Faron Young died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1996, while I was stationed with the U.S. Navy in Japan. One of my favorite singers, he was also an acquaintance. After his death, he seemed to be almost forgotten, and I started thinking about writing his biography. I wanted to write books as a retirement […]
I’ve been working this past week on the first chapter of Marty’s biography. My three main sources for his childhood are sister Lillie’s unpublished manuscript, the Andrew Means book of Mamie’s memories, and transcripts of Marty visiting with Ralph Emery. I’d love to talk to anyone who knew the Robinson family in the 1920s through […]
NEW WEB SITE I’ve finished transferring the content from my old Web site to the new one at http://dianediekman.com. You can comment specifically on any blog entry or send an email to di***@**********an.com. Thanks to Jeniffer Thompson of Monkey C Media in San Diego for building the site for me. Suggestions from readers are welcome. […]
Reprinted from Naval History magazine, July/August 1997  “Corsairs from Heaven” by Captain Diane Diekman, U.S. Navy Corporal Berry Rhoden, U.S. Army, crossed his arms over his head in a futile attempt to soften blows from the North Korean rifle butts that knocked him to the ground. One of his captors kicked him in the stomach, […]
Originally printed in the Clear Lake Courier — May 31, 1995 It was Saturday evening, December 6, 1941. Most of the sailors at Naval Station Pearl Harbor were on liberty. The Bloch Recreation Center was filled to capacity for what was expected to be the first annual “Battle of Music.” Three 21-piece bands had made […]
Originally published in Clear Lake Courier — 12 May 1999 My last weeks in Japan arrived sooner than I expected–and found me with things still undone and places still unvisited. These included riding a bullet train and seeing the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. After I shipped my household goods and moved out of my […]
Kwai River Bridge at Kanchanaburi Originally published in the Clear Lake Courier — 17 March 1999 The Eastern & Oriental Express luxury train runs through Thailand and down the west coast of Malaysia. I recently achieved my goal of experiencing this journey. The train left Bangkok late one Wednesday morning in January.
Originally published in the Clear Lake Courier — May 20, 1998 On my way to visit USS Belleau Wood near Australia, I spent a night in Cairns, Queensland. Well-known as an entrance to the Great Barrier Reef, the town seemed to exist only for tourism and diving. A Marine Corps helicopter came to the Cairns […]
Originally published in the Clear Lake Courier — 26 November 1997 My one day to spend sightseeing in Hong Kong was hindered by a heavy overcast and steady drizzle. Although I rode the tram up Victoria Peak, the zero visibility at the top permitted no photographs. I was supposed to be able to see a […]
Horyu-ji (Temple of the Flourishing Law) Originally published in the Clear Lake Courier — 10 February 1999 I recently walked through the oldest wooden building in the world. It is the main hall of a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, and was built sometime prior to 730 A.D. Named Horyu-ji (Temple of the Flourishing Law), […]