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From: SSG Hodges
Date: 10/11/03
Time: 5:38:02 PM
Remote Name: 128.8.177.117
Alan, Thanks for the message from across the Atlantic! I much admire UK police and the military. In fact several years ago I trained with your territorials up in the North Umberland (sp?) area: the Royal Fusiliers. Great lads all! They dragged me through the dirt, so to speak, with their tough training! We Yanks proudly would go to battle any time with the likes of the British military (and thank you for your backing of us in Iraq, although I realize there are politicial questions about all that -- but let's not go there.) Now on to your particular questions:
(1) I went into the military for several reasons: I was drafted during the Viet Nam war, so I had no option. However, I was planning to serve anyway, since my father was a Colonel in the American Army (as was my brother and an uncle later; my 1st cousin and a surrogate son graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served/are serving careers with them.) So as you can see, I came from a military family/tradition. However, I WAS determined like you not to hide my voice under a bushel, so to speak. In fact for one who stuttered, I certainly talked a lot (too much according to most of my associates, LOL).
(2) I would absolutely have no qualms about speaking publicly about my stuttering. In fact a monthly Canadian publication for stutterers, called SpeakEasy (I'm not familiar with it myself), has asked me (and others) to publish their articles, and I have consented. I've always, though, Alan, felt a little guilty about trotting myself in front of groups of stutterers since my stuttering wasn't as bad nor prolonged as long into adolescence as others. In fact, at that speech camp I went to, I remember one kid even asking me why I was there since I didn't "stutter so bad." Boy, did I feel bad: I was getting it from the "normal speakers" and now my own kind was saying "you don't stutter enough!" So I do NOT want to give current stutterers unrealistic expectations (esp. since I recall a buddy from the same camp cabin that I was in who still stuttered very badly when I last spoke to him in our 20's.) What do you think? Should I still go for it? Any suggestions on how I might help?
Lastly, when Judy, the moderator, asked me to write this article it WAS my attempt to give back to my community of people (stutterers). Now let me challenge you, Alan. Have you thought about writing a paper about your experiences as a UK Police officer who, perhaps, faced even greater struggles with the public with his speech? And the fact that you now publicly speak about it is a great conclusion to that "story." I'm going to suggest it to Judy, the moderator, but you can do what you like about it.
Stay in touch mate (email: hkhodges13@aol.com). We men in "uniform" have to still together. BTW: what area of UK did u police?