Time to Rhyme to Infamy 9/11: A Partial Diary From 12/31/1996 to 09/11/2001 - Tapa blanda

For Me

Thoughts within this book you find,

Put into words what came to mind,

Thoughts in rhyme on page you see,

Were written from an urge in me.

I write in rhyme myself to please,

Make no claim of English expertise,

When poetry my mind does fuel,

Want not be tied to structured rule.

With spelling and with punctuation,

I may not have a good relation,

So if English rules for you have need,

You may not want this book to read.

Tony Melli

I was born at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois on October 30, 1930. My parents moved from Chicago when I was 2 weeks old to New York State where I was raised in Rochester, NY. I was the 2nd youngest in a family of 6 children. I had 3 older sisters, an older brother and a younger sister. When I was 16, I was a little headstrong and ran away from home. I was on my way to Canada but spent the night at a hotel near the bus station in Buffalo, NY. That evening I was in a White Tower all night restaurant and ran into a friend of my father's who recognized me and came over to talk to me. He lectured to return home telling me he would convince my parents to sign for me to enlist in the Army when I turned 17, which was only a short time away. He called my parents and I did return home and did enlist. The recruiting station was somehow aware of my arrival and all went quickly with my entry into the United States ARmy Air Corp that was then in the process of transitioning to the United States Air Force. I remained in the Air Force for almost 29 years, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. As an enlisted man I served as an Airborne Radio Operator/Mechanic and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant before entering the Navigation Cadet Program at Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas. I was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and was a Navigator on WB-29s flying over the Pacific from McClellan AFB in Sacramento, California. From there I went into the Pilot Training Program at Marana Air Base just north of Tucson, Arizona. I was married in Harlingen, Texas and presently am blessed with 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, and 6 grandchildren; that with the holy vows of marriage have increased to 8. My military experience is a significant factor on how I view the meaning of life. A much bigger factor however, is my marriage, present family life, friendships, and mixed Spiritual beliefs. I have thought in rhyme for as long as I can remember