80th Division Blue Ridge Veterans Association

04/07/2026

As I often say, "Life is a Journey ... one step followed by another."
I completed my Vietnam book, "The 'Nam AC-48," a tribute to the 48 men from my home county (Alachua County) who died during the Vietnam War. Help me honor these men - Never Forget they gave their all. The book is free to download (as are most of my books) from my website.

I just published "The 'Nam AC-48." It's a tribute to the 48 men from Alachua County, Florida who died while in service during the Vietnam War.

03/20/2026

Just in case anyone is interested, this just popped up on eBay. All 5 volumes of Col. Ralph Pearson’s history of the 318th Infantry regiment in WWII - “Enroute to the Redoubt.” A great price, too: $150.

(Dated April 18, 1990). Author: Ralph E. Pearson with Photo of him in Uniform - Signed all 5 copies. Served underGeneral George S. Patton’s Third Army. Association with Patton’s Third Army campaigns.

02/03/2026

Back in the day, "they" said getting older meant you got wiser. I can somewhat agree with that. But what "they" didn't tell you was that there were a few other "gotchas" that came with age.

https://azadkinsiii.com/blog/209-this-getting-old-st-is-getting-old/

They say with age comes wisdom. I sometimes wonder when that "age" appears. Meanwhile, there are other age-related "Gotchas."

01/01/2026

Welcome to 2026! All of us at "A Veteran's Journey" wish you and your families the best in this coming year. As we used to say in the 70s ... "Keep on truckin'!"

2025 is now behind us and 2026 ahead of us. As my dad's old WWII 80th Infantry Division motto: "Always Move Forward!"

11/29/2025

Simon Egleton is a good friend of the 80th DVA. His online presence is known as “Insightful Eggy,” and produces a lot of WWII videos and historical info, including the 80th Division.

He is forming a team for the “Walking Home for Christmas,” and will be taking the 1,000 mile path of 80th Division from December 1 through December 31, from Utah Beach all the way to Hielflau, Austria. Quite an accomplishment and a tribute to all who fought during the Battle of the Bulge, including the 80th Division.

Do me a favor and take a listen to “Insightful Eggy’s” video.

https://walking-home.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/about

11/25/2025

I'm writing another book. It's about the men from Alachua County, Florida (my county) who died while in service during the Vietnam War. It's become an obsession.

While I've written many books in my years, this one about the men from my county who died during the Vietnam War, is the toughest.

11/11/2025

Veterans Day 2025 - It was my honor to serve in the US Navy during the 1970s. At my age, I feel blessed to be able to share my time with others who may be in need. As we honor our veterans today, take a moment to thank them for their service. I know I will.

Veterans Day - not to be confused with Memorial Day - is a day to honor all veterans, all over the world. Take a moment to say, "Thank you."

10/07/2025

Do you believe in fate? Or is this just God's way of remaining anonymous? Regardless, for me, life is a journey and I go with the flow.

Funny how when you get older, you begin to realize things in your life have sort of "fallen into place." No regrets - we keep on, keeping on!

08/28/2025

"Weight" is not just a physical state ... it's also what's "upstairs," things we've seen and done. There are past events that we simply can NEVER FORGET. The sunrise rippling across the ocean surface ... the night sky with a million twinkling stars ... and, that "other" stuff.
https://azadkinsiii.com/blog/198-the-weight-we-carry/

Veterans carry a weight that others may not see. It could be something they saw, something they did, or someone they lost.

07/21/2025

Anyone in the Kassel, Germany area that might help an 80th Division family member when they visit in early October?

07/03/2025

As a Baby Boomer, I've seen a lot of changes during my life. My time in the Navy during the 70s amplified much of what I experienced in those younger years. My how time flies...

https://azadkinsiii.com/blog/195-a-child-of-the-sixties/

Born in the 50s, child of the 60s, Navy in the 70s, family & career - what a journey. More to come and more to do. I'm on a roll!