From Aspermont to “A Panther’s Father”: A Life Forged in Fire and Ink

From the quiet beginnings in Aspermont, Texas, where the shadow of polio first touched a young life, emerged a storyteller of remarkable depth and grit. Under the evocative pen name “The Living Breathing James Brown,” you have gifted the world the compelling “A Panther’s Father” series, a literary journey spanning nine years and four powerful volumes. This saga, however, is but one facet of a life etched with extraordinary experiences, a testament to resilience and the enduring power of narrative.

Imagine the abrupt shift from the familiar plains of Texas to the stark reality of the Korean Peninsula in the early 1970s. The earth trembles beneath the 52-ton behemoth of an M-60 main battle tank, your vantage point as a gunner amidst a land simmering with tension.

Villagers Ice Skating on the river outside Camp Casey

Camp Casey becomes your temporary home, a backdrop to South Korea’s struggle under a fierce dictator.

Highway Military Trap on both sides of road to be blown if North Korea Attacks to close the Road. Machine gun nest further up the road manned 24/7.

The air crackles with unease, punctuated by North Korea’s aggressive acts, like phantom strikes against fishing vessels. You witnessed firsthand the fiery defiance of protestors against Joe Ching, the shocking spectacle of individuals severing their own index fingers to scrawl desperate messages in blood – a stark and unsettling contrast to the gentle rhythms of towns like Sweetwater and Rotan. Adding to this volatile environment was the ever-present, hushed threat of North Korean infiltrators. Whispers circulated of these shadowy figures slipping into the South, sometimes even brazenly attacking clubs, their actions largely unseen and unheard by news outlets back in America. But extremely stressful for the people of South Korea and American Soldiers there

Returning stateside, the pursuit of knowledge led you to the halls of Texas A&M University and Sam Houston State University, where an English degree provided the tools to later articulate your vivid memories. Yet, life’s most profound lessons were delivered not in lecture halls, but within the brutal confines of the Texas prison system.

As a guard at the infamous Ellis Unit, “The Snakepit,” and later at the Wynne Unit, you were immersed in a world stripped bare. The glint of makeshift weapons, the sudden eruption of bloody knife fights painting the stark dormitories crimson, the chilling silence emanating from a Death Row cell, its walls stained with the ghosts of lives past – these indelible images became part of your internal landscape. He worked the O.L. Luther Unit and J.W. Hamilton Unit when he came back to Prison Work.

The stark realities of prison life gave way to a six-year odyssey across the vast expanse of Texas with FESCO, INC., testing the pulse of oil and gas wells. This chapter unveiled a different side of the Lone Star State – its breathtaking beauty stretching across sprawling ranches and fertile farms, juxtaposed with the raw power of industry. You witnessed the final breaths of wells destined for plugging, the dramatic flares of “barn burning wells,” and the hushed secrecy surrounding “tight wells.” You were privy to the hidden riches beneath the Texas soil, witnessing Exxon giants gushing over a thousand barrels a day, only to be capped because they fell short of a company’s ambitious five-thousand-barrel minimum. And then there were the gas wells, roaring with the intensity of jet engines, their wellhead pressures soaring to an astonishing 13,495 psi, flow pressures exceeding 10,000 psi – the very ground vibrating with untamed energy.

Your journey continued through the gritty environment of a lignite-burning plant before circling back to the Texas prison system, where you ultimately concluded your career as a guard.

Throughout these diverse and often demanding experiences, the power of storytelling remained a constant undercurrent.

Above is my friend, James Hubbard, a fellow Army veteran with roots in the vibrant tapestry of New York City, became a pivotal figure, urging you to give voice to your remarkable life. Picture James, a walking encyclopedia of music and dance, his eyes having witnessed the electrifying performances at the Apollo Theater in the 1960s

– the revolutionary energy of James Brown, the smooth harmonies of The Temptations, the dazzling presence of The Supremes, the soulful artistry of Nina Simone, the captivating charisma of Marvin Gaye. James’s passion, his vivid recollections of these legendary artists, ignited a spark within you to capture the unique rhythm of your own story.

Below are Blindfolded Rattlesnake Hunters outside Sweetwater Texas which adds a wonderful thrill for High Paying City Slicker Clients. What a thrill…lol

MARKO! Pollo! MARKO! Pollo!

Adding another colorful thread to your narrative, you also led affluent “city slickers” on thrilling rattlesnake hunts with Smiley from Roscoe, Texas, for a “crazy big monies,” showcasing another unique and daring facet of your life. Your path also unfolded in towns like Mt. Pleasant, Uvalde, and Bryan, each leaving its own distinct imprint on your evolving story.

Your “A Panther’s Father” series has resonated deeply, particularly with readers overseas, who are captivated by its raw emotion and compelling narrative. Some have even drawn bold comparisons between the sensuality of “A Panther’s Father IV” and “50 Shades of Grey,” their admiration expressed in the most direct and enthusiastic terms. The first book in the series has also garnered high praise as a genuinely captivating novel.

Beyond the written word, your time in South Korea was marked by a constant pressure to meet the high expectations of a nation relying on its American allies. The rigorous, often thankless, training demanded the very best, a commitment underscored by the tragic reality of training accidents. The memory of looking down at a spot where a tank had claimed the life of a fellow soldier in his sleeping bag remains a haunting darkness, a visceral image your mind still shields you from fully confronting.

Even before the weight of military and correctional service, a mischievous spirit resided within you. The memory of shooting your fourth-grade teacher right in her cleavage with a spit wad – a testament to a youthful, if slightly unruly, nature – serves as a reminder that your path was not one of pristine perfection. The harsh realities of your military service fostered a certain ruthlessness, a cruelty that manifested during your early years as a Texas prison guard. You recall a time when being “fair” was perceived as weakness, a stark environment where your hardened exterior sometimes led to extreme reactions from offenders. Yet, over time, a process of humanization unfolded, a gradual rediscovery of empathy that allowed you to treat those under your charge with greater fairness. This evolution highlights the complex journey of an imperfect individual finding his way.

Underlying all these experiences is a profound belief: “ALL THINGS WANT TO LIVE.” This fundamental truth extends from the smallest creature to the tallest tree, to every human being. It is this deep-seated conviction that fuels your righteous anger at the senseless brutality of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a greedy and abhorrent act of aggression.

“The Living Breathing James Brown,” your life stands as a powerful testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit, the transformative power of storytelling, and the capacity for growth and reflection amidst even the most challenging circumstances. Your journey, with all its imperfections and hard-won wisdom, offers a beacon of hope, reminding us that even the most complex and flawed individuals have extraordinary stories to tell.

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