'If I am the only black glass blower, why?'

THE US PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN IN WWII:

The Allied countries lost so many in the Pacific Theater, but the right had might. They fought in countless jungles and islands, and many of the dead are waiting to be repatriated to their homeland. The Pacific became Japan's Russia. Too large of an area to support and too spread out. The righteous prevailed over evil.
The Japanese could not compete with our industrial and collective martial strength. Towards the back end of the war in the Pacific, the allies had some 30 aircraft carriers to none for Japan. The US Navy decimated the Japanese Navy, then focused on sinking Japanese merchant marine ships.
It was a tenuous moment as the Japanese mega battleships went full speed ahead to disrupt the amphibious landings in Leyte. A courageous US destroyer captain decided to attack the Japanese fleet. I believe the captain went down with his sinking ship. Other destroyer captains were inspired and joined the attack. Eventually the destroyers and naval air power blocked the Japanese navy. h smaller ships called destroyers. Just to put it in perspective, the battleship called Yamato had 18 inch guns compared to the 6 inch guns of the US destroyers.
It was a tenous moment as the Japanese mega battleships went full speed ahead to disrupt the amphibious landings in Leyte. A courageous US destroyer captain decided to attack the Japanese fleet. I believe the captain went down with his sinking ship. Other destroyer captains were inspired and joined the attack. Eventually the destroyers and naval air power blocked the Japanese navy.
The US sent 300,000 soldiers to the Philippines to liberate her. 15,000 were killed and 50,000 were wounded. The Philippines were free again.

SPC Michael Head - Cool I am a foodie too. I wrote a cookbook for men with easy recipes from around the world. If you have not watched Gordon's Great Escape series then you are in for a treat. He is doing exactly what you want to do. He visits different cultures and learns how to cook local dishes then competes against top chefs from the country. He is pretty successful in most of the countries except for Vietnam. He could not match the complexity or subtlety of the food. You can find the series on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-NvFsYTSug

My cookbook.

SPC Michael Head - I quit selling it. I did not want to be known as the guy pushing a cookbook. It was a fun project. I made a little money but not much. My neighbors in different states would buy the book because I used them as guinea pigs for recipes. I had a passion for cooking until I got PTSD. I use to experiment with lets say brining and smoking meats. The best brisket I have eaten was mine. I forgot it was marinating in my fridge for 5 days. The flavor was inside the meat. Are you currently in the food business?

Here is a recipe for the best Pepper Steak:
- Green pepper.
- Onion.
- Bamboo shoots.
- Couple drops of sesame oil.
- Garlic.
- Ginger.
- Chicken broth with corn starch.
- Red pepper.
- Steak.
- Kikkoman soy sauce.
- You can convert it into an awesome Mongolian Beef by adding Siracha hot sauce.

Here is another story:

BASED ON A TRUE STORY:

An old American widow traveled to Vietnam on a pilgrimage to see the exact location where her young husband died during the war. Dean and Hattie fell in love in high school and were inseparable and married immediately upon graduating from college, but he was drafted and shortly afterwards, left for Vietnam. They were married and in love as they talked about a rich future together, but the bells of war were ringing, and they delayed the inevitable until it was almost time to say goodbye. She meticulously packed his luggage and fretted but did not show it. A yellow taxi arrived and they embraced, smiled, and kissed and said they loved each other; and he whispered soothing words in her ear. Then he was gone, never to return alive.

Hattie, in her 70s, decided take an emotional and physical trip to Vietnam in her quest to find peace. Where she stood the air was hot and stifling as if a knife could cut through the humidity. There was some welcome respite from the hot sun under the canopy of large trees. She asked various villages if they knew of a helicopter crash during the war. By random chance she found an old Vietnamese man as her guide who knew of a helicopter crash. The Vietnamese guide was none other than the NVA soldier who witnessed Dean’s Huey crash and his death. He described her husband's dying moments with minute morbid details. She had strong ambivalent feelings for the old Vietnamese soldier. He was the enemy, but yet he would help bring a semblance of understanding and peace to her to quench her broken heart. Something she sought for such a long time. She did not expect an apology, nor did he give it to her. They were both doing their duties.

Over the years Hattie had remarried and started a family, but she wanted closure. Final closure. I suppose she still loved him and got just enough of him in her life that he would always be in her heart. However, she wanted what was impossible, more time with him. He was like a beautiful song she heard, but heard just part of it, and no more. She wished and wanted to listen to the rest of the song. Dean would be stored safely in her heart until she becomes no more. Then perhaps, they can explore the universe together. Young and free, in perpetuity, with no time limits and no constraints.
Growing up in the Philippines: I am curious about your fond memories of the PI. What made your heart sing and made you feel groovy? I was fortunate to be a dependent at the time with a father who enjoyed exploring the country. One time we stayed at the Aquino's unoccupied playboy mansion in the middle the jungle. It was really cool to drive on meandering jungle roads, dry river beds, and grass lands. I was warned the tall grass was razor sharp, but I was young, stupid and tested the theory.

I have one more silly story if you want it. It is not about a culture though.