Sometimes, this blog will stray far afield. But this one is still about human conflict.
American kids are not taught about Gallipoli. It was one of the most disastrous battles in the history of the world. A half million men were killed or maimed during the WWI attempted invasion, sort of like an Omaha Beach that lasted for eight bloody months. It was Winston Churchill’s biggest defeat.
As a war-baby in an American family that lost one dad in WWII and had another dad who was wounded and taken POW, I’ve always been sensitive to stories of war. And this video absolutely blew me away.
Until HOAs get massive financial fines for screwing over on-duty service members, this kind of crime will never stop. The federal law is incredibly clear…you can’t foreclose on a member of the U.S. Armed Services if he is on active duty and cannot appear in court.
Yet the Monte Viejo Community Association in San Antonio, Texas felt they were above the law. In 2011, they simply reached out and snatched the home of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Richard Miller. He was stationed in Japan at the time. In a case eerily similar to the confiscation of another Texas serviceman’s home, Miller’s wife kept all of his mail for him to read when he was home for the holidays. Miller says he never got any mail from his HOA, and thus didn’t know his dues were not being paid.
Miller’s dues were only 200 bucks a year. The HOA jacked that up to more than $15,000 and then liened and foreclosed on Miller’s home.
The good news is that Miller has a pro-bono attorney who’s fighting for his rights. There’s a hint that the Monte Viego board knows how badly they messed up because they’re finally communicating with Miller.
A landmark in the town of Fountain, Colorado has been stolen. It’s a relief for some but others are dismayed.
Several years ago when the Cody Driver family built their house, the neighborhood HOA required that he name his road and put up a street sign. I’m not sure what frustration led to the naming of his road, but it quickly became a landmark:
“A Dog Will Lick His Butt, But He Won’t Eat A Pickle Road”
It became a legend on the Internet. People drove from a thousand miles away to visit and get their picture taken with the sign. But it’s gone now. Somebody stole it.
Because of my family’s long association with the military, I will occasionally do non-HOA stories and links on this website. I hope you’ll forgive me for taking the occasional side road. Just remember that intentionally taking side roads is the key to happiness and fulfillment in this life we lead.
Don Brookins was one of my longtime photo-journalists while I was working in the TV news business. During long stakeouts in my undercover van he used to tell me stories about his dad and his connection with the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. I was moved by his story and hope you will be moved, as well.
