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Undesignated
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Written by James A. Miller Jr.
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Monday, 29 August 2011 00:00 |
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Winter of c1969. RDU to NYC, to Rome to Milano. Moscow next.
Boy that looked like a 'group", some in fur caps; all in Winter coats. Aboard I learned I was the only non-Italian Communist Party passenger member aboard. I was a circa age 30, high school GED, once 17-year old Navy vet; now an Eastern Air Lines ramp worker, flying on interline pass.
I wanted to see both Russians as a people, and the Marxist-brand of communism as an economic/social system. Among many things, I loved non-fiction espionage; knowing too, I didn't want to rot in either some US or USSR prison. "Steer clear of troubled waters", said the ex-sailor in me.
When we cleaned Eastern over-night terminators at RDU; coinage found in seat cracks, then tiny four-'smokes' packs of then complimentary cigarettes found on board, and such-like, we called "treasure". I was the only one who treasured and read, abandoned Wall Street Journals, New York Times, Washington Posts, and oddly: the "Can This Marriage Be Saved" column in the Lady's Home Journal.
I stayed at the Hotel Berlin; the once, now once again, Hotel Savoy. Can't recall if before or after me; but Lee Harvey Oswald stayed there too. Same room? Yes, I was "followed" there; as I had been also, leaving the Soviet consulate in Washington, D.C. That was fun, both places.
My last full day there, I went to the "open book" (building looked like an up-ended open book) book store on Kilenin(?) Prospect for a book in English. Oddly I found none. So I switched to inexpensive Soviet art. Too sleepy to continue: met "S".
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Undesignated
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Written by James A. Miller Jr.
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Monday, 29 August 2011 00:00 |
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Background:
Note: "Fellow-Traveler" was a 1940-1950's American anti-Communist euphemism for a technically non-communist, but none-the-less sympathizer. It also worked for just big "L" Liberals; "pinko's" you didn't like. Conversely, the Chinese Communist had their "running dogs" (I love dogs), and the Soviets--good grief! I was never a believer in economic (Marxist) Communism. I respected early American Christian, Moravian-style communism as once practiced in my beloved Old Salem, North Carolina. But I believed it too idealized to survive in America, as such. To me, Capitalism is amoral (the goal neither good nor bad; just bottom line profit: whichever); better is "Free Enterprise" where the bottom line is not immoral profits for the owners only; best of all, for all; is "Enlightened Free Enterprise", that seeks a moral balance between owner investors, investors of their labors (workers), and consumers protect too. I went to the then Soviet Union (and afterwards Israel) not as an Enemy, nor True Believer; but simply as an Observer, and hopefully as a Friend of it's people, whatever it's ideology; and hopefully I would be received as their fellow friend, whatever my nation's ideology; right or wrong, likely some of both. In c1969, I was an Eastern Air Lines, Raleigh-Durham Airport, ramp serviceman. I flew on an Alitalia (spelling?) Airlines pass; but could only make reservations in the winter. I made reservations a year in advance so I could bid my vacation to fit. The Italian Communist Party booked the rest of the seats. The Soviet 2nd class (what I could afford and wanted anyway) hotels reservations was complicated; I needed once a week, flight reservations. Likely this does not fit with Italian ancestry and you can not use it as such; but can possibly otherwise help. I'd love to meet again, WWII partisan "Hello" especially. Both Italians and Soviets treated me well. I especially liked the Italian Party's speaking up for Solzhenitsyn at the Writers Union. |
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Undesignated
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Written by James A. Miller Jr.
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Monday, 29 August 2011 00:00 |
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My ancestor, French Marine (his mother Michelle de Liette de Juzan "of the King's cabins", d1709, age 34, Versailles, France), Aide-Maj. Pierre Gabriel de Juzan (b1714) of Mobile, Alabama, was killed in combat against Chickasaws in the 1730's First Battle of Ackia, Tupelo, Mississippi Military District. It was supposed to be a co-ordinated attack (how is that possible?)from Canada, but was days-off. His kinsman, Canadian marines (French-Italian) Capt. Antoine de Tonty (di Tonti), and Aide de Camp, Maj. Charles Pierre de Liette (di Lietti), attacking from Canada, were killed in the Second Battle of Ackia. There is a U.S. National Park there now. Antoin's brothers in Canada were the hated Baron Alphonse de Paludy de Tonty, and the "man with the iron hand" (lost to grenade), the famed founder of Mobile, Alabama, Henri de Tonty(bc1649/50, d1704 Ft. Louis-de-La-Lousiana.. Their father Lorenzo/Laurent, an Italian (Neapoliton?) banker in Paris (later jailed) established the Tontine System of Insurance. Supposedly he was once the Governor of Gaeta, Italy. Wife Isabelle de Lietto, or Angelique de Liette?
Maj. Jusan's son "Don Pedro", Sieur Pierre Francoise Gabriel de Juzan, was His Spanish Majesty's Indian Commissioner to Alabama. He is a Daughters of the American Revolution, ally "Patriot", as he ran Spanish service agents amongst the Indians against British agents amongst the Indians. His descendant, Choctaw Chief, Capt. Peter Juzan, inn keeper of Juzan Lake, Mississippi, led 52 Choctaws from the swamp against the British right flank in the 1815 Battle of New Orleans (Song: "...they powdered the alligators behinds, fired...British kept a-runn'n..."). Chief Juzan buried 1841, Hugo, Oklahoma. Before battle, Gen. Jackson said all freeman fighters regardless of race would receive equal pay for equal ranks); ofter War of 1812, President Jackson ordered the Tribes banished from the now White Man's lands. I'll stop & con't. |
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Undesignated
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Written by James Alfred Miller Jr
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Monday, 29 August 2011 00:00 |
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Some say the de Liette family was from Pramollo, Torino, Piedmont, Italy. Others say Torre, Villa Pelice, Torino, Italy. Or, "Comune di Villar Pellice, Torino". My guess is this may be the forbear: Capt. Augustine de Liette, Captain of the Guard of the Duke of Guise, First Lord of Slash, in the Siege of Orleans, 4 February to March 1563?
Some say the ( in Paris "Ancient Italians")de Tonty family was from Forli del Sannio, Campobasso, Abruzzle Molise, Italy?
This is way over-my-head; alas? Seek corrections, additions, kin in Italy, France, Canada, and USA. There is an African-American "Juzang" branch too in Mobile. They are my de Juzan, de Tonty, de Liette, "cousins" as well. We do not pick our ancestors. |
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