Kerry Helm:  

Where did the time go? The class of '65's reunions have showed all of us that it's been quite awhile since the biggest class ever walked the halls of Bellingham High School. Those were the days. Funny though, now when I see the "kids" in high school; they all look so young? But, of course, it wasn't that way with us. Following graduation..... I enrolled in a Marine Corps flight program intending to become a Marine pilot and I enrolled at Western to pursue that. However, about six months in, we had to go in for physicals and I was washed out because my eyesight wasn't good enough to become a Marine pilot. I immediately quit Western and packed my things and drove off in my '56 Chevy towards Southern California, where I eventually settled, almost on the beach, in Santa Monica. I was going to be a surfer, chase girls and have a great time, which I did for awhile. I loved it there; the hot days and those long warm Southern California evenings. I got the perfect job, at a Phillips 66 gas station which was also the local Hertz Rent-a-Car place, located right across the street--at the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Colorado Street--right across from the Santa Monica pier. Perfect. I had the free use of any vehicle they had there that wasn't rented or reserved. So I had a new car--usually a convertible--or a new motorcycle every day, to ride off into the sunset. I really loved those long southern California evenings. Those were good times. However, well into my wanna-be a surf bum on Southern California's sunny beaches, my Uncle Sam decided he needed me. I got a letter from him saying "Greetings" and so I eventually had to return to Bellingham to be drafted into the US Army. They had us count off by 4's and every 4th guy was drafted into the Marines. I tried--by switching places--but they wouldn't let me be a Marine. My efforts got me a hundred push-ups. So much for being a Marine, like my Father. And for basic infantry training--iInstead of being on a warm southern California beach--I was stationed at Fort Lewis, starting late in fall for four months training in the Northwest's lovely fall--winter weather. Perfect. I did get leave to go home for the holidays. I still remember clearly "camping" on the foothills of Mt Rainier in a frozen pup tent with cans of Sterno to keep us warm... or not. Somehow, though, I enjoyed it all. From there, the Army assigned me to Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; something about my math that I wasn't aware of? I don't know where they got that? In Oklahoma the weather didn't improve when I arrived there in February. It really made me miss the weather in Southern California; I even missed the weather in northwest Washington. Oklahoma has some wild spring weather, tornados and all. It was quite a change from Bellingham and Santa Monica. The Army determined that I was a Private Ryan; the last remaining male with the Helm name in my family, so I was a Sole Surviving Son who was never going to see combat. I was young--and stupid--and was really unhappy to learn that, though I am glad about it now. I still missed doing my part, but then, I've always felt I missed doing my part in WWII, too. I did end up being honored as Soldier of the Month during a tour of duty at Fort Lewis, but I was permanent party and had a job evenings at the Tacoma Mall and went to Bellingham almost every weekend. PS. You used to be able to get to Fort Lewis from Bellingham in 2 hours in a Porsche. I left Bellingham at 4am Monday and was at the fort for inspection at 6am. You could get to Bellingham from Los Angeles in 24 hours, too. FYI. Following my military service I returned to Bellingham and purchased my second home. I had bought my first home right after graduation from high school; an A-Frame ski cabin at Snowline in Glacie. The second one was a big Georgian parsonage with 7 bedrooms, which became party central when I got a job managing the old Up & Up Tavern on Holly Stree...Expand for more