Thank you to my Father and to all Veterans for their Service





 Republic of Vietnam Route 1 between Saigon and Long Binh,  late 1967

 

Since I was a child, I have always been patriotic.  I remember going to the military BX (Base Exchange) and the commissary and at 5pm, the National Anthem would play on the loudspeakers.  You would have to stop wherever you were and salute or put your hand on your heart and face the direction of the flag whether you could see it or not until it was done playing.  The driver of any car would have to stop while it was playing.  When we went to the movie theatre on the base, prior to the start of the movie, an opening video of the National Anthem would be played.  The video showed fighter planes, the American flag and other patriotic scenes.  Each person would have to stand during this video and salute or hold their hand over their heart while facing the screen.  I remember always feeling so proud. 

 

My father enlisted in the Air Force in 1956 when he was 18 years old.  He had no money and saw joining the Air Force as an opportunity to leave his small town, help his country and improve his life.  He worked his way up the ranks to Senior Master Sergeant.  While in the Air Force, he served as an Intelligence Analyst in the Uniformed Cryptologic Services in Da Nang Vietnam (1962), Saigon Vietnam (1967 and 1968), Thailand, Korea, Japan, Italy and at the National Security Agency.  He developed intelligence information to be used by air crews on Airborne Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) reconnaissance flights before, during and after the Tet Offensive in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. 

1962 Da Nang Base, setting up the intelligence unit

 

Tan Son Nhut Air Base;  Tet 1968
 

He was also an instructor at the Electronic Warfare Officer School at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA where he developed and taught the last two hours of the E.W.O. course. 

While my father was working in Intelligence in NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) southern region headquarters in Naples, Italy, he personally developed the intelligence that sounded a 16-hour warning on October 5^th, 1973 before the United Arab Republic attacked Israel on October 6^th, 1973.   Due to his development of this intelligence, he was the NATO Air South Command Nominee for the Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year Award in 1976.  In a letter written to the Commander by Major Kimball Gaines, here is an excerpt for the nomination.  “Being a man of keen intelligence and great perception SMSgt Kivett excels in this capacity.  This was demonstrated with telling effect on 5 October 1973, when his careful analysis of seemingly insignificant intelligence reports provided warning that the Soviets were hastily withdrawing their personnel from the Middle East.  This enabled COMAIRSOUTH to alert higher authority to this fact some 16 hours prior to the Arab attack on Israel.  Following shortly afterwards, SMSgt Kivett’s interpretations of subsequent information of a similar nature resulted in COMAIRSOUTH being the first to report the beginning of what was in fact the massive Soviet airlift of arms to Egypt and Syria.”

On the 30^th Anniversary of the Middle East War, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger went on national tv and claimed “We had no warning of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.”  My father was offended since he was the one who personally developed the warning.  Due to this, in 2006, my father wrote a book titled Intelligence Failures and Decent Intervals.

I am fascinated by what he has done throughout his life and will often ask him to tell me about stories or events that have happened.  A memorable one for him was while he was stationed in Fort Meade, Maryland.  It was November 25th, 1963, three days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  "On the day of the JFK funeral and burial in Arlington, the Commander ordered me to represent the Air Force on the Honor Guard to be composed of myself, a Marine, a Sailor and a Soldier commanded by an Army First Lieutenant, proceeding from Ft. Meade to Arlington to light a lamp from the Eternal Flame which had just been lit by the First Lady at the grave site, and return to Ft. Meade's Main Chapel for a Candle Light Service for President Kennedy.  We followed our orders with formal military crispness; I was humbled and honored to have so served.  May he rest in peace."

My father at Shiroi AFB in Japan on January 2, 1959

I am so proud of how hard my father has worked and how much he has accomplished.  I often think about what it really means to thank a veteran. Someone can easily say “Thank you for your service” but not really know what it means.  Growing up as an Air Force “brat” taught me values, honor and patriotism.  If you have a friend or relative that is willing to talk about their military experience, sit down and talk to them.  Listen to them and learn about what their duties were or what they have sacrificed or accomplished.  It is part of our history and is fascinating to listen and learn.  I am moved and humbled by our brave men and women that have served for our country.

My father next to a plaque that my Mother and siblings and I surprised him with at Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego.  The plaque with dad's brother Dave (to whom the book is dedicated) is also pictured.

Thank you to my father and to all our veterans.  I sincerely appreciate your service.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of my father's book, Intelligence Failures and Decent Intervals, you can go directly to the link and order or if you would like an autographed copy, please contact me.

His medals and awards included: 

Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Good Conduct (2 Army and 4 Air Force)
Vietnam Service with 4 Bronze Service Stars
Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Frond
Expeditionary Service Medal for the Laotian Crisis
National Defense Service Medal
Small Arms Expert Ribbon
Longevity Service Ribbon with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Senior Non Commissioned Officer Academy Grad Ribbon



Plaque displayed at Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego that my Mother and siblings and I had made for my father.

Thank you Mom!

 

 

My mother just finished working her last trip to Japan with United Airlines and will be officially retired on October 30, 2015.  She started on June 15, 1986 and has traveled all over the world.  She has been my inspiration and reason that I had to become a flight attendant. 

 

 

Mom's Graduation Day from United Airlines - June 1986

 

 

She came to the United States from Japan in 1970 and tried to travel to Japan to visit family as much as she could.  My parents both worked hard to save money for us to travel overseas and visit our relatives but it can get expensive paying full fare for a family of six.

I'll always remember the day that we sat down for a family meeting to talk about an important decision that my parents wanted us to be a part of.  My father and mother gathered the four of us kids around the table to get our input and thoughts.  I was 15 at the time and my brother was the youngest being 4 years old.  They explained that my mom had always wanted to become a flight attendant and she had this opportunity with United Airlines.  The only thing was that she would be gone for so many weeks training in Chicago and then would be flying a lot so she may not be home very often.  The positive was that we had the world at our fingertips and could travel to Japan more often.  We could see how excited that my mom was and what a great opportunity for us kids to be able to travel the world.  We supported her 100%.

I remember the first time that I traveled by myself with her.  I was so excited when she asked me if I wanted to go to Seoul with her.  Of course I did!  It was February 1989 and I was in high school.  My mom told me that I would only be missing a couple of days of school.  Well, I didn't mind that at all!  I had traveled a number of times but never on standby.  What an adventure.  Back then, we had to get dressed up to fly.  As standby passengers representing United, the women had to wear dresses or skirts and nylons and the men or boys had to wear ties.  Things have definitely changed since then!  We had such a fun time shopping together and exploring Seoul.

She would take each of us kids from time to time to different destinations.  She showed us how to travel without a plan and to be spontaneous.  It was exciting!  Children of employees could travel on their benefits until a certain age.  I can't recall if it was 18 or 21 years old but I knew that my time had come to where I couldn't fly on her priority and I would have to start paying for my flights.  Well, I couldn't have that happen.  I had too many places to explore and not enough money to pay for it.  Thanks to her, the travel bug had bitten me!  I knew I had to become a flight attendant!

Mom, thank you for showing us the world.  Thank you for teaching me how to travel on a moment's notice.  I have had such awesome experiences and have seen amazing sites.  I am so grateful for everything that you have done.  Thank you for the opportunities that you have provided our family and thank you for all of your hard work!  I'm so proud of you and dad and am happy that you both can now enjoy the retired life.

Baking fun with Kids -- Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

 

 

My little helper

I love baking, especially cookies, and am always trying to find new recipes.  Last Valentine's Day, I was babysitting my niece and wanted us to bake something other than the holiday-themed sugar cookies I normally do.  I looked all over the internet and found one that sounded perfect.  I just baked them again a few days ago and they were tasty!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies (yields approximately 18 sandwich cookies)

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, (room temperature)
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg (room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk, (room temperature)
½ ounce red food coloring (more or less depending on how intense you want it...original recipe called for an ounce and that was too much for me)

Filling:
 
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, (room temperature)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Adjust oven rack to middle position; preheat oven to 375F.  Trace evenly spaced hearts on parchment paper using a template or cookie cutter.  My 3-year old niece was my helper so she traced the hearts. 

This is perfect for the little ones to practice tracing.

Once finished tracing your shapes, line baking sheets with the parchment paper.

Mio loves helping me bake.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

In large mixing bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Add egg and beat until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.  Blend in the vanilla.

Add about one-third of flour mixture followed by half of buttermilk, mixing until incorporated after each addition. Repeat using half of remaining flour mixture and all of remaining buttermilk. Scrape down sides of bowl and add remaining flour mixture; mix at medium-low speed until batter is thoroughly combined, about 15 seconds.  Blend in food coloring.

Spoon the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip.  Pipe the batter onto the parchment paper using the tracings as a guide. 

Ready for the oven!

Bake 7-9 minutes until the tops are set.  Rotate the sheets half-way through baking.  Cool cookies on baking sheets.

Ready to be filled!

For the filling, beat together the cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until smooth.  Mix in the vanilla.  Gradually add powdered sugar, scraping down the sides as necessary, until completely incorporated and filling is smooth.

Before filling the cookies, pair them up by size and shape.  Pipe or spoon frosting onto the flat side of one cookie leaving some room around the edge.  Gently sandwich the cookies together allowing the filling to reach the edges. 

To store: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

Happy baking!

Please be sure to check out more of my photography at www.DigitalWonderlandPhotography.com, "like" my page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter .

If you are interested in travel, I also have a travel blog at Travelisa.

Thank you for stopping by and happy baking!

Sources

Cookies adapted from Annie's Eats and Dinner and Dessert, originally from Better Homes & Gardens, December 2008.

Frosting adapted from Annie's Eats, originally from Confections of a Foodie Bride

Crafting Fun - Valentine's Day Potato Stamps

As a child, I used to have so much fun creating things or working on crafts.  One of them was making potato stamps.  Last Valentine's Day, I was babysitting my niece who was three at the time and I thought she would really enjoy making some stamps and cards.  When I explained what we were going to do, she became very excited. 

Here are the supplies you will need:

Potatoes
Knife
Water-based paint
Paper plate (to keep the paint and painted potatoes on)
Card stock or construction paper
Scratch paper
Smock (good idea for the little ones)

Steps 1 and 2 should be done by an adult.

1)     Wash the potatoes and cut them in half.

2)     Draw the shape you desire on the cut potato.  Items such
         as small cookie cutters can be used to trace the shapes. 
         In my case, I didn't have anything to use to create hearts
         so I just winged it and started cutting.  Cut around the
         shape with a kitchen knife, leaving the design so it is
         raised on the surface of the potato.      
 



Mio was excited to start stamping!

3)     Start out with a little paint on a paper plate and add
         more as needed.  Dab the potato into the paint. 
         If there is too much paint on the potato, just stamp
         it a few times on scratch paper to remove the excess.

4)     Have fun and stamp away!  If you want to use different
         colors, just wash the potato and start again. 

Mio busy making Valentine cards for everyone.

5)     When you have stamped what you want, let the paper or
         card dry.  Once dry, you can add to it.  Some fun ideas
         include adding glitter, buttons, or fabric.  

She was so proud of her work.

 

Mio signing her works of art.

The important thing is to have fun! 

Please be sure to check out more of my photography at www.DigitalWonderlandPhotography.com or "like" my page on Facebook.

If you are interested in travel, I also have a travel blog at Travelisa.

Thank you for stopping by and have a fun time creating!