Neel505 - About

About Me

"Happy is the man who, like Ulysses, has made a glorious voyage...then returns to spend the rest of his life among his family." ~ J. du Bellay

Then

I'm an Alabama boy living in Virginia with my wife, Kady, among my kids and grandkids, between the Blue Ridge and beaches, and surrounded by battlefields. I'm married to a beautiful Birmingham girl, and she has made my life wonderful. We chose the Old Dominion in retirement to be close to our family.

I grew up in Birmingham, the middle son of a railroad man and a country girl.

I am a retired career soldier, joining the Army at twenty-three and staying for twenty-four years, serving as a scout and infantryman in the 82nd Airborne. The Army assigned me to NATO in Izmir, Turkey, three times, and I consider it a second home. I served for two years on Her Majesty’s Service in the British Parachute Regiment, and I taught ROTC at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

I am a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 47.

After the army, I worked at VMI for over sixteen years as the Corps and Institute Sergeant Major.

Now

In 2018, after 41 years, I removed my uniform and promised I would never put it back on. I haven't. I no longer use my rank, and I will not answer to it. My name is John, Johnny to family and friends. The military is forever a part of me but is not all that I am or aspire to be.

Unlike my uniformed days, I have plenty of free time for family, travel, and hobbies. It is an enjoyable way of life.

I've slowed down a lot and do only one thing on my to-do list each day. Most days, I walk the trails around my house, visit one of the many parks in the area, or scour a local battlefield. I spend cold and rainy days in my office writing, working on this site, doing family research, or reading. Many evenings, I am out back with my telescopes. I'm an avid photographer.

I spend so much time with my grandchildren that I am in danger of becoming a nice person.

Name

The name for my site comes from the early days of dialup internet and e-mail. Looking for an address, every combination of my name that I tried was taken. I added my regiment to my last name and became neel505 at AOL. I kept the moniker for my site and just about everything.

My panther comes from the 505th Parachute Regiment's unit crest. That panther is for the regiment; this one is mine.

The stylized N represents my last name but is also a DV, the Roman numeral for five hundred and five. I believe this is very clever.

I Miss This Car! We were a Team.

Details

I'm a typical middle kid. My brothers were studious, well-behaved, and educated at the same liberal arts college, you know—Tools. I'm not the smartest of the three, just the best-looking. Who am I kidding? I'm way more intelligent than those two frat boys, as well.
I still double-space between sentences, though I'm trying to break that habit. I do not think "disrespect" is a verb, and I conjugate "plead" as "plead, pled, pled." I love commas and put them anywhere and everywhere. I use ellipses [. . .] to indicate my pregnant pauses, thinking, searching for a better word, and brain cramps. My spelling sucks. I do not do math.
I use army rank abbreviations and 24-hour time. Sorry 'bout that, Associated Press Style Guide.

I call my friends "mate." "Cheers" can mean goodbye, good luck, thank you, and "let's drink." I speak just enough Turkish to get where I'm going, order food, and get myself in and out of trouble. I often speak in movie quotes and will expect you to get the reference. If I call you "Bobo" or "Sports Fan," treat both as terms of endearment.
I was a bad student, educating myself with the Encyclopedia Britannica and World Book. I have an inner need to impress people with my intelligence—ask me a simple question, and you'll get an exhaustive answer with historical context. Take notes.
I read a lot, mostly sci-fi, science, biographies, and history. Coffee is my newest subject of interest.
Politics, politicians, and people who can't talk about anything else tick me off. I have only liked one president: Ronald Reagan.
I approach life through science; there is no longer room for any religion. Please do not try to convert me; you'll only run away crying and doubting your beliefs. True story. Live your best life; that's fine with me, but do not expect me to accept your lies as truth or your perverse lifestyle as normal. Do not try to impose your religious or social taboos on me. Do not mistake my tolerance for acceptance or weakness.
My music tastes are forever stuck in the '60s and early '70s. I never liked the Beatles. My first album was Fifth Dimension by The Byrds. Dan Fogelberg remains my favorite singer/songwriter. I like old Springsteen songs from before he became socially and politically rediculous; I never liked the person. The Eagles are the best group ever. I dig Sister Hazel and Toad the Wet Sprocket. Ronstadt is forever my fave. I like one country person: David Nail.
I'm an Auburn fan. War Eagle! I firmly believe that this is our year, every year. Pity me.
I am a proud American & Southern gentleman. I say, "Ma'am" and "Sir," hold doors, tip my hat, and wave at total strangers. I use a Pixel phone, Windows computers, and all things Google.

Pleased to meet you.

John

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