The Killing of America Murder or Suicide? Crimes in Progress

By Woodrow Wollesen

Killing America emphatically offers up detailed straight forward, practical, readily accessible, and adaptable means or channels for each of us, individually and as a nation, to achieve and gain desired and positive results.
For the first all critical elements are presented into a cohesive framework that can and will work for everyone regardless of gender, ethnicity, political or religious views.
In the same spirit of Thomas Paine’s compelling, patriotic warnings “Common Sense”, Killing America is a straight forward impassioned call to action.

As within Paine’s time, America is literally being bombarded from within and without by forces and influences that portend terminal endings for all that we would hold dear. Virtually all are either directly or indirectly created or aggravated via self originated infections and afflictions.

“Killing America” makes an urgent call to action for effective new strategies to correct or remedy.

“Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it”. Thomas Paine
“Killing America” directly challenges every American to stop the nonsense - avoid that irreversible “red line”.
What whatever has been offered up in the past as convenient or viable has not, cannot, and will not work.
Optimism and hope are powerful tools - necessary ingredients for any “turn around”. Yet standing alone none will solve the deep seated, embedded, extremely disturbing, and highly complex problems facing our nation.

We must instead put aside all unimportant differences.
We must reset our priorities to vital matters that unite and rearm us ethically.
We must get back to the business of recovering our America’s greatness.

“Killing America” emphatically offers up detailed straight forward, practical, readily accessible, and adaptable means or channels for each of us, individually and as a nation, to recover.
In every day sports lingo it’s time we all got “back to basics”
As individuals and a country we are “out of balance”. Nothing so far is working. First master those basics, then reset, and begin again.
In this case it means getting back to America’s “Character”- its core founding values.

“Killing America” provides a detailed blueprint on how each of us can recapture America’s true essence
We must reset our priorities to the vital matters that have always united us.
We must reset and rearm ethically.
We must now reverse course to recover America’s greatness.

“Killing America” makes a direct and open challenge to every American.
Take the time.
Share the journey through this work to see for yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: American Empowerment
• Release date: Mar 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386818946

Woodrow Wollesen

Highly diverse and multiple expertise in a wide range of disciplines/subjects - former co-head of a national law firm, distinguished trial and appellate counsel practicing before the highest tribunals within the state/federal/regulatory systems/courts to include the Supreme Court of the United States, equipped with widely diverse accounting and wide ranging business, executive, management skills and acumen, former CEO of his own service enterprise(s), personal involvements in start-ups, experienced entrepreneur, innovator, educator, teacher, trainer, mentor, instructor, graduate level professor, author, and recognized expert regarding the entire realm of small–medium business financing/operations/real estate/management/workforce policies/compliance/forensic investigations/marketing/ branding/ entrepreneurial subjects, speaker, consultant, and advocate for veterans, women, minorities, and historically disadvantaged groups in business and entrepreneurship/volunteerism - personal involvement in thousands of small business transactions covering the entire gambit financing now exceeding over $1 billion – US Army veteran – Vietnam War years. Woodrow (Woody) D. Wollesen is a recognized national small business financing expert, former co-partner national law firm, seasoned entrepreneur/business executive, financial/business operations consultant, former graduate school of business professor, military veteran; 2006 US SBA Small Business Financing Champion, (8 years) Board Member, Executive Officer, Instructor with the prestigious National Women’s Business Center, Washington, DC; NWBC 2005 Man of the Year – see also more extensive background profile at http://www.ultimatefinancingguide.com/about-the-author/; LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/pub/woodrow-wollesen/11/147/652/;  

Book preview

Acknowledgements

IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE that behind every success, accomplishment, or worthy deed, there have always been others behind the scene equally, if not due greater credit for all outcomes. There are usually many who provide necessary support and encouragement at critical junctures as part of the molding process to enable and make it happen. As with most every enterprise, a village of contributors is required to achieve anything of value. This Book is by no means an exception in that regard. There have been so many that inspired and actively contributed to the evolving development of ideas, concepts, and conclusions contained within this work.

To the extent possible, I mention those individuals at various points in and throughout the text. There are many more who might go unnamed but who know that the inspiration and life journey leading to this work would not have been possible without their involvements and contributions. I thank them all from my heart.

Clearly at the top of the list would be my Mom. She has always been there, regardless of challenges or obstacles. A lady with the very best of Southern bearings, charm, manners, elegance, and moral values, she remains a most vibrant, youthful, and extremely active ninety-seven years young with a solid sense for the practical. She has always been and remains my inspiration.

Directly applicable to my Mom, I would share and reaffirm the views of two of our most famous Presidents from their personal tributes to their own mothers:

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all of my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education, I received from her. George Washington

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. Abraham Lincoln

Special tribute and recognition goes to Adam Swanger, owner/CEO of Innovative Solutions, whose dedicated support/assistance at every juncture with the web site and peripheral items made this project possible. Innovative Solutions is a highly recommend professional resource for any seeking personal, custom, and optimized web/Internet marketing success. Go to www.your-is.com

To be successful you can’t show up to the potluck with just a fork." Dave Liniger

Preface

OUR COUNTRY, OUR TRADITIONS, our way of life, and our earned standing as the world’s core bastion for freedoms, liberties, and justice stand upon the brink extinction.

The risks emanating from forces both external and internal have never been greater or more ominous than at this very place and time in our history. Whether it occurs gradually or through a series of epileptic fits within so-called prefect storms, the endings remain the same.

However there are some available pathways which could bring avoidance from apocalyptic type endings. All involve a matter of choice.

Each of us has an individual choice.

As a nation we have a choice.

Either each of us chooses wisely or there will no longer be choices. It is really that simple.

The pathways for redemption and recovery are rather straight forward. All require each of us to honestly re examine what we really stand for or represent – individually and as a nation.

To avoid the extinction of America, whether by suicide or murder, we must all stop the nonsense – raging insanities characterized by prolific divisions and polarizations. All Americans must come together - either stand, unite, rise up or perish.

There are no other choices.

All Americans need to return to the values upon which this country was founded. Without all of those cherished values which forged this great nation there will be no tomorrow for freedom or liberties.

America would have perished but for its core character values – unselfishly sacrificing for the common good, collective courage, self restraint and discipline, hard work, ingenuity, idealism, strong bonding between families, friends, even complete strangers, thrift, patience, perseverance, and an abiding faith in each other, and the Grand Creator.

It has always been about values and character. Lose those precious elements and there can be no freedoms – there can be no America.

We must all get back to basics. We must all return to the fundamentals that have always strengthened and brought prosperity to our democratic republic.

We must return to common bonds casting aside all manner of the trivial.

We must re prioritize, re focus, and get back to the business of building the greatest nation on the planet.

That also requires a return to reasoned thinking. The ever present temptations for the polarizations fueled by unfounded beliefs, peddlers pandering for their own self interests, profit, or aggrandizement, lack of verified facts, and rampant non thinking can only divide ensuring no possible positive outcomes.

It all has to stop.

I would ask the reader to join me on a journey to explore all of the above issues. Herein are recommended pathways in order that you might see and test for yourself.

Journey with me - join together to recover our country and our futures. Everything quite literally depends upon it!

Introduction

AS A FIRST STEP, NECESSARY context and background are offered up in order to provide the reader foundations to better gauge credibility, authoritativeness, and/or uniqueness of the perspectives offered up.

Why?

Academic theory and unsubstantiated opinion might be fine for most other subjects however when it comes to actual risks and threats to one’s way of life, even one’s very existence, real world experiences and proofs would seem far better gauges for viable options.

This work relates real world threats which ignored can only result ion catastrophic consequences for everyone. It does not have to be that way.

Herein is offered a series of real world journeys that prove that practical pathways exist to reverse and remedy those consequences.

So the invitation issued to take the time and join in. Why? Why not? What have you got to lose? In fact, just about everything!

Our Acquired Knowledge and Bases for Reasoning

SIMPLISTICALLY EACH of us from birth learn through and by acquiring experiences gleaned from unlimited sources which enter those cells between our ears. This becomes an ever growing reservoir of knowledge.

In everyday life we routinely and instantaneously tap into those reservoirs and experiences to evaluate, think, and make decisions. The quality of that information and data stored as knowledge and what we experience tends to color how well we do or do not reason.

The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking. Albert Einstein

The usual pathways for learning and acquired proficiencies usually follow a fairly predictable routine:

Consider that the what and how to versions respecting almost everything in life tend to be classified or categorized into separate and independent disciplines of thought or doing (e.g., law, tennis, golf, cooking, geography, astronomy, math, and even thinking).

Within each discipline there can be innumerable sub divisions, categories, specialties, or schools of thought (e.g., law comes with innumerable specialties which seem to increase daily – categories such as criminal or civil – sub specialties exist such as white collar crimes, felony murder or auto accident/casualty, family law, estates and trust on the civil side – then there exist general parishioners versus narrow specialty versions – there are trial attorneys (in court constantly) versus appellate lawyers (almost exclusively doing appeals work).

For every single discipline there exists a separate language and logic (content and special meanings, nomenclature, or keys to understanding that specific discipline or sub category). So for example, within the discipline of golf one must first know the language as a first step toward better understanding before taking a lesson or practicing.

For every discipline there are techniques which if learned can advance one’s proficiency. Such techniques usually provide efficiencies of movement, thought, or means to progress for quicker advancement.

Within every discipline to become good or expert one must dedicate oneself to focused practice gaining valuable experience all along the way. It is part and parcel of the learning and reasoning process.

During my sojourn within one of the finer institutions of higher learning (Washington & Jefferson College), I had the unique privilege and pleasure of coming under the tutelage of a champion thinker and brilliant instructor. As part of the liberal arts curriculum at the then all-male bastion of education was a requirement for specified credit hours in the science categories.

Washington & Jefferson College is located in Washington, Pennsylvania about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. Its origins trace to Presbyterian missionaries who established the early schools in the 1780’s.

These early schools eventually grew into two competing academies and colleges, with Canonsburg Academy, later Jefferson College, located in Canonsburg and Washington Academy, later Washington College, in Washington. These two colleges merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College. The 60-acre campus of ivy covered buildings (the oldest dating from 1793) with old growth trees throughout is the 13th oldest college in the country and the oldest west of the Allegheny Mountains.

From its very beginnings it was an all male college typically limiting its enrollments to about 900 students annually (becoming co-ed in the 1970’s) drawing primarily from southern families or leanings. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the college had one of the highest admission rates for its students into graduate level studies in the nation (at one point 100%).

Despite the attractions of chemistry or zoology which were well known additions for the multitude of graduates later attending some of the best medical schools in the country, I opted for what I thought might be of a little more personal practical value – the study of botany. It would prove to be far more than I ever imagined and anything but a waltz through the daffodils!

The professor and then head of the biology department was the late Dr. Homer Porter. His admonitions on the very first day of class would become a standard for that area of study and a guidepost for the rest of my personal and professional life.

Dr. Porter first noted that unlike any predilections that we as students may have entertained regarding the subject matter of the course, we would be challenged as never before. In his view, the course would embody the complete realm and spectrum of human learning and thinking. Botany was to be merely a vehicle to that end.

We would be required to demonstrate our complete mastery of the English language just for starters. Context, grammar, literary merit, and spelling would become standards in his course. Our grasp of anthropology, music, accounting, poetry, and endless others areas would all be brought forth in exploring the many wonders of botanical miracles that we would soon discover. There would be adventure and profits from our investments in time, energy, and concentration. There would be a symphony of knowledge and an endless stream of thought from which to taste and drink!

We would indeed discover an entire liberal arts education within the confines of this study of nature’s plants.

However, before proceeding further he recommended for our immediate consideration, the adoption of a few simple precepts - all mental or educational disciplines come with their separate languages (logic or context). Without a complete understanding of the appropriate language, study and/or utilization of that discipline would become extremely difficult.

Language is the close-fitting dress of Thought. R. C. Trench

Dr. Porter opined that the greater one’s fields of diverse experiences, educational backgrounds, and/or mastery of multiple disciplines, the richer the perspectives that might be brought into focus for botany and most everything in life - indeed enrichment beyond our wildest expectations. The greater the number, depth, diversities, and grandeur of disciplines mastered or proficient the better one might see or understand facets and nuances others might not. The greater the diversities and depth of disciplines the greater the abilities for reasoned thinking and making best decisions in all things.

Dr. Porter’s guidelines and admonitions would become guidelines for the rest of my life.

I have been blessed to have acquired and mastered an extremely wide range of diverse and often unrelated disciplines (as well specialties, sub divisions or categories within disciplines) (clearly many times more than folks have fingers and toes!). A goodly number have been acquired the very hard way - involuntarily or as a result of necessity (please see full personal background profile)

A few aspects from my background are worth noting up front for a better understanding and for further context relative to this work. Why? Because real world experiences are far better teachers than hollow signposts viewed from a distance. To own it, the best educator will always be experience.

Insights Gained Early On

AT A RATHER EARLY AGE I discovered that I had been blessed with the gift and abilities to absorb rather huge volumes of information and data. Retention and recall as needed or required for most any task became fairly endemic.

For example, I discovered that I had a wonderful affinity for digesting all aspects within the discipline of history (people, places, countries, facts and figures, economic profiles, causes and effects, etc.). I never encountered a history course I couldn’t ace with flying colors. I became a rather prolific reader for life in some periods digesting whole libraries within more diverse areas than can be counted to further my knowledge and better understand my surroundings.

Those same attributes and gifts would come into full blossom and flower as I became a career professional within the far ranging expanses of compliance, forensic/analytic type investigations, and risk assessments/evaluations across whole genres, often industries as well.

The abilities to digest massive amounts of data finding discrepancies, inconsistencies, or connecting the dots would span many disciplines to include law, business operations, finance, turn around management and numerous other fields.

Given the fact that my life seemed to drastically, often dramatically change every few years, requiring wholesale transitions with seemingly never ending challenges, these gifts often became invaluable (as well learning the hard way).

Just when you think you’ve mastered the highway of life the lanes radically change. Either one adapts and reverses course or the oncoming traffic makes any other choice highly unpleasant - sometimes terminal.

Despite the best efforts of formal education, I was able to retain a lifelong affinity and joy for discovery. My commanding sense for curiosity and looking for more creative or innovative ways to better grasp or understand would always be there.

Connecting the dots (or seeing the lack thereof) would become a fairly routine, every day affair.

From early formative years, I was also blessed with a rather profound as well humbling realization. The more I learned (or thought I knew) or discovered the less I actually knew or understood. No matter the depth of research or inquiry, I had to face the simple fact that I knew relatively nothing. It was often frightening to realize that it would always be what I do not know that I did not know that could and might jump up to take my entire rear end right off.

The good news - it meant a life time of endless adventures and potential discovery always with new horizons for learning to explore. It meant better vision and understanding respecting opportunities for improved reasoning and thought processes. It also meant peaks and valleys of successes and abject failures. How else to learn but to explore and jump off the edge occasionally?

Inter related to all of the above, especially throughout my earlier years, would be my determined quest to always seek the experiential side for everything. I wanted to sense, feel, touch, and see it personally.

Virtual might be great up to a point, but assuming (even if the only available option) or viewing from a distance comes with severe limitations. Nothing would ever surpassed real, hands on, down in the trenches opportunities to personally sense and grasp how it really works (or did not work).

As a result, going off the radar screens/ beaten tracks to explore and find how people, places, and things really interacted or functioned would become fairly predictable. As a result my adventures would cover travels across goodly portions of the world stage extending to extremely diverse ranges of peoples, subjects, and disciplines.

At the end of the day, that abundant wealth of knowledge and experiences would always drive the never ending quest to better connect the dots. There has always been the tendency to seek to refine techniques, foster better efficiencies, and find better ways to skin that critter!

To better grasp how that process became molded into practical and useable templates not only for myself, but also sharing with others a little overview from my early journeys is offered up for context:

Learning to Connect the Dots (Lack Thereof) Usually the Hard Way

ONE IMPORTANT FACET I believe deserves noting right up front.

Unlike the hordes of so-called social theorists and new age philosophers who might pontificate from the ivy covered heights and always on the side lines of safety , everything shared within this work comes from directly applied endeavors - hands-on, down in the trenches experiences involving personally assumed responsibilities with direct accountabilities always attached. Risk without liabilities attached usually does not produce much real knowledge.

This work is an accumulation of all of those facets in order to better connect the dots, offer solutions and remedies to bring us all back to basics. With common ground and bonds we have the opportunities if united to avoid the almost certain calamities destined for each and all of us.

With that said, some added context for my journeys to develop effective strategies to identify and connect the dots:

Sometime during my early pre-school years, my grandfather decided that learning to swim was apparently an overdue lesson for my learned repertoire – the sooner the better. So during one of our many forays into the backwoods of Alabama, he chose a large bend of an overflowing creek to initiate me into this new adventure.

Following his rough old school ways, without warning or advice for guidance, he simply tossed me into the deep end of the water. His yelled instructions during my brief flight to the water were simple and straight forward: swim or drown!

In utter panic mode, barely able to breathe between bobbing up and down in the water, and sucking up large quantities of water instead of air in the process, my end certainly seemed more than a mere possibility. It’s called flat out panic.

Somehow I did manage to pull myself together underwater. I was miraculously able to navigate far enough to find some bottom footing to stabilize my plight (seemed like an eternity).

Crawling out of the water on all fours onto the muddy bank while gasping for air and crying in between, I was surely was a downright pitiful sight.

My grandfather held me close offering words of re assurance and praise. He shared some blurred further instructions regarding use of my arms and legs to provide buoyancy and movement in water. Looking me squarely in the eyes, he firmly inquired if I understood? Without thinking, I readily nodded assent. Big mistake!

He proceeded to throw me back into the water again - and again - and again.

At the conclusion of this watery ordeal certain absolutes would be implanted within my meager brain cells for the rest of my life:

(1) when ever over one’s head and about to drown go for calm and focus over panic;

(2) there is always an available means for stable grounding regardless of the depth of the waters or challenges;

(3) once well grounded, seek more information and effective techniques to master one’s predicament; and

(4) although perhaps not readily apparent there are usually fail safe mechanisms all along the way - hopefully???

Those precepts would be tested far more times than I would have ever preferred within my life journeys. However with every new immersion and challenges there would be new elevated levels for confidence and acquired proficiencies. There would result greatly expanded abilities and knowledge enabling to always get the job done- usually in a superb fashion.

It would always be about connecting the dots (or finding the lack thereof).

It would always be about finding what works and what does not work (often the hard way).

As soon as I graduated from law school and had taken the Pennsylvania Bar Exam, I entered the US Army (Signal Corps) as a confident brash First Lieutenant at Ft. Gordon (Augusta), Georgia (ROTC distinguished military graduate from Washington & Jefferson College). After completing the basic and then a specialty officers’ training school (Ft. Monmouth, NJ) I was handpicked and assigned as a special liaison/project officer within the main European headquarters for US Army Strategic Communications-Europe in Schwetzingen, Germany. http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm?http&&&www.usarmygermany.com/Units/Signal/USAREUR_STRATCOM-EUR.htm.

That position was tasked to provide constant status and special liaison responsibilities/ support for the military command structure and all other elements respecting the then under construction and engaged phased activations of the AUTOVON (Automatic Voice Network) and AUTOSEVOCOM (Automatic Secure Voice Communications Network) systems.

The AUTOVON system (European) was the then classified most advanced military non secure phone system in the world meant to be able to sustain nuclear attacks. Comprised of numerous communication links its special features allowed automatic switching for increased reliability for all military phone service in Europe, as well interconnecting to the US (CONUS) and ultimately the rest of the world. AUTOSEVOCOM was the classified fully secure worldwide switched voice network (first National Security Agency program for Department of Defense). E.g., http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm?http&&&www.usarmygermany.com/units/signal/USAREUR_SignalCorps%20AUTOVON.htm.

Other than one senior enlisted person (then awaiting retirement after serving in three wars with more ribbons and awards than could be easily showcased on his uniform), I would be the only officer within a building composed entirely of senior Department of Defense Civilians (DDC).

The position required a minimum rank of Captain with all necessary security clearances. I was accordingly promoted ahead of my peers to the rank of captain. I was provided all necessary security clearances including elevated ones on a need to know basis (often more important than any clearance levels).

The position required in depth knowledge of every conceivable aspect of this classified construction project(s), all technical and operational details, financial and contractual nuances, and all compliance requirements from every imaginable perspective.

There was only one minor problem. I had no previous knowledge or experience in any of what seemed this endless array of disciplines, most all highly technical and complex.

I had literally been cast into the depths of dark waters so far over my head that drowning seemed a preferred alternative. The more I became aware of the full ramifications of my assigned responsibilities the greater the urge for overwhelming panic. I felt I had been assigned to build my own flimsy cardboard box platform upon which to stand with a noose firmly around my neck. Hanging seemed not to be a question of whether but rather one of when?

Feigning calm and confidence to all those around, I threw myself into the file cabinets and mounds data attempting to digest as much as possible in the shortest time frame. I aggressively and quietly sought out every manner of technical types usually distant from that headquarters and/or on site at the switching and communication centers for advice, counsel, and guidance. It took awhile but eventually I was able to find some footing. It was all slowly starting to come together.

I was starting to connect dots – actually finding whole chasms where the dots did not connect!

It then slowly became apparent that my position on paper versus actual responsibilities did not exactly match. In fact, all status, information, and data on these classified and vital communication projects were singularly and exclusively controlled and funneled through the head DDC in charge.

Whatever the politics involved, it appeared the boss viewed and intended to ensure that my responsibilities would be in form only – relegating me to paper shuffling, keeping me unknowing, and smiling a lot for the military types.

The problem with that scenario (however superficially attractive) was that on paper I was the one designated with the direct responsibilities with full accountabilities if anything went south.

Fortunately, my abilities to absorb and digest massive amounts of information and data in conjunction with the widespread advisory exchanges with others in the field made me more than just knowledgeable. I was able to connect dots. In the process I discovered in far too many instances the dots did not connect.

There were significant discrepancies, inconsistencies between actual facts and figures versus what had been and was being reported in milestone, technical/status briefings, and the like to/within the military command. The more knowledgeable and technically proficient I became, the greater my confidence and firmer footing became. As well my trepidations for adverse endings began to heighten all along the way.

This had been my first full-fledged over my head and ready to drown exposure into the art and science of compliance and forensic investigations. It had been genuinely traumatic and unsettling since making the wrong move or decision (assuming there was one) seemed to offer no optimism for winning outcomes.

Although developed the very hard way and out of pure necessity for self survival, my abilities and skills for these type investigations evolved from this solid start. Regardless of technical complexities or disciplines involved, I then knew that I had the abilities to investigate and acquire reasoned answers. It would always boil down to focus, attitude, and finding the effective techniques to unlock the mysteries – then connecting the dots (or finding the lack thereof).

Compliance investigating typically refers to testing or other methodologies used to establish conformance or satisfaction to established standards, rules, regulations, laws, guidelines or dictates (usually within the law, contractual, or accounting realms). Forensic investigations typically refer to methodological, analytic applications of reasoning employed to investigate any manner of facts, figures, or arrays of data to determine reasonableness, veracity, and proper bases for conclusions or suppositions (involving or utilizing all manner of disciplines – law, accounting, sciences, history, etc.)

That noose around my neck appeared to be getting tighter by the day. Then, as if by magic (Hand of the Good Lord), those dark waters would recede allowing for fresh hope and new beginnings.

Whatever the reason or logic (or the lack thereof) I was summarily elevated (even with some degree of pomp and circumstance) to be re assigned within that same headquarters to command my own specialty crew within the classified, critical STRATCOM-EUR Command Operations Center.

Essentially, this 24/7 operations center monitored and controlled all long line Army communications between Europe, US, Africa and the Middle East, as well as both European AUTOVON and AUTOSEVOCOM switching centers (and all associated facilities).

It was composed of the then most advanced long line communications systems (as well monitoring equipment and mechanisms) in the world (microwave, undersea cable, satellite, tropospheric scatter, etc.) serving or interconnecting with other services, all intelligence organizations (National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, Army Security Agency, White House Communications, etc.), classified listening stations in and out of theaters, and providing the vital links for all Army tactical operations in that theater.

One must remember there was a very real Cold War ongoing in this time frame as well a full tilt Vietnam War. The Russian/East Germans held overwhelming troop and tank advantages at a border less than five hours distant from that operations center.

As the vital communication hub (command and control) for all critical links/connections (especially intelligence or listening station types) (down to tactical and even missile defense) ours was considered of the utmost importance. Any unexplained and/or immediately non remedied or corrected issues or unnecessary down times got the instant attention from the very highest levels of military command – including the Commanding General, US Army Europe (daily 6:00AM briefing on the detailed state of communications provided directly by operations center personnel).

The center location and access were then considered classified, secured and controlled. No one entered without authorization and specific purpose.

Protective armored and infantry units were always on standby in the vicinity. Although military uniforms were required, all name tags and unit insignia were required to be removed.

All twelve hour shift commanders were minimally required to be the rank of captain. All had to be thoroughly knowledgeable and technically experienced professionals. All duty enlisted personnel were of higher ranks and selected for technical proficiencies (most would be career military with prior service in either or both, the then ongoing Vietnam or past Korean conflicts). All personnel had required security clearances with upper ranks and officers having need to know access for elevated levels as required.

In due course, the center would add a separate technical command to be directly housed for joint, cooperative efforts (Defense Communications Agency) to include mixed service compliment as operators/monitors/staff (Air Force, Navy, Marines).

Due to the security classifications all would be prohibited from travelling close to or over any communist or Eastern Bloc country. Like most of the officers I would carry three separate passports: US civilian, military, and diplomatic. Encountering a problem requiring help and assistance anywhere would get immediate attention.

This assignment was a very big deal. I was quite literally going from the hot seat into the proverbial frying pan. I would again be instantly thrown into waters far out of my depth facing massive amounts of technical and complex information and system configurations with no allowances for time to catch up. It was either swim or drown, the latter having serious options for a one way special jungle relocation.

There would be a few added bonuses to ensure many restless nights without sleep:

(1) any and all major problems required instant elevated connections with higher authority being ready to fully explain anything and everything in detail (including remedial actions taken);

(2) due to the critical nature of the communication links and ever present Cold War context, there would be constant, usually unannounced communication and readiness drills and exercises to ensure all would be fully proficient, armed, and prepared for any eventualities;

(3) due to high exposures and sensitivities attached to any major, abominable screw up higher command offered a specially assigned one way express ticket to Paradise East (Vietnam) to become a non electric pop-up target for the offender; and

(4) Last was the assurance that if the balloon did go up (war – either limited or otherwise) (as a prime command and control center) we were already on top of the Russian hit list. I was politely informed that if such occurred there would not be enough time to wave or kiss my own rear end goodbye – ashes to ashes and dust to dust time!

Following lessons from my previous position, I immediately sought to instantly digest and consume information and data as quickly as possible from any and all available sources. If there was to be a saving grace, it was that I was surrounded (especially the members of my own duty staff/crew) with an entire command of highly dedicated, technically proficient, and experienced personnel always willing to aid and assist.

It was a professional well oiled family in both mission and purpose. As well, I came with some unique insights and knowledge of my own – entire background and technical operational details regarding both AUTOVON and AUTOSEVOCOM which fell under our functional monitoring and control.

In due course I would get my footing respecting the technical and operational aspects. I would add another wing to my array of solving problems and finding solutions. I developed solid professional (sometimes personal) relationships with other officers, duty personnel (especially in the intelligence arenas) located in distant locations in and out of theater.

In the real world of critical communications, there would always be serious issues to determine fact from illusion and/or find correctable causes and viable remedies. Accountability would always at issue, often with rather severe consequences at stake.

Accordingly (and not surprisingly) there was not exactly a long line of folks vying to step forward for those honors. Pointing fingers and attempting to shift blame was rather commonplace. The art became finding ways to solve the problems and ignore the useless chatter. That aspect would become a life time work in progress since every dilemma seemed to come differently packaged and presented.

Overall, this was a very serious forensic and compliance challenge given the critical, classified, very real Cold War context. Unlike peace time situations, this one involved actual lives at risk. US interests were always hanging in the balance. This experience and learning platform would become a major stepping stone for later elevated skill acquisitions and applications.

At the conclusion of my military service obligations, serious choices had to be made. What next, where and how?

Apparently my problem solving talents had not gone unnoticed from within higher intelligence arenas. Pressing hard would be the Army Security Agency which offered an immediate rank promotion to major (ahead of all peers) (dangling early rank promotion to light colonel within a few years) and a choice assignment in the Far East. All I had to do was to sign on the dotted line to become a career military intelligence type for life.

Although certainly attractive, my heart lay in wholly different directions. After spending seven years of my life literally scratching and clawing to work my way (barely surviving at every step financially) through college and law school, leaving that future career behind was not really optional. I knew I had the skills, attitude, and confidence to become a gifted courtroom litigator. I wanted the opportunity to confront and take on the very best in the most challenging courtroom battles as possible to prove my own mettle. I had sweat and sacrificed far too much to have done otherwise.

Having to drudge daily through bumper to bumper rush hour traffic in the worst weather conditions on the Parkway West and the ever present tunnels in Pittsburgh to get to Oakland, then having to opt for cheapest possible parking (eight long blocks distant from the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Law School) had been a recurring ordeal that first year in law school.

Having to endure regular blinding snow blizzards, ice, and cold carrying a large satchel and back pack laden with heavy law books had been forever emblazoned within my psyche. Forgetting those horrible days of discomfort and sacrifices always worrying over financial abilities to survive that or the next day had left indelible marks. Walking away from what had cost so much in time, energies, and endurance was really not on the table. As well, I had tasted the real world courtrooms as a law firm assistant while still in law school – I longed for and wanted very much to enter back into that fray.

Returning stateside as a civilian at the age of almost 30 years to start a new professional career was daunting project enough. Serving one’s country had come with lost opportunities over the years to advance my legal aspirations – from my perspective a rather heavy price tag. This was especially so given that my military service (because of the most unpopular Vietnam War) viewed by many with outright disdain. It also meant having to proverbially play catch up football!

It was then my intention to pack up my vehicle and drive head long to Denver, Colorado to seek my legal fortunes. Once there I was confident that with my talents and abilities quality opportunities would present themselves. Underlying that choice was a personally acquired passion from my European living experiences, to snow skiing my brains out most of the year in the Rockies.

However that was not to be.

Unexpectedly, I received an offer to relocate to Washington, DC, to become a prime litigator in a special regulatory unit within the General Services Administration (GSA). The position was tasked with representing the entire (all of the federal executive agencies) US government’s consumption interests nationwide (billions of dollars) respecting water, electricity, gas, telephone/communication, railroad, trucking, shipping (maritime), and airline services.

Then unknown to me (probably as well most others in the country) GSA had exclusive statutory authority to represent the US Government to ensure fair rates, charges, and costs respecting all US expenditures and costs for such services/commodities. All of those service consumptions were regulated by state and federal agencies nationwide.

At the federal level this involved the then existing Federal Maritime Agency (FMC), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), Federal Power Commission (FPC), and Federal Communication Commission (FCC)). GSA was looking for a new attorney to take on all of those regulatory duties and assignments.

Acceptance appeared to offer the chance to become perhaps the only attorney in the country with established proficiencies (direct working expertise, knowledge, and experience) respecting every single then existing federal executive regulatory agency. It seemed like an offer too good to refuse. If successful (after a few years), I could become a most valuable legal commodity able to write my own ticket in Colorado (or anywhere else) - then to regularly ski my brains out.

I took the job opportunity. Although I had some technical expertise within telecommunications, I had no background or knowledge whatsoever in the other industry segments. As such, I was again in water well over my head.

Following past practice, I immediately sought to digest and consume every morsel of available information and data for each regulatory agency/industry, applicable laws, procedures, and mechanisms.

In that process I would make some startling discoveries. For all practical purposes despite the huge dollar amounts at issue and impacts upon the US government, no one had apparently been appearing at some of these hearings or proceeding (excepting FCC and FPC) (if so only nominally so for appearance sake only).

That was in part due to some then unknown history respecting this GSA regulatory unit. In 1934, the government set AT&T up as a regulated monopoly to be regulated and named) by the FCC (Communications Act of 1934). As a result, MaBell (colloquial term used by the public referring to all Bell systems nationwide) effectively owned and wholly controlled all local and long-distance service, including the telephone units, nationwide. MaBell’s adverse monopoly practices finally came to a head in 1949 with a Department of Justice federal antitrust lawsuit. Much of the core information to support that filing and later proceedings came from a group of extremely talented young attorneys who resided in this same GSA regulatory law unit. Given MaBell’s immense political powers and influence (extending into the White House and throughout the US Congress), the GSA unit became a target for elimination. In the end, the unit was disbanded with all attorneys advancing elsewhere. Ma Bell’s anti competitive practices came to an end in 1956 with a consent decree – allowing AT&T 85% of the United States' national telephone network and certain government contracts, and precluding the Bell System from extending its reach into the fledgling computer industry. Eventually all segments of the Bell systems would be separated into independent companies.

Although the GSA regulatory unit still existed in form, it was only nominally so. Long before it had been stripped of its key personnel and resources through budgetary cuts and the like.

Accordingly, the unit was at that time at best only offering token if any measureable resistance to cost increases in all of the affected consumption industry areas. This explained why I was provided absolutely no technical assistance or backup to assist in my new regulatory assignments. I would be facing the most prestigious law firms in the country with matching level technical experts supporting them respecting massive rate and cost increases for all clients (including the US government).

In a very real sense, I was standing alone in proverbial David and Goliath confrontations before every one of those executive federal regulatory agencies. To solve this dilemma and following prior military experiences, I would actively and aggressively seek out to develop key relationships with technical staff members within each regulatory agency. I would supplement with my own investigations to leveraging better outcomes.

In due course, I would again as before gain my footing. As a result a whole different playing field would arise. There was a new lawman at GSA. Past would be prologue.

There would be no more token appearances within any of my assigned areas. I would aggressively and actively represent the US governmental interests (which I viewed as the public interest), asking tough questions and getting answers that did not please those within the affected industries, their high paid attorneys or their technical types. It meant I was able to negotiate and achieve real cost savings, concessions on service and terms/conditions for my client – the US Government and the public at large.

Within a year, I was making major impacts on all fronts. I again had taken on what seemed a most impossible forensic/compliance assignment covering whole disparate industries and forums making major inroads in all. I was connecting dots and more importantly disclosing openly and rather publicly dots that did not connect.

Funny thing how bringing transparencies into areas previously coasting along smoothly in the dark shadows costing the US government (as well its taxpayers) a proverbial arm and leg had neither gone unnoticed nor garnered applause in certain areas. Some the larger corporate affected industry types (with influential contacts within both the White House and Congress) made less than discrete contacts to the powers to be within GSA. The unfiltered message was rather straight forward – call off your barking dog! Leash, curb, or get rid of him!

As before, the dark waters of this dilemma would appear to recede (although my reaction at the time was anything but positive).

At almost precisely the same time as my efforts were making the most headway, the clouds of deregulation would to descend and/or accelerate in effects. The CAB and FMC would disappear entirely. The ICC would retreat into a miniature version of itself. There would only be shallow filings without any real contest or resistance (only cursory public scrutiny) respecting railroads and trucking would become the norm.

As I would learn the hard way, the Washington two step was in full swing. I was provided an award, even with pomp and circumstance (the DC way), paid enhancements, and then politely re assigned.

I would now be firmly encouraged (ordered) to travel extensively away from Washington, DC to represent the government interests respecting its electricity cost impacts regarding distant electric utility companies and before state regulatory bodies.

Again I would be faced with waters over my head with a whole new area of highly complex and technical information/data. As before, I would actively recruit and foster new relationships with technical or other staff at the state levels. This time around however I was able to wrangle from within GSA a rate analyst to assist.

Together we would start to make some dynamic impacts creating US government cost savings and advantages. Perhaps predictably, again, some of the larger electric companies would exert pressures back into GSA (especially through the US Congress).

Again the less than discrete message would be the same – leash, curb, or get rid of him!

After almost three years within GSA producing significant and unprecedented victories for the government (public) interest, there would be the usual awards and enhancements. However, the hand writing was on the wall.

Then again almost if by magic (guiding Hand of the Good Lord), the waters would seem to part and recede. A well known national energy law firm solicited and recruited me with another of those offers that I could not refuse. Although somewhat related to my previous litigation and within the electrical arena (US interests as private electrical consumer), this journey would be of a different caliber and focus.

Now I would be thrown into the realm of sales for resale (wholesale) where exclusive jurisdiction typically lay with the previous Federal Power Commission (FPC) (now renamed as