Back to August 1945 - Storm Search Heading east over the Caribbean we dropped down and checked the ocean swells, then satisfied there was nothing more to be learned from the present ocean surface we started a slow climb back to a higher altitude.

Excerpt from The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

The clouds were still far in the distance, but were boiling skyward. I took the opportunity to make another inspection of the interior and also looked out at the engines for any possible oil leaks. When I got to the waist hatches I took a pair of binoculars and looked down at the ocean. And even with my limited knowledge of oceanography I could tell that something was brewing somewhere in the distance and it probably wouldn't be too long before we'd have a fix on that storm. The skipper made another announcement telling us to put on our oxygen masks that we were going up top again and see if we could get a better look from above. By the time we got close to the storm we had reached an altitude near 28, 000 feet and were, in fact, above the storm.

I'm not sure exactly what I expected to see, but this first storm didn't fulfill my expectations. Maybe I was looking for swirling clouds that were well defined. We could see the swirling motion of the winds all right but there were so many clouds obscuring the main body that we never got a look at the center or eye to the storm. However, there was no doubt that the Tropical Storm we were looking down on had the potential of turning into a full-blown hurricane. We spent almost an hour doing observation and taking instrument readings and measurements, plotting the exact location and direction the storm was moving in before Lt. Engle announced, "Fellows we've done about all we can do out here so we're heading home."

The large board in the operations office was our scorecard as it kept tabs on hurricane activities for the current season. So far we had had one Category 3 hurricane and two Tropical Storms. One storm was spawned in the Eastern Caribbean and two in the West. The third storm listed was the one our crew observed down in the Eastern Caribbean, which had originated on August 1st. When we observed Tropical Storm III on the 2nd of August, we reported winds of 57 mph. That particular storm generated few headlines for just two days later it made landfall on the southern shore of the Dominican Republic where it fell apart and while it produced heavy rains and some flooding, fortunately the storm did little wind damage.

Birth of a Legend

John Henry Holliday was born August 14, 1851 in the town of Griffin Georgia. And although he along with his family moved away from Griffin in 1864. Doc Holliday always considered Griffin his hometown.

Doc was diagnosed with tuberculosis late in 1872, and considering the doctors advice he began to think about moving to a dryer climate. Then when his adopted brother Francisco E'Dalgo died of tuberculosis in January 1873 John Henry was convinced that a dryer climate could add a few years to his life. The next scene gives you an idea about Holliday's thinking regarding his move to the west.

Excerpt from Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone.

The morning after Francisco's funeral John Henry and his cousin Mattie Holliday talked as they return to Griffin in a one-horse buggy.

"We are not just discussing the pros and cons of cousins don't marry -- that turns out to be the simple part of it."

"I am well aware that you are concerned about your health, John Henry, but what of it. Isn't that the reason for going west in the first place?"

"Honey, you make it sound so simple -- Lord have mercy, there is nothing simple about tuberculosis. What do you think the folks are going to say if I take you way out West and then go and die on you -- and maybe leave you out there alone with two or three babies?"

"John Henry Holliday, goodness gracious -- you are not going to die. You're going to get well." She smiled, turned and kissed him on the cheek, and then whispered, "I liked the part about the babies."

Nearing the city limits of Griffin, he tugged on the right rein and they moved off the main road to a lane leading up a hill and into a cemetery. They pulled to a stop near the crest and John Henry helped Mattie to the ground. "What are we doing here, darlin'?"

"Thought I'd pay a visit to my sister."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know where she was buried. Mama told me about her years ago. Poor little Eleanora died an infant."

"Yes, she died before I was born."

John Henry looked down at the grave and wondered how it would have been growing up with a big sister. "I should have thought to bring some flowers."

"Being here is more important," Mattie said softly. "I'm so glad we stopped, now we have something else to share." John Henry brushed away several dry leaves and read the inscription: IN MEMORY OF MARTHA ELEANORA DAUGHTER OF H.B. AND A.J. HOLLIDAY Who died JUNE 12th 1850 aged 6 months 9 days.

Several quiet minutes passed before they got back into the buggy and drove down cemetery hill.

Writers Corner:

Inside the front flap of my writer's notebook are several notes; among them is one that always makes me stop and think. "What is the single most important piece of advice you've ever gotten about writing?" I'm not quite sure, but this note contained in that same flap is high on the list. Stephen King once said,
"I write about four hours a day - first draft - just write. Let it all hang out - don't stop for misspelled words - punctuation - nothing. Let the passion and heat of the moment take charge. And don't rewrite that same day. Write in am and rewrite in pm - no, no, no. Leave it alone, at least overnight.'

About the Author

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter. Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com