Category Archives: Uncategorized

Vantage Press Release


h1

CHARLES@VANTAGEPOINTBOOKS

August 23, 2011

Our debut list is incredibly diverse and varied, but one title stands out as unique from almost anything else in the current market. charles@afghanistan: Crazy Encounters from the Not-So-Front Lines, by Charles McDonald Holt, has been a breakout draw for Vantage Point this summer, and we credit it to Holt’s charismatic personality both on the page and off, as well as the genuine intrigue over what lies inside the covers of the book.

In 2008 this self-proclaimed good old boy from the South East Texas Piney Woods signed on as a truck driver for the US Military and was deployed to Afghanistan where he spent seven months doing his best “to bring [troops] water, fuel or anything else that I can haul in a truck that will make their lives a little better.” What initially began as a few emails sent to friends and family turned into an ongoing and illuminating documentary of Holt’s time with the US military in Afghanistan, the length of which charles@afghanistan presents in its entirety.

After almost ten years at war in this far-away nation, the actual details of military life in Afghanistan have remained an enigma to many citizens. Through his emails, Holt provides a down-to-earth account of war through the eyes of a civilian, and it is a completely new perspective on what is an almost ten-year old war. With heart and humor, Holt’s emails prove that while war is never fun, that doesn’t mean it can’t be funny!

We are very proud to have such a distinctive and timely title on our debut list, would like to congratulate Charles on his new job as a columnist for the Newton County Newspaper. He was, in fact, being interviewed for his August 3rd front-page feature, when the paper up and offered him his own column! It just goes to show that once Charles begins telling his stories, no one ever wants him to stop.

charles@afghanistan: Crazy Encounters from the Not-So-Front Lines By Charles McDonald Holt ISBN 978-1936467020 156 Pages, $13.95

Advertisement

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

I Remember You


Miss you Sis, and              (I will Remember You)

 

As our family was torn apart from childhood during a time when only the strongest should survive,

(I Remember You).

I was too young to understand what was happening and to this day do not remember the reason for You, Shelia and I being torn apart from each other but

(I Remember You).

As childhood swept by the three of us were pulled in opposite directions.

No matter what home I ended up in

(I Remember You)

Found me.

Throughout my adult life, even though you were Lost most of the time yourself

(I Remember You)

Managed to stay in contact with me.

(I Remember You)

In so many ways but, it was my lost sister I know best.

Teresa was looking for that connection of belonging and family.

Shelia and I could not be part of that family because we were thrust into the world seemingly to never reconnect but,

(I Remember You)

Being too stubborn to let politics and miles keep it that way.

(I Remember You)

Lived by your own set of rules, you defied the odds. Teresa you found us, your Sister and Brother. In the end you came to a place where you could rest from your weary travels and have family.

(I Remember You)

Now as my sister who was once lost. Red you found her. Thank you.

Teresa you were the glue/magnet/spider-web or whatever you can think of that kept our family from drifting off and completely out of touch with each other.

I REMEMBER YOU

And WE LOVE YOU

Pecan Grove Funeral Home & Cremations


Teresa Ann CulverhouseTeresa Ann Culverhouse(September 9, 1960 – July 14, 2012)

Teresa Ann Culverhouse 51, of Waco passed away Saturday July 14, 2012. A memorial service will be held 10 am Friday July 20, 2012 at Pecan Grove Funeral Home 3124 Robinson Dr. with Rev. Terry Graham officiating.Teresa was born September 9, 1960 in Houston, TX to parents Susan Davis and James Gilbert Birdsong.

Teresa was preceded in death by her son, J.W. Culverhouse.

Survivors include her mother, Suzanne Davis Diaz of Franklin, KY; brother, Charles McDonald-Holt of Deweyville, TX; sister, Shelia Crooms of Long Branch, TX; daughters, Amanda Lankford of San Antonio, TX and Jennifer Culverhouse of Franklin, KY; son, Clint Culverhouse of Franklin, KY; grandchildren, Patrick Eason, Ashley Eason, Johnny Sieger, Jaden Culverhouse, Peyton Culverhouse, and Alexa Zimmerman.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

US Coast Guard


image

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Wikipedia


Look up Deweyville Texas on wikipedia.com: Im famous

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

2011 in review


The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 18 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Purple Flower: The Moral of the Story


Purple Flower: The Moral of the Story

I was in school today when a boy dared me to go whisper Purple Flower into my teacher’s ear.

I took the dare and walked to the head of the class and said in a whisper” Purple Flower” embarrassed that the rest of the class might hear me.

My teacher sent me to the Principal’s office.

The Principal said “Charles why are you in my office again?”

I told him:

I was in class when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher. I did it and teacher sent me to see you.

The Principal asked “what could you have said for her to send you to the office?”

I said “Purple Flower”.

The Principal sent me home for three days suspension.

I made it home earlier than usual, so of course my mom asked what I was doing home from school so early.

I told her:

I was in school this morning when a boy dared me to go say something to the teacher and when I did she sent me to the Principals Office. The Principal sent me home for three days.

Mom says, “What did you say”?

I said “Purple Flower”.

My mom sent me to my room. She said “just wait till your father hears about this, you stay in there till he gets home”.

Well I was hungry and scared now, not knowing what I had done wrong. It was several hours later when dad got home. He came to my room.

Dad asked “What’s going on, little buddy? Tell me what happened”.

I told him:

I was in class today when a boy dared me to go say something  to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days and mom sent me to my room until you got home.

My dad asked “what did you say”?

I said “Purple Flower”.

My dad kicked me out of the house.

I have my backpack and the clothes on my back, and no supper in my belly. I’m wandering aimlessly down the sidewalk when this little old lady speaks to me.

She says “young man, are you ok? Tell me what’s wrong”.

I told her: I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher. When I did she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home and then my dad kicked me out of the house.

The little old lady says “ooo- dear, I’m so sorry! What did you say?”

I said “Purple Flower”.

The little old lady beat me up and kicked me off her side of the street. She said she didn’t want to see me on her side of the street anymore.

I’m sitting on the shoulder of the road holding my cracked ribs when the cops show up.

The cops asked me what happened; they wanted to know if my condition was gang related because I was beaten so badly.

I told them:

I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I did and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house and then a little old lady beat me up and won’t let me walk on her side of the street anymore.

The cops laughed at me and asked “what in the world did you say?”

I said: “Purple Flower”.

The cops said “Get in the car you’re going with us”.

I’m in court and heard the Judge call for the next case. I slowly approach the bench.

Judge: “Charles? I know your parents, good folks, what brings you into my court today?”

I told him:

I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house, a little old lady beat me up and the cops picked me up, now I am here.

The Judge asked “what in the world did you say”?

I said: “Purple Flower”.

The Judge said “30 years, Bailiff get this trash out of here”!!

I am ushered down a prison cell block with chains and then shoved into a cell.

My cellmate asked “what are you in for?”

I said:

I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house, a little old lady beat me up and the cops picked me up, the Judge gave me 30 years, now I am here.

My cellmate beat me up and set me in a corner. He said he didn’t want me to move until my sentence was up.

30 years have gone by; I crawl out of my corner and am escorted to the prison gate and shoved out by a group of guards slapping their batons into their hands like they want to beat me again.

I find myself walking down the sidewalk wondering about the passage of time and how much things have changed while I was away when I meet a man walking the in the opposite direction. The man takes a second look at me and stops in his tracks.

The man said “Charles is that you”? “I haven’t seen you in about 30 years, where have you been”?

I said:

I was in school 30 years ago when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house, a little old lady beat me up and the cops picked me up, the Judge gave me 30 years, my cellmate beat me up and set me in a corner. I just got out of prison today.

The man asked “what in the world did you say”?

I said: “Purple Flower” and took off running as fast as I could. I knew before I looked back the man was giving chase.

I looked back and sure enough the man was chasing me, for a fat man he could run fast, some rage burning in him and he was gaining on me.

In desperation I cut across the street to get away and a car ran over me, killed me.

What is the moral of this story you ask? {LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE STREET}.

Dont hate me; this comes courtesy of the Holt boys (My Dad, Benny, Uncle Tom,Uncle Johnny) many years ago. I don’t remember who was responsible for planting this in my noggin but most of my sense of humor comes from the three men. I miss being able to sit and listen to their stories. I first heard this when I was about 12 years old and tell it to the aggravation of anyone one who will lend their attention to me long enough. My cousin Steve tried to kick me out of the car after hearing the punch line.

6 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

How cool is this!!


How cool is this…. I gather most of my news from drudgreport, who in turn gather news from all the major networks. the AP Network (Associated Press) and MSNBC have been allowing bizrate to advertise charles@afghanistan on their page. What a surprise. When your bored out of your mind google my authur name charles mcdonald holt or the title of my book. It has made it around the world. I am grinning like a mule eating briars.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

New Year Resolution


Is your New Year Resolution to LOSE WEIGHT, QUIT SMOKING or some other BAD HABIT???? Well I have the perfect tool to help with all your wishful thinking. READ MY BOOK!!! Read and WALK… lose weight. Read it while chewing on a stalk of grass to help quit your smoking habit. If you just want to LAUGH more this year READ my BOOK. See yor New Year has already started out for the better.   http://www.amazon.com/Charles-Afghanistan-Crazy-Encounters-Not-So-Front/dp/193646702X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325684376&sr=8-1

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

2011 in review


The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

 

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 18 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Another wonderful review…………. they never get old


Customer Review 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: very real, intimate, laughable, emotional, December 13, 2011 By natchygessThis review is from: Charles@Afghanistan: Crazy Encounters from the Not-So-Front Lines (Paperback) Working at a military installation with soldiers and DOD civilians, this book is very true to the same stories that is shared with me from those returning. Its true, its raw, its real. My most laughable part was Chapter 47! I think all who read this book will appreciate the value is his journalism entries turned book form.

 

http://www.amazon.com/review/RV18SRE6RLFAF/ref=cm_cd_pg_oldest?ie=UTF8&cdForum=Fx3LKNN34B8BV3V&cdPage=1&asin=193646702X&store=books&cdSort=newest&cdThread=Tx1ICS4Y2D11MZU#wasThisHelpful

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized