I met and got to know Jerry Pournelle — and his sweet wife Roberta — over 30 years ago, when I started writing for BYTE Magazine. I already knew of Jerry because of his SF novels (“Lucifer’s Hammer” by him and Larry Niven remains my favorite end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it book) and his writings in BYTE. What I didn’t know and appreciate until I started spending time with him was what a true polymath he was. Besides being an Army vet (Korean War) and having a BS/MS in psychology and an PhD in political science, he also had a significant influence in top US government circles during the 1980s. He read deeply and widely in a vast number of disciplines and put them together in ways that few people I knew did.

I also learned very quickly that if I was going to argue with Jerry, I better have my facts straight and my ducks in a row. He had a tremendous memory for facts and a deep understanding of history. He also didn’t suffer fools gladly, and it was very easy to end up looking like a fool (often with good reason) when trying to debate Jerry.

Jerry and Roberta were kind enough to welcome Sandra and me into their home on occasions when work or vacation would bring us to LA, and they returned the favor on a few occasions while we lived in San Diego.

(On one such visit over 20 years ago, he wanted to look at something in the night sky. He jumped up and went out our sliding glass door to our darkened back yard, eyes focused on the heavens, and walked straight into our pool. He took it with remarkably good humor as we rushed to find towels to dry himself off with. I kept thinking, “Great — I’m going to go down in history as the person who killed Jerry Pournelle with pneumonia.”)

Jerry’s most lasting impression on me — and the one behind my own writing efforts for the last several years — has been his sheer will power and work ethic. About a decade ago, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent radiation therapy. He kept blogging through all that, with frank admissions of the impact it was having on his ability to think and write, and then started working on novels and stories again. Then a few years ago, he suffered a stroke, but did exactly the same thing — blogged during his therapy and recovery and started writing again as soon as possible. Keep in mind he was 75 when he suffered the brain tumor and 81 when he had the stroke. His sheer tenacity was, for me, awe-inspiring. He was and is truly my real-life “Your argument is invalid” meme.

Ah, Jerry, the world is a less interesting place without you. But I now know to whom I will dedicate my first novel.

A freshly-minted Jon Webster, USMC, from a decade or so ago.

OK, since I’ve only made one post since last Veterans Day, I probably need to revive the blog a bit. In the meantime….

Here is our annual Veterans Day post listing the veterans, living and passed on, in our respective families:

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Bruce Henderson:

• Andy Henderson, USN (active) — [nephew]
• Bruce Henderson, USMC (former) — Yes, I was a Jar Head
• Peter Anderson, USMC — My dear departed uncle Peter served with Marine Intel during Vietnam
• Jim Zimmerman, Illinois National Guard (former) — My uncle Jim served 2 tours in the National Guard
• Ian Henderson, RAF — [my dear departed father] RAF pilot who served the crown during the Battle of Britain as well the far east as a flight leader. He lied about his age to join the flight corps and was a decorated Ace for combat action.
• Ron Henderson, RAF — [uncle] RAF radio man,
• Robert Zimmerman, USN — My dear departed step-grandfather served in the US Navy during WW2
• Howard Martin, USN — My biological grandfather was a pilot who died in WWII when my mother was just a child

Bruce Webster:

• Staff Sgt. Darren Green, USMC (active) — served twice in Afghanistan; still in active service. [nephew]
• Jon A. Webster, USMC (former) —  served in al Rutbah, Iraq; now training in the US Merchant Marine/Military Sealife Command.
• Heather Harris, US Army National Guard (former) — [daughter]
• Greg Barsic, USMC (former), USCG (active) — currently serving in the US Coast Guard in California [former son-in-law]
• Brad Poeltler, USN (ret.) — former Naval aviator in the F-14 RAG [brother-in-law]
• Robert Wendt, USN (ret.) –  former Navy pilot [former brother-in-law]
• Bill Lowell, US Army (former) — [former brother-in-law]
• John A. Webster, USN (ret.) — spent 29 years in the US Navy; served in both WW II (including Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, and Guam) and Vietnam (two tours) [my father]
• James Francis Webster, USN — served in WW II [my paternal grandfather]
• John Silas Fickes, CSM, USN — served in WW I, Mexican War (1920), and WW II [my maternal grandfather]
• John William Fickes, 1st Sgt., Co. A, PA Militia, 8th Reg. Infantry — served in Spanish-American War [my great-grandfather]
• James Edward Taylor, Pvt. Co. D, II PA Volunteer Infantry — Civil War [my great-great-grandfather]

God bless them all, and God bless America. ..bruce w..

UPDATE:  everything should be up and working now. I’m trying out a few new WordPress themes as well. If you find anything that appears to be broken, please let me know. Thanks!  ..bruce w..