Author Archives: CharlieClaywell

About CharlieClaywell

I have been a writer for years, mainly as a reporter, but I have always enjoyed history, especially non-mainstream stories buried inside old documents. My blog mostly centers around those stories. On occasion, though, I deviate and talk about my dog, vintage toys and what it's like to be middle-aged.

Discover Your Family Member’s Military History — Free until Veterans Day

Posted on November 6, 2014 by CharlieClaywell

I just received an email from Ancestry.com announcing a promo today through November 11 which lets you search military records free on their site. You will need to create a free account to do it.

I did a couple of searches to see what type of information I could find for free. I did a search for my uncle Arlyn Claywell, a WWII vet, and found out that he :

Enlisted in Fort Thomas/Newport, Ky. on March 19, 1944
His occupation was farmhand

When I spoke to Arlyn, about six months before he passed away in 2005, Arlyn said he was supposed to participate in the D-Day landing (Normandy), but became ill with chicken pox while in basic training and the illness postponed his deployment. As he was telling me the story, he said, “I was mad I couldn’t go… but it probably saved me.”

Arlyn went on to serve with the Army — making his way across Europe until the Germans were defeated. He was on his way to Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped. After the war ended, Arlyn reenlisted and was stationed in Germany.

Arlyn was my grandparents’ first son, and he was born on Christmas Day in 1925. If my memory is correct, that is why his mother gave him the middle name of Joy.

Arlyn, left, with his brothers: Charles, and my father Bill (far right) holding Shelby.

Categories: American History, Family History, Genealogy | Tags: family history, genealogy, genealogy records, military records

It’s Election Day: Do You Know Why We Vote On Tuesday?

Posted on November 4, 2014 by CharlieClaywell

Unless you live under a rock, you know today is Election Day. You may have already voted. But do you know why we vote on Tuesday, instead of, say Monday or Saturday?

This short video has the answer — and the answer just may surprise you (hint: it’s a really old law and it has nothing to do with a Constitutional mandate).

Time For A Change?

Several groups seeking to make U.S. elections fairer say many of our election laws should be updated to reflect the modern era. Laws that made sense years ago — like the law that has us voting on Tuesdays — no longer apply. If we want to increase voter participation the traditions should be abolished, they say.

Some of the reforms being suggested include:

Weekend Voting
National Popular Vote for President
Publically Funded Elections
Abolish Closed Primary System

To learn more about the various changes being proposed visit: FairVote.org or Common Cause.

Categories: American History, Politics | Tags: election day, election reform

1970 Hot Wheels Twin ‘Chute Action Set

Posted on October 30, 2014 by CharlieClaywell

I had one of these as a kid and absolutely loved it — I still remember attaching it to an end table upstairs at the old farm house and racing cars for hours.

Hot Wheels Race Tracks 68-71

What would you get if you took all of Mattel’s Hot Wheels gravity race sets from the first 3 years of production (1968 Drag Race Action Set, 1968 Hot Curves Race Action Set, 1969 Double-Dare Race Action Set, and 1970 Mongoose and Snake Drag Race Set) and put them together? Such a set was never produced or sold in North America. But…in the United Kingdom, the Rosebud subsidiary of Mattel did make one. The 1970 Hot Wheels Twin ‘Chute Action Set.

Box art – front. Courtesy eBay.

This set has it all. And, in fact, it was judged as “Toy of the Year” for boys by the National Association of Toy Retailers at the 1969 UK Toy Show preview of all the upcoming toys for 1970.