize their voices. If they were not "up to code" with the "current code," then I would advise them that they were not "authorized."

Inevitably I would be confronted, in person, by these "wannah be Gen. Pattons". This tickled me as well, as I would try to maintain a straight face, while relaying the facts: "LT., you were attempting to pass off expired passwords. No one can really be positively identified, over the radio, LT. Impersonators would have a field day with some of our officers' voices, thus LT. we are encouraged to implement and follow coding proceedures. LT. you failed to follow proper proceedure. Lucky for you, LT., that it is my job to notice such things and I was able to cut you off, before you made too awfully much of an ass of yourself. If you feel, LT., that I am not doing my job properly, by all means, report me to the C.O.."

Bristling with indigination, several did report me to the Commanding Officer. And because of that, it came to my attention that my indescriminant dedication to particulars...like enforcing the use of assigned codes... despite the imploring, threats, or whining of some of my so called "superiors", delighted my C.O.. He wanted to recommend me for officer's training, which I appreciated, but politely deferred, explaining that I had neither intent, nor desire, to make the service a career. :)