Everyone OK?

"processing . . ." Sometimes you see that on a computer, or a cash machine. I guess I've been doing that for awhile. It's been awhile since I've posted on here: William M. Manion, born September ?, 1928, died April 22, 1997.

This has been a place I haven't been to before: this search for Master Sergeant Manion. I hope I did OK. I hope the Manions are OK. I hope me writing this down doesn't upset them. I'm an amateur videographer too, so practically everything I see I ask the questions of myself - "How can this be recorded for posterity? How can this benefit others?" Especially if it's a new experience, like this one.

Still no word from Mark or the Manions. I haven't tried John yet. I hope Mark still has this url, so this will keep him sort of updated.

I think Mark's trying to call

I think he tried me on my way out of town Friday night, the 5th. I tried to call back. I'm getting that funny message, and it won't let me ring his number. I'll wait a few more days, then call John to see if he can't get hold of Mark. Mark's number just won't let me call back. I've never heard such a message before. I wish I could remember it exactly, it's so unusual.

Went to Nacogdoches for visit with Grandmother over the weekend. Also visited with Dad and Stepmother. Good time! Poor Delany! She was really sliding on that mattress board! It almost fell on Jordan! Both enjoyed the "hayride" though. They saw several lizards, but no deer. Dad is a Vietnam vet. He was a medic, so his unit was pretty small.

Not like Uncle Bill's unit! WOW, saw some old pictures this weekend! Saw Master Sergeant Manion (looks exactly the same in one of the pictures of Mark's fax, Uncle Bill agrees). Aunt Jeansie is making copies to send to Mark pretty soon. I told her Mark already had copies and that he would send them whenever as well. Hopefully he'll contact Uncle Bill and Aunt Jeansie pretty soon. They haven't heard from him yet. Hope he's OK. I hope all are well there. Quite an emotional time for me for sure! I hope the family can see this blog too. I told Mark about it last entry and he looked at it (couldn't make out Uncle Bill too well from the picture, so small). It's odd knowing of them now, the Manion's, talking to Mark even, and looking back to see what I wrote before I even spoke with any of them! But I bare my soul to them: my sisters and brothers. A new mother as well.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton final, it appears

Master Sergeant William M. Manion. 6' 1", looks like Ben Afleck, Mark says. Picture coming soon. I wish he was still here! I'll remember him!

I forgot! Our scanner went down last week too! I could've scanned this fax from Mark in and put it on here. Oh well. The fax from Mark didn't come out in real good detail anyway. Need a plan B. Maybe I can scan it into file at work. The fax has some detail, but I can't see Uncle Bill in any of them. I've never used the work scanner for such. Last I remember we were having trouble making files of scans.

Long talk with Mark yesterday! Wonderful time! He misses his father. It makes me miss my mother. I hope he can talk to Uncle Bill soon. I heard more about what happened to Mark's dad last night from Uncle Bill when I called him. I heard about how Sergeant Manion's wounds looked from Mark.

Mark's 9 years older than me. One of 8 siblings: I only know of Molly, Connie and him so far. Uncle Bill laughed and said "they must be Catholic" when I told him this! He can't wait to talk to Mark. He can't wait to see all of them. Trip to Minnesota is in the works.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 7

I cried again. All morning at home. When Coleen calls back, first question to her, before I start crying again, is "name, rank, serial number". I have Mr. Manion's name, service number, and date of passing. Service number and wounds confirmed with Bonnie at the VA. I want her to tell me her dad's name, service number, and date of passing. I'm an IT guy. I work with numbers all day. The work can be mundane, but if one number is off, all hell breaks loose! Then I want to know names (spelled) and birthdates of everyone in her family from her father down. Then I want to know her and her mother's address there in Minnesota. Then I want to give her Uncle Bill's names (spellings), birthdates, address and descendents. Then I want to take no more of her time: I want her to call Uncle Bill, and I think she wants to call him. As much as I want to speak with her, I think. We're a close family, the Sitton's. I bet the Manion's are too. I had 5 sets of parents! All of them raised me as if I was their own. Being raised that way, I feel like Mr. Manion is my father too! I think this is why I'm crying: I've just found out I lost my father, in 1997. I'm so lucky to still have him through Uncle Bill. I think Coleen has her father back! I don't know if she has any siblings or not. If not, then it's just her and her mother now. Her mother has hearing problems.

Called Uncle Bill and Aunt Jeansie. Left a message: headsup, Coleen might be calling in the next couple days.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 6

Got a call from Connie, I thought, seems like it is Coleen (sp?) now since John called me back and filled me in. Yes, it does sound like Coleen now! This ridiculous answering machine! Another one! Why can't they be made better!

She's Mr. Manion's daughter. Mother is Marjorie.

John said pardon him to sort of keep the guard up for them: he didn't give me their phone number. He said it sounded like, since she called (I wasn't sure until after I spoke with him and replayed the frazzling answering machine), the family was ready to make contact, but just being safe. Of course, I understood. He said they'd be calling again in a couple days and that he would call to check.

Earlier today I left messages with the original numbers I had started "call center"ing a week ago to get back with her since Coleen left no contact info on our answering machine. A call back to John was one of the first.

Coleen sounded heartfelt, but standing strong, like a lot of things were coming back - rushing back to the present. Just on our answering machine - there she was, exposed. Or was that me? Maybe both of us?
This man in her life was gone, and not too long ago really. As if 100 years would make a difference. But he was gone from my uncle too.
That's touching me. I'm so happy and lucky to still have such a man in my life! I hope, soon, she can meet him.

She said she had memoribilia. I told John I looked forward to meeting him, maybe, someday. Quite a distance! Maybe Minnesota won't seem so distant with time.

Spoke with Megan Manion. She was no relation. She very much understood what was going on. Her grandfather, if I recall, was a WWII veteran.
What a large name for so few letters! Manion!

I talked briefly to another lady, an older lady, also a Manion. She said she wanted to call me back, but couldn't afford the phone call. No relation to Mr. Manion either it turned out. Is this what my uncle and Mr. Manion fought, nearly died, for? So we can have people in our country, especially seniors, who can't afford a phonecall? Here it is again, mixed feelings! So frustrated and so happy all in the same moment. Happy to be making contact with these Manions and frustrated that even other Manions aren't in a good place on my planet, or even in my country. I can't let this happen. My government, my country, will change; this will stop if I have any say in it. I owe this to these brave people. I have my orders.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 5

Over the weekend and toward end of last week, got a couple messages from a man. Tried to call the number back. A strange message, and it wouldn't let me through. Hope he calls back. Got a call from Connie too. Answering machines! No contact info, *69 didn't work. Hope she calls back. Got the FOIA application from Bonnie at the VA. It is back in the mail, this time to Missouri. It came from Waco. Hopefully the info will come as quickly as the application did, a couple days from now.