[ARC5] Road Trip

[Michael Tauson]

With an awful lot of luck and support from the VA and elsewhere, I
hope to be making a tour of Wright Patterson AFB Museum’s archives and
those at the NASM.  (“NASM” is generic since I know not everything is
at the museum itself and is more likely at Silver Hill.)  As
envisioned, the trip would be for three months, one at Wright-Patt and
two at the NASM’s facilities, digging through stuff to find documents,
making copies of those documents (scanned or paper), taking photos of
rare equipment if possible, writing notes, editing those notes, and
generally doing research type things in my quest to become informed
about A.R.C. and the events surrounding & affecting its history.

While I have asked a few about helping with this, in the end it is my
responsibility and no one else’s to do this research, specially when I
am inconveniencing others by not going myself.   I have a good base
list of what I still need (everything?) which I’m breaking down into a
rough outline to keep me on track and from wasting motion.  This
includes the corporate history, the equipment and events surrounding
decisions related to both.  (History is not a straight line but rather
is a tapestry made up of a number of individual threads woven together
to create a more full image.  While the section I am looking at is a
fairly narrow band through that tapestry, it is a band and not a
single thread.)  I have a good idea what I’m headed into from previous
ventures which also took me on the road for a while.

Lodging won’t be a problem since I’m a 100% disabled veteran and I’ve
been working on what needs to be done to keep the VA facilities
involved along the way.  Those were easy.  Getting contacts so I can
gain access to the archives and other areas to handle what needs to be
done is next in complexity, and I hope some members here can be of
assistance.  Having a caregiver/RA come along could be an issue but
not an insurmountable one.  Transportation, sustenance and other
expenses are far more problematic.  With the economy going as it is,
the usual per diem may not cover so I don’t know how much of an
adjustment will be needed to compensate.  Travel between Hawaii,
Wright-Patterson and DC isn’t available aboard military aircraft –
It’s not one of the benefits available with my disability – but I’m
hoping some cost saving means may be available.  Financing will be a
problem but I do not believe an impossible one.  Since I hope to time
this to correspond with being at Wright-Patterson when the 2010 Dayton
Hamvention is held, I have plenty of time to make arrangements and
find financing for them.

Discounting the expenses involved, this trip wouldn’t be a major
accomplishment for most people.  Most people don’t fight agoraphobia
and anxiety just to go get their mail nor do they cancel doctor’s
appointments because they’re terrified of going out.  There’s a lot
they don’t have to deal with that make this venture a major victory
for me even if I don’t last the entire planned time.  This is why the
VA has to be involved along the way and why I’ll have a caregiver
along, to help ensure I have the best odds of completing the tour and
getting back home without winding up in psych lockdown.

I think I have all the elements covered as far as knowing what will be
needed goes, I just have to put it together in a package that makes
sense.  Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Oh, and I already know that shorts, tank top and flip-flops won’t make
it for daily dress.  So sad having to get all fancy with slacks and
stuff.  :-)

Best regards,

Michael, WH7HG
-- 
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/NTH/index.aspx
http://wh7hg.blogspot.com/
http://kludges-other-blog.blogspot.com
Hiki Nô!