#Maxwell Air Force Base

[persephone-writes]

A Diviner's Guide to James Potter

Chapter Thirty: A Query for Quattlebaum

James Potter x Fem!Gryffindor!Reader

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Chapter Thirty-One ☆ Series Masterlist

Description: Quattlebaum's answers close one door and open another, forcing you to question everything you know about yourself.

Word Count: 6.5k

You saw James one more time on Friday evening, though it was fleeting and unfulfilling. He was in the common room when you came back from dinner in the kitchens, still looking like death. His gaze, harrowed and remote, followed your figure as you went to the stairs, heavy on your back. You knew you must look much the same, though you never gave yourself a chance to check. As you readied for bed that night you made a strong effort not to look in the mirror, your eyes cast down the entire time. 

Mary came to see you at some point hat evening, though you hardly made for good company despite your efforts at the contrary. You asked about her boyfriend, Mavors, though you knew the only thing she wanted to talk about was the insanity of the day before. She gave you a very brief account of his success with their most recent Herbology project, obviously holding back more burning questions when she asked how you were feeling. You told her you felt perfectly fine, though someone would have to be thick to believe you. She returned to her dormitory after a few sweet words, saying how the house was going to brag about you for the next decade or more, leaving you feeling even more guilty over your rudeness. 

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

“You don’t have to,” Marlene said when you emerged from the lavatory the following morning, speaking of going to the Great Hall. 

You tossed your pajamas in the hamper, not meeting her eye. “I know…I want to see James.”

Really, you wanted to convince him to go with you to Quattlebaum straight after breakfast, fearing that if reason did not reach him soon, he would be forever stuck in his foolish opinion. You hoped that over the course of the night he saw through some of his ridiculousness, though even if this was not the case, you were prepared to not take no for an answer. 

When you came down, you saw the guys tucked in the back of the common room at a study table, James staring intently at the wooden top. Remus elbowed him, nodding towards you and your dormmates where you stood awkwardly at the base of the stairs. It seemed as though they had forced him to wait, for he begrudgingly stood, following the others over to you. He offered such a miserable smile that you could only do the same, wondering to yourself if he got any sleep at all. 

“Morning,” Lily said to no one in particular, though she only received mumbles in reply. 

You were later to breakfast than usual, meaning that there were far less inquisitive stares than usual due to the corridors being so sparsely populated, though James’s demeanor only made the ones that did occur all the more keen. It was an uncommon sight to see him so down, especially since he should have been riding the high of his attention-grabbing performance out on the lawn a few days prior. 

He walked a bit in front of you, separated from you by Peter and Lily, his posture poor and sulking. You were watching him with a frown as he pushed open the door to the Great Hall, though you only had a few seconds more to focus on his moping before the cheers began. 

Your heart lurched at the noise, erupting like a cannon blast from the Gryffindor table. It rolled out in a wave, most of your house coming to stand in a matter of seconds, clapping their hands and cupping around their mouths as they shouted. Students tapped their silverware against their glasses and stomped their feet, creating a cacophony of rhythmless clatter. You saw Maxwell Thomas stand on the bench, whooping and hollering like he did during quidditch matches. From somewhere in the thick of the mayhem someone cast a burst of red and gold streamers into the air, followed closely by sparks and then a round of confetti, shooting up towards the sunny ceiling before they fluttered back down like autumn leaves. Some of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs joined in on the synchronized chorus of your name, filling the vast expanse of the Hall.

Professor Sinistra stood from her seat at the high table with her wand pointed in the air, the confetti suddenly gone. She pressed the tip to her throat and spoke, her voice echoing throughout the room, “Enough!”

The noise ceased, Maxwell standing lamely on the bench, glancing around in confusion before hopping down. Most of the Gryffindors stood in a suspended moment of shock before taking their seats, still murmuring amongst themselves. 

You let out a breath you didn’t know you had been holding, your body still rigid. The entire room was watching you—nearly every student at Hogwarts, all at once. Marlene put a hand on your back, though you couldn’t look her way, your gaze darting madly across the Hall. The hushed voices of the student body blurred together into a single, neverending drone, buzzing in your ears. After a beat you took a step forward, the others following suit towards the table. You sat near the end, hunched forward as if you could somehow shield yourself from their eyes. 

Conversion began again at its normal volume, a familiar melody that didn’t set your nerves so on edge. A bit down the table, a group of younger Gryffindor’s continued to look your way, prompting a glare from James. They turned away at once, ducking their heads until he went to make up his plate. You didn’t have the mind to scold him, barely able to bring yourself to pour a cup of tea. 

“Think any of those cheers were for me?” Sirius asked, causing Remus to smack the back of his head. “Ow!” He rubbed where Remus had hit, scowling as he ripped a piece of toast out of the rack. 

Marlene rolled her eyes. “We’ll get you a cake on our next trip to Hogsmeade.”

“Oh, about that,” Lily said, cringing. “There won’t be another trip to Hogsmeade, not for the rest of the year.”

“What?” 

“They said it would be too dangerous,” said Remus, dropping a few too many sugars into his mug. It was getting close to the full moon, you remembered. Someone would have to sneak into Honeydukes to get him some sweets, that’s if Dorcas didn’t have enough in her stockpile. 

“Who is ‘they’?” Marlene asked, horrified by this revelation.

“Slughorn told us, but I’m assuming it came from Dumbledore,” Lily said. 

Marlene threw her arms down, her head nearly colliding with the table. “And when did he say this?”

“Yesterday evening during the Prefect’s meeting,” Lily answered, though this did little to appease her. 

Across from her, Dorcas leaned over to whisper, “They did have to smuggle Y/N out. Hogsmeade’s probably crawling with reporters, or worse.”

“Smuggle?” Peter said through a mouthful of cornflakes. James perked up as well, awakened from his ghostlike existence. 

“I’ll tell you guys later,” you said. “I shouldn’t say anything about it here.”

“You left Hogwarts?” James whispered, his jaw clenched. 

“I can’t tell you here,” you said, glancing behind you. “After breakfast I’ll tell you everything.”

He let out an aggravated sigh, growing restless. “Let’s just wrap something up and leave, then.”

“We have to wait for the owls,” Lily reminded him, her tone placating enough to get him to drop the subject.

James continued to stare at you as you ate, wound tight once again. You tried not to pay attention, formulating your plan to get him to see Quattlebaum as soon as possible. He wasn’t at the high table, though he almost never was on the weekends. While you couldn’t be sure he was awake, it would be nearly half past nine by the time you left breakfast by your guess, making it a rather safe bet he would be able to receive you even if you went straight from the Great Hall. You’d only have to hope he’d actually be in.

Halfway through eating you turned around at the sound of your name, finding Steve Zielinski standing behind you with a lopsided smile. 

“Oh, hey Steve.”

“Hey, Peter,” Steve said, knowing each of you from Divination. 

Peter nodded. “Hi.”

He then looked beside you at Marlene, who didn’t seem to know what to do with herself. She hadn’t yet taken him up on the date he asked her about months before, though she had been paying him a bit more attention as of late. 

He smiled a little wider, flicking his head to move his grown out fringe from his eyes. “Morning, Marlene.” 

“Morning,” she said, shyer than she usually was. Her gaze darted away, leaving Steve to return to his primary target of conversation. 

He didn’t seem to notice the weary look you were wearing, but if he did, it didn’t seem to affect his behavior, going on as if you were chipper as ever. “I just wanted to congratulate you, y’know. No one knew you were that good a dueler.”

You chuckled, realizing that you’d have to start getting used to taking more praise, at least within the foreseeable future. “Me neither.”

“They did you wrong in the paper—Sweeney’s a hack.”

Sweeney, you recalled, was the reporter who wrote the front page article detailing the event. 

“Well,” you began, still drawing a blank, “they write what sells, I guess.”

“Still, you were great,” he continued, pointing his thumb over his shoulder with a laugh. “There's a rumor going round that you got the Barnabus Finkley Prize. All the Ravenclaw’s are jealous. It’s the first time in years anyones won it. Everyone was figuring it’d be one of us.”

“Uh, yeah, that,” you said, wondering if there was a way you could deny having received it without lying, though you never even got the chance to think it over.

“Why’d you figure it’d be one of you,” James said with a mild sneer as he looked across the table at Steve.

You whipped around, your eyes wide at his total lack of manners. James’s impertinence was usually a different sort, directed at different kind of company. Steve Zielinski was Steve Zielinski, entirely harmless and easy-going. You shot him a glare, though you couldn’t be sure he caught it, his gaze still trained on your classmate. 

You looked at Steve in a way you hoped conveyed your apology, though he was rather taken aback, thrown so far off his track that he appeared to still be finding his way back on. 

“Oh, y’know, it’s just that Ravenclaw’s can get kind of competitive about stuff like that, s’all,” he replied, stumbling over his words. He glanced back down at you, his smile more nervous than genuine. “Well, congratulations on the prize. You deserve it.” He went to leave, throwing up a hand. “I’ll see you in class. Bye, Marlene.”

“See you, Steve. Thank you,” you called after him, spinning back around to shoot daggers at James. “What was that?”

“He was being a dick,” James said, pushing his food around his plate.

“He was being perfectly nice,” you scoffed. “You were the one being a dick. He just came to congratulate me.”

James huffed, throwing down his fork in a childish fit, though he didn’t counter. 

Remus sighed, side-eyeing James. “I know things are a bit of a disaster right now, but you have to cool it, mate.”

“A bit?” James said under his breath.

“You know how they are,” Sirius said with a laugh of general disapproval, pointing his spoon towards the Ravenclaw table. “Prizes are their bread and butter, and the Barnabus Finkley is their holy fucking grail. Half of them would fight a dozen trolls for that hunk of metal.”

“Enough of the slander,” Lily chided, frowning as she glanced between them. 

The second round of owls came through the double doors, swooping down to bring the post to those who weren’t present at the usual seven o’clock round. Just like always, a copy of the Daily Prophet was dropped into Lily and Remus’s laps, their bindings ripped open wildly. You leaned into Lily’s side to read the front page with bated breath, dreading the headline. 

MUCH STILL UNKNOWN OF ATTACK AT HOGWARTS: Minchum and Crouch to hold press conference Monday morning

You read over Lily’s shoulder, though there wasn’t much of note. James and Sirius’s names were still absent, as were Wilkes and Zephyr’s. So far, the only new information the press was able to gather was that there had been more than two people involved in the duel, that Dumbledore had extinguished the fiendfyre, and that you were the one to ultimately inhibit Mulciber. You assumed the cheers had been a product of reading the latter.

The rest concerned the political implications, which were many. The incident was both an embarrassment to Crouch, who had thus far been relentlessly pursuing Death Eaters using unprecedented methods of capture (or in some cases, assassination), and for the Minister of Magic, for obvious reasons. Minchum released a vague statement condemning the use of dark magic and congratulating the student, who he did not name, who was tactfully able to defend herself, pushing off saying anything further till Monday. You hardly cared about any of it, however, as long as they left you alone for the time being. 

“It’ll be old news in a week,” Marlene said, offering you a smile. 

You supposed she was right. News seemed to move so quickly these days, tragedy after tragedy piling up onto one another until nothing seemed shocking. It was only a matter of time before there would be another attack resulting in actual casualties, likely with the swirling green of the dark mark looming above the scene, taking all attention away from your duel, which would seem rather benign in comparison. 

“All right, the posts here. Let’s go,” James said, standing from the table. 

Dorcas made a noise of acute distress, though James didn’t respond, waiting for everyone to follow. She scarfed down a few more bites, Remus downing his tea, and Sirius grabbing a roll for the road. Dorcas continued to grumble over her breakfast being cut short as James stomped down the corridor towards an empty classroom, accepting her fate only when the door was closed behind her. 

You filled them in on your clandestine trip to Hogsmeade after Remus cast a silencing charm, good enough for a brief conversation. Peter was by far the most dumbfounded over Aberforth, going on about how he always assumed the Headmaster was an only child, or that all his relatives were dead. The entire time you were fidgety, leaning on a desk, getting up again, shoving your hands in and out of your pockets. Eventually you interrupted Sirius’s theory concerning the car, the part of your story that of most interest to him, no longer able to take the wait. 

“As intriguing as this all is—James, I need to talk to you.”

He looked at you, really looked at you for the first time that morning. You hadn’t realized how much he’d been hiding behind his glasses, staring at your forehead instead of your eyes. However, he didn’t let you dwell on it, uncrossing his arms to push through your loose circle. The others watched on in concern as you took a breath, moving to follow.  

“We’ll see you guys later,” he said, waiting for you to catch up before he opened the door. He let you out first, allowing you to lead him a few paces towards the Great Hall until he spoke. “I’m sorry I was a dick to Steve earlier, and to you,” he spoke softly, staring at his shoes. “Something about him just…”

You stopped him, the mission ahead putting you in a particularly forgiving mood, “Thanks. I get that everythings, well, y’know.”

“I’ll give ‘em some points or something, just to smooth it over,” James said, making no objection when you continued in the direction of the grand staircase.

You hummed, your heart beginning to beat a tad faster as you went up a flight to the first floor. You wondered why he hadn’t interrogated you at all as to where you were taking him, for any other classroom would have served your purpose of speaking to him alone perfectly well. It was only when you turned off into the fifth floor corridor did he acknowledge your poorly disguised plan.

“You could’ve said we were going to Quattlebaum.”

You glanced at his profile, remembering the days when this sort of look was the only one you would dare allow yourself to savor. Your chest grew heavy at the thought that it may return to just that: you and James, just friends. You’d never let it be exactly the way it was, you promised yourself, right there in the corridor. Whether he liked it or not, from now on you’d always look at him without a mask, your expression of heartbreak worn plainly and without compromise. When that burden lessened, a pain that became more bearable day by day, you’d gaze at him in poignant love, knowing that he had once cherished you so dearly that he gave up his happiness for nothing else in return but your wellbeing. You would never force him to be with you—not if it meant a lifetime of him torturing himself with worry and guilt, though you would never tell him that you no longer loved him, either. It would be a most egregious lie, worse than any one you’ve ever told before. So, there you both would be; you with your everlasting hope that James may see the affection in your smile and realize that he was wrong, and him, always putting space between you, believing that in his suffering he was doing the noble thing.

“I didn’t know if you’d agree to come,” you said, a dangerous question burning on your tongue. Are we still together—right now? You hated this state in between, not sure if you could still call him yours in the truest sense. 

“I didn’t think so either,” he said, studying the large, pastoral painting up ahead. It was of the Lake District, bright greens sloping down towards the blue water, purple mountains rising in the distance. A pair of sheep grazed by a low stone wall, stopping every minute or so to bleat. “But I figured that's what you wanted with me and, I don’t know…saying no to you is hard.”

You chuckled, though like all your laughter lately, it did not possess any real happiness. “I can never pull one on you, can I?”

“No,” he said, smiling weakly, “and you never will, so you should just stop trying.”

You shoved his side as you took a left into the west wing, terribly thankful that the west bridge was located on the third floor. Please, laugh. Please, be yourself again. He did, but barely, and you instantly regretted having tried. 

Once at the top of the West Tower, the stone staircase a bright white in the mid-morning sun, you went up the ladder first, throwing open the hatch and peeking inside the Divination classroom. You heard nothing, though you didn’t expect to, knowing Quattlebaum was likely in his quarters a storey above. You climbed inside, waving James in as you went over to the spiral staircase in the far corner of the classroom. You heard him close it behind you as you hurried up, the sound of music growing louder as you neared the heavy wooden door. You paused to read the sign hanging beneath the silver knocker, written in glimmering purple script: I am in.

After three knocks you the scratch of a needle having been abruptly taken from a record, and in no time at all Quattlebaum was flinging open the door, smiling widely at the sight of you. 

“Miss L/N! I didn’t expect to see you here. On a Saturday, no less. On a victory tour, perhaps?”

You weren’t sure if he meant it in jest or not, for it was always difficult to tell with him. Either way, you smiled politely, your eyes briefly drifting behind him. All you could see was a small drawing room covered in Turkish rugs, a sofa and wingback chair facing the windows. There were a dozen candelabras scattered all across various cabinets and tables, the faint smell of pipe tobacco billowing through the entryway. 

“Not quite,” you began, motioning down the steps. “James Potter is here, as well.” 

“Our honorable Head Boy,” he laughed, peeking down at him. “What do I owe this marvelous pleasure?”

“We’ve actually come to ask you about something, that is if you have the time.”

“Of course!” He clasped his hands for a moment before moving to step out of the doorway, gesturing for you to make the descent back into the classroom. “How does it feel to be the talk of the castle?”

You chuckled half-heartedly, glancing behind you when you took the final step. “I guess I’ll just have to get used to the attention.”

“Many of your classmates would enjoy it,” he said, the white feather adorning his blue tudor flat cap swaying like a thin ponytail against his shoulder. He smiled at your bashful shrug, turning to James with a genial look in his eye. “Mister Potter, how do you do this morning?”

James, still with a drowsy, glum disposition, made an effort at a greeting. “Well, thank you.”

“Please, sit,” said Quattlebaum, walking to his desk. He waved his wand, producing a second chair for James on the opposite side. “Now, what is it that you need to ask me about?”

You shared a nervous look with James, still hesitant where he sat like a horn in a library. When you turned back, Quattlebaum was waiting patiently, always with that same expression, as if he knew too much already. 

It took a great deal of time to recount your dreams and the various opinions you, James, and your friends had on the subject, though Quattlebaum did not interrupt once. He listened intently, sometimes nodding, often with a hand to his chin when James would cut in to argue his point further, obviously thinking you hadn’t done it enough justice. When you finished he sat for a moment, digesting your words. 

“Curious,” he said, still ruminating. “I see that the interpretation you submitted for the Ichthyomancy project was not a genuine effort.” 

You shrunk a bit, offering him a feeble look of apology. 

He waved his hand. “No matter, your grade remains. It is not the first time a student has concealed from me their personal readings. A certain degree of embarrassment is not uncommon, though I do wish you came to me with your dreams sooner. Such are not to be under appreciated.”

“As I’ve said, I was hoping you could assure James that they are not signs,” you began, your leg bouncing. “I know that only seer’s can make predictions or receive omens without intervention from the natural world, so it’s impossible they truly meant anything outside my own mind.”

“Your subconscious was a factor, yes,” he said, causing you to let out a breath of relief. “Though I am not sure I agree with you that your dreams do not contain a degree of prophecy.”

“Huh?”

Quattlebaum looked to James, taking no notice of your outburst. “You believe that Miss L/N’s dreams are prophetic?”

James frowned, his gaze flickering up from his lap. “Yes, professor.”

“You do realize this would mean she was gifted with the sight. A very rare gift, that is.”

You scoffed under your breath, slumping back in your chair. You couldn’t believe this was even being entertained, especially by Quattlebaum of all people. He knew better than anyone that you weren’t a seer. Why lead James on, you wondered, what was he getting at?

“I do,” James answered, glancing at you with a look of pained longing, paired with a subtle, profound amazement. You wanted him to look away, to change his expression to anything other than that. 

“I don’t,” you said, your anger beginning to boil. 

“Some of us are not great judges of our own character,” Quattlebaum said off-handed, though it was no less infuriating. 

You bit your tongue, your lips pressed in an attempt to keep you from chastising your professor. You’ve never seen Quattlebaum give out a detention before, though you were fairly certain you could earn one if you allowed yourself the freedom to do and say exactly what you wanted. 

“What do you think, then?” you asked, gritting your teeth.

“It’s entirely possible,” he said, letting out a laugh. “Most students of Divination begin their studies believing that they must be blessed with the gift of second sight, or hoping as much, only to find they are quite mistaken. You, however, have always been a startling realist. I hope I am not too far from truth when I venture to say you never once considered you may one day receive a prophecy?”

Your lack of reply was enough for him to continue, still with a small, knowing smile. “In my opinion, you may very well possess the sight, though you would be a stunted learner compared to your peers who have been working to hone their skills since the age of thirteen, some even before, if it is a family trait. Your dreams have many prophetic qualities…though they are quite weak. You see, the sight is like any other discipline. While connected to the art of Divination, it is nevertheless separate. It must be practiced, and even with the greatest efforts, some seer’s may not accomplish the sort of fantastic feats that others do through no fault of their own. You may be one such seer, whose sight will never be particularly strong—though I assure you that this should cause you no shame! Sight, as I have stated, is rare in and of itself.

“Now, for the question of its meaning. I’m afraid I’ll have to make only an educated guess. From what I know of you, and of the stars,” he paused, a twinkle in his eye as he looked to James, “I do not believe you are correct, Mister Potter, even if I can appreciate your reasoning. The mystery of symbology is just that—a thing which often escapes our every logical attempt to capture it. Our initial misinterpretations, rather than perfect rationale, often act as flickers of light to guide our way through the darkness and towards the truth.”

You glanced at James, seeing the tense pull of his shoulders relax just a fraction. Unused to the riddles in which Quattlebaum often spoke, he seemed to catch only enough to know that your professor didn’t think he was the cause of your suffering. 

“I don’t entirely understand, sir,” James said, furrowing his brows.  

Quattlebaum's smile was more enigmatic than ever, peculiar and lacking a certain seriousness one would expect from a conversation such as this. Just as it often was with him, you had little clue what he was about to say. 

“Your misinterpretation, or rather error, Mister Potter, was your belief that this dream was a sign that Y/N should not pursue you as a romantic partner, that she should separate herself from you. In that belief you revealed your guilt over your supposed involvement in the harm which very nearly came to her. You think it best you end your involvement in her life, that the universe has advised as much. Am I correct?” James nodded, and he went on, “This act of selflessness comes only in love. It cannot be born out of anything but, whether it be romantic, such as yourself, or the love for a friend, or of mankind, or any other strain—it always seems to me such a shame that the English language has so few words for it: love. Don’t you agree?”

Neither of you answered, though he didn’t seem to mind. 

“The meaning of it all being is that you’ve proven, entirely by accident, that you are willing to give up an immeasurable deal of happiness for her benefit. I have in all my years never witnessed an omen or prophecy alike which undermines true, selfless love. It seems as though it would be in contradiction to the prevailing good of nature. For all its destruction and rebirth, suffering and pleasure, love is supremely favored.”

You didn’t know what to think, unsure if you believed him or not. The thought of your love for one another being untouchable even in the eyes of the divine, or whatever phrase one may use to describe the unknown source of magic, made both perfect sense and none at all. Lovely as the idea was, it meant you had to believe you had the sight, which was almost as implausible as James’s belief that he was somehow a walking, talking bad luck machine.

“Love is always favored?” James asked warily. 

“As I have said, I have never before witnessed anything which refutes my statement. And, not to betray my age, but I have witnessed and received a fair few prophecies in my lifetime,” Quattlebaum replied with a small laugh. “Prophecies, in my experience, always and without exception favor it. Therefore, I find it impossible that the dreams could have been signs that the pair of you should separate from one another—That's if you are, or were, truly sincere in your saying that you would sever all romantic ties for her benefit.”

“I am—was,” James said at once.

Through your bewilderment you caught his quick correction. Was. Was, was, was. A word had never been so sweet. 

“There was much wisdom to be found in Miss Evans’ interpretation,” Quattlebaum continued, “though from what I know of her as a Diviner, she is one to look for the positive, even when things appear quite the opposite upon first glance. However, that is if these dreams were in fact prophecies…As much as I believe they could be, I am unable to make a definitive judgement. If they are not, if they are ordinary dreams, then they are simply a window into your subconscious. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“So I can’t be right either way?” James asked.

Quattlebaum smiled. “Precisely.”

It seemed as though James was mulling over his own mess of thoughts, slowly turning to look at you in a daze. His lips were parted, making subtle movements as if to speak, though no words came out. 

“James?” you said carefully, worried he may never speak again unless prompted sooner rather than later. 

After a beat he began to smile, which soon turned into a grin of elation, beaming like sunlight. The abruptness of this change was startling, sending a nervous wave running through your veins despite the fact that he had never looked happier. After a second you felt the weight lifting, replaced by a certain sense of serenity. We’re still together. 

Quattlebaum laughed, abundantly entertained by his change in countenance. 

“Thank you, professor,” James said quickly, standing from his chair. He looked down at you expectantly, though like yesterday in the RoR, you found your legs unable to move. 

“Supremely favored?” you repeated, your mind looping back around once again, a new weight coming to replace the old. 

“Quite,” said Quattlebaum, standing as well. “Would you two like a cup of tea? I don’t know about you, but I always get a bit sluggish when the moon is in Scorpio.”

“No, thank you,” James answered, still staring at you. 

Quattlebaum went over to his cupboard, taking out a pot and a cup and saucer. “Are you sure? It’s a lovely oolong.”

“I’m sure,” James said. 

You said his name again, feeling rather childish still sitting in your chair. “What’re you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that this is bloody fantastic—excuse me, professor.”

“No harm,” Quattlebaum said with a chuckle, paying neither of you any mind as he went about fixing his tea. 

“But you think,” you stuttered. “You think I have the sight?”

“Of course, I do,” he said, his voice rising in exultation only found in the truly, undeniably happy. 

“But that’s ridiculous,” you said, glancing back at your professor. “I don’t care if I’m stunted, it still wouldn’t have taken me this long to realize I have it.”

“Well,” Quattlebaum began, “that is not a definitive statement, necessarily. Wesley Finkle did not observe his first true prophecy until he was nearly seventeen, and he became a very powerful seer in his own right, as you well know. If you possess half his natural talent, it’s no great conundrum that you lag a few years behind, especially given your resistance to the possibility you may be gifted at all.” He waved his wand and heated the water in the pot, the steeping tea filling the room with its fragrance. “Mister Potter seems to have no trouble in believing it.”

“He is also not a good judge of character when it comes to me,” you said, earning a scoff from James. 

“It is not my place to convince you,” Quattlebaum said, speaking uncharacteristically frank, “though two against one is a precarious place to be.”

Your ability to stand was suddenly regained, perhaps because the classroom, which was always such a cozy place, seemed to be closing in all around you. You grabbed James’s hand, pulling him towards the hatch. 

“Thanks again, professor!” you called, a bit too sarcastic to be polite. 

“It was no bother, no bother at all,” he said back, clearly rather pleased with himself. You didn’t think he even caught your tone, or if he had, he’d thought nothing of it. 

“Oh,” James said, stopping abruptly. “Professor?”

“Yes?”

“Would you mind keeping us a secret? We’re worried that if Wil—”

“Certainly,” Quattlebaum said, something warm making its way into his expression. “Congratulations on your triumphs, each of you, and on your love. It is a special thing, indeed.”

You threw open the hatch, not saying a thing as you climbed down. James shared another few words with him before following you, practically skipping down the staircase. You crossed your arms once you made it to the bottom, your teeth grinding. 

“I owe you,” James said, bouncing on his toes. “Anything you want, I promise.”

“This is a sour win,” you mumbled, shaking your head to yourself. “You don’t owe me anything. Just forget about it.”

He grabbed your shoulders, still grinning. “How can you be upset right now?”

You rolled your eyes. “I don’t have the sight, James. Quattlebaum really is a crackpot.”

“You do, but you don’t have to believe it, not if you don’t want to. You should, though,” he teased, letting you go when your surly face remained. “Now I see why you were so livid. This is awful. Why are you so miffed about this? I’m sorry about not believing you, I really am. I was an idiot, a buffoon. I can see I was a little dramatic—” 

You scoffed. “Yeah.”

“Don’t make me take my favor away,” he warned playfully, trying to cheer you up. 

It worked for a moment, a smile peeking out on your face before you remembered why you were so upset. You felt as if you’d experienced a whole lifetime worth of emotions within the last forty-eight hours. You were beginning to crash, your heart beating far too fast, the wide open corridor feeling much hotter than you knew it to be. You rubbed your sweaty palms on your trousers, trying to will your head not to grow light. 

James said your name, though it sounded strange, like flipping through radio stations. He put a hand onto your cheek, his skin cool against yours. 

“C’mon, let’s go to Poppy’s. You’re burning up,” he said, his frantics poorly concealed.

“No,” you said, coming back to the world. “No. I want to go outside or something.”

He sighed, moving to lead you down the corridor. “Okay.”

You didn’t pay attention to where he took you, only realizing where you were when you smelt the fresh air, the breeze utterly splendid on your burning skin. You were in one of the cloisters along the northern courtyard, only a few students sitting in the grass. This part of the castle was never too busy, leaving you to take your place on the low stone wall in peace. The vaulted ceilings rose above you, the geometric pattern perfect, each curve exactly alike. You wondered how muggles ever build something like that without magic, though you had seen enough to know that it was quite commonplace. 

“What’re you thinking about?” James asked, standing in front of you in the shade. 

“The ceiling,” you said monotonously. 

He let out a breath through his nose, smiling softly. “What about it?”

“I’m wondering how muggles ever manage to build them.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

James strolled around to sit next to you, leaning forward to look at your face. “Do you want anything? We can go to the kitchens.”

You shook your head, craned up again. “No. I’m okay.”

You could no longer hear the blood rushing past your ears, your false fever lessening. There was still a despicable feeling in your stomach, a fist kneading somewhere deep inside, taunting you. 

You twisted around when you caught a whiff of cigarette smoke blowing in from the courtyard, groaning when you realized you had none on you. You stood, somehow forgetting all the inhibitions which once had you tethered, moving into territory more known to James than yourself. 

“I’m gonna go see if I can bum a smoke,” you explained, hopping over the wall.

James didn’t follow, watching as you walked up to a few Ravenclaws talking quietly in the grass. They, too, stared as you jogged over, their eyes a little wider than before. You looked at the one smoking, though you didn’t know her. She must have been a few years below you, too far removed to you to be acquainted. 

“Hey,” you said, still rather flat in affect. “I was wondering if I could bum one?”

She stammered, her eyes locked on yours, “Yeah, sure.” She hesitated for a second too long, putting the cigarette between her lips to dig around in her bag. She took one from the pack and handed it up to you, still a bit flabbergasted. 

“Thanks,” you said, trying your best to give her a thankful smile. When you appeared back beside James you had already lit it, feeling halfway normal again. 

“Better?”

“Loads,” you sighed, taking a drag. At that moment you were infinitely thankful that nearly every professor or employee alike would let you smoke in the courtyards, and the two who were vehemently opposed, McGonagall and Filch, were not likely to be here this time of day. 

You held it up for him but he shook his head, his expression too affectionate to look at long, lest it make you mad with equal endearment. 

“With the day you’ve had, it’d feel like I was stealing from the blind.” 

“You’re real clever,” you droned, your smile betraying you. 

“Can’t help it,” he said, pushing the back of your head in the waggish way you were used to. “It’s in my nature.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Notes: PROFESSOR Quattlebaum?? 🙅 NO! certified couples therapist 💯🔥

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Tag List: @floverisland @ilovejamespottersomuch @googie-jeon @tvnile @eli-com @lovelyteenagebeard @letssee2468 @abhootghiihii @iamawkwardandshy @fangirl-swagg

[stupidphototricks]

Some quotes I like from Johnny and the Dead. I'll again recommend the Johnny Maxwell trilogy for any Terry Pratchett fans, it's a bit dated, and lacks witches and wizards, and takes place on a boring spherical planet, but still there's good stuff.

And the sky above it was a glorious blue, which was pretty unusual for Blackbury, where most of the time the sky was that odd, soapy color you'd get if you lived in a Tupperware box. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

"My greatest trick involved getting out of a locked sack underwater while wearing twenty feet of chain and three pairs of handcuffs." "Gosh, how often did you do that?" said Johnny. "Nearly once," said Mr. Vicenti. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

Wobbler was banned from the computers because of an incident involving a library terminal, the telephone connection to the main computer, another telephone line to the computer at East Slate Air Base ten miles away, another telephone line to a much bigger computer under a mountain somewhere in America, and almost World War Three. At least that's what Wobbler said. The Assistant Information Officers said it was because he got chocolate in the keyboard. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

There was a feeling, like-- --like on an airplane when it's about to land, and his ears went "pop." But it was happening with his brain, instead. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

You never knew about people, like you never knew how deep a pond was because all you saw was the top. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

"It's wrong to think that the past is something that's just gone. It's still there. It's just that you've gone past. If you drive through a town, it's still there in the rearview mirror. Time is a road, but it doesn't roll up behind you. Things aren't over just because they're past." -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

"Of all the forces in the universe, the hardest to overcome is the force of habit. Gravity is easy-peasy by comparison." -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

Time passes everywhere. But days and nights are little local things that happen only to people who stay in one place. If you go fast enough, you can overtake the clock... -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

"I believe it's very hard to have fun in Iceland without fish being involved in some way." -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

Making a fuss about cards and heavy metal and going on about Dungeons and Dragons stuff because it's got demon gods in it is like guarding the door when it is really coming up through the floorboards. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

"Anyway, there's four of us, after all." "That just means something bad can happen four times," said Wobbler. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

"Did I see them waving?" said Mrs. Liberty. "And particling, I shouldn't wonder," said the Alderman. -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

Johnny blinked. And looked around at the world. It was, not to put too fine a point on it, wonderful. Which wasn't the same as nice. It wasn't even the same as good. But it was full of... stuff. You'd never get to the end of it. It was always springing new things on you... -- Terry Pratchett, Johnny and the Dead

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Mechanic : The last of the V8 Interceptors... a piece of history!

Mechanic : Would've been a shame to blow it up. 

The Pursuit Special, also referred to as the Last of the V8 Interceptors, is the iconic black GT Falcon muscle car featuring a distinctive supercharger driven by the title character Mad Max during much of the Mad Max franchise, where it appears in Mad Max, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and in Mad Max: Fury Road, as well as both video games.

The first car shown in the film with the title of Pursuit Special is a 1972 HQ Holden Monaro[V8 coupe stolen by Nightrider (played by Vince Gil), an escaped cop killer, who dies in an accident that destroys the vehicle. The more famous Pursuit Special is a heavily modified Ford Falcon XB GT, built on a vehicle originally assembled stock at the Ford plant in November 1973. Maxwell "Mad Max" Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) is offered the black Pursuit Special, as an incentive to stay on the force as their top pursuit man after he reveals his desire to resign. Although Max turns the offer down, he later uses the black car to exact his revenge on an outlaw motorcycle gang who killed his wife and son.

The vehicle started out as a standard white 351 cu in (5.8 L) Australian built 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Hardtop when in 1976, filmmakers Byron Kennedy and George Miller began preproduction on Mad Max. The movie's art director Jon Dowding designed the Interceptor and commissioned Melbourne-based car customizers Graf-X International to modify the GT Falcon. Peter Arcadipane, Ray Beckerley, John Evans, and painter Rod Smythe transformed the car as specified for the film.

The main modifications are the black paint scheme, roof and boot spoilers, wheel arch flares, and front nose cone and air-dam designed by Arcadipane (marketed as the "Concorde" style). Also, eight individual exhaust side pipes were added (only two of them being functional, others appeared to be working because of the vibrations the first two created). The most famous feature of the car is a Weiand 6-71 supercharger[5] protruding through the bonnet. The impressive looking supercharger, in reality, was nonfunctional; functional superchargers are typically driven constantly by the engine and cannot be switched on and off, as portrayed in the first two Mad Max films.

1973 Ford XB Falcon GT 351

Pursuit Special, when the term is used, generally refers to Max's more famous V8 Interceptor Pursuit Special, a 1973 Ford XB Falcon GT 351, commissioned at great expense by Police Commissioner Labatouche and the Main Force Patrol's (MFP) commander, Fifi Macaffee.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Have you seen 'A Bridge Too Far? 🎬

In the reel, you can see a legendary scene from the famous 1977 film 'A Bridge Too Far'. This film is about Operation Market Garden, which started exactly 80 years ago today. The Allies planned to cross the German border via the Netherlands so that the war could be ended in 1944. For this, all bridges across the Dutch rivers had to fall intact into Allied hands. It would be a combined air and land operation of British, American, Canadian and Polish troops. The air operation was known under the codename “Market” and the land operation under the name “Garden”.

A Bridge Too Far is a historical war film that was directed by Richard Attenborough and was released in 1977. It stars a big ensemble cast including Sean Connery, Ryan O'Neal, Michael Caine, Paul Maxwell, Dirk Bogarde, Edward Fox, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Sir Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford and many other renowned actors. The film is based on Operation Market Garden, an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied forces to seize control of key bridges in Nazi-occupied Holland, and is adapted from Cornelius Ryan's book of the same name.

General James M. Gavin, left, (RYAN O'NEAL) confers with Lt. Col. "Joe" Vandeleur (MICHAEL CAINE), commander of the Irish Guards tank unit, about the desperate plight of the British 1st Airborne soldiers in the Arnhem sector, isolated and vastly outnumbered by German forces on the ground in Joseph E. Levine's "A Bridge Too Far", a United Artists release.

Behind the scenes on A BRIDGE TOO FAR (1977)

Sean Connery with Ryan O'Neal and Gene Hackman on the set of A Bridge Too Far (1977).

In this photo we see (from left to right) Paul Maxwell as the American Major General Maxwell Taylor, Sir Sean Connery as Major General Roy E Urquhart, Sir Dirk Bogarde as Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Browning, Edward Fox as Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks, Ryan O'Neal as Major General James Gavin and Gene Hackman as the Polish Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski.

Sean Connery as Major General Robert Urquhart in the film 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977) in this World War Il epic, here is photographed on set with the real General Urquhart (both Scots 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿) who also served as a military consultant for the film.

#RichardAttenborough #DirkBogarde #Bridge #SeanConnery #Film #Movie #WW2 #actors #PaulMaxwell #EdwardFox #MichaelCaine #MajorGeneralRoyEUrquhart #AnthonyHopkins #GeneHackman #OperationMarketGarden #80thAnniversary #abridgetoofarfilm #1977 #SirLaurence Olivier #RobertRedford #Arnhem #CorneliusRyan #book #GeneralUrquhart #Scots

The true story of the greatest battle of World War II and the basis of the 1977 film of the same name, directed by Richard Attenborough.

The Battle of Arnhem, one of the most dramatic battles of World War II, was as daring as it was ill-fated. It cost the Allies nearly twice as many casualties as D-Day.

This is the whole compelling story, told through the vast cast of characters involved. From Dutch civilians to British and American strategists, its scope and ambition is unparalleled, superbly recreating the terror and suspense, the heroism and tragedy of this epic operation.

'I know of no other work of literature of World War II as moving, as awesome and as accurate in its portrayal of human courage.' - General James A Gavin

‘A Bridge Too Far’ is available to watch and stream, download, and buy on demand at Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Amazon, and Google Play online.

Posted 23rd September 2024

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

The Amps - Maxwell's, Hoboken, New Jersey, July 1, 1995

I was watching this recent video of the Breeders in Big Sur a couple weeks back — and however great it is (it's great!), it got me thinking about the Amps, the one-and-done mid-90s Kim Deal project. Kind of a weird moment for Kim. She had climbed to the top of the Alternative Nation after the release of Last Splash, opening for Nirvana, playing Lollapalooza, hitting the late-night talk shows, etc. But by 1995, she was blowing it all up and starting again. Kinda. Here's the rundown from a very 1990s Spin magazine cover story written by Charles Aaron way back when. Those were different times, kids!

Kind of sweet, kind of pathetic. That’s how Deal has viewed her life following Last Splash‘s surprising success, propelled by the Top 40 single “Cannonball,” one of the most unlikely mosh notes ever penned. What was meant to be a well-deserved rest for the band after opening Nirvana’s last national tour, headlining gigs with Luscious Jackson, and joining Lollapalooza during the summer of ’94, became a boring winter exile for Kim in her childhood home of Huber Heights, the planned community outside Dayton that thrived in the ’50s with the opening of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, where Kim’s dad worked as a physicist. Instead of catching up on laundry and bad TV, she learned to play drums, patched together a batch of songs, and agreed to help produce the next album by her drinking buddies Guided By Voices (of which her fiance and SPIN Senior Contributing Writer Jim Greer is now a member).

Meanwhile, the other Breeders were plenty busy. Jim Macpherson finally spent some time with his kids and renovated a new house. Bassist Josephine Wiggs fell in love (with Luscious Jackson drummer Kate Schellenbach) and out of the closet (courtesy of a November ’94 Advocate story titled “Luscious Lesbians”), eventually moving from London to New York to be near Schellenbach. Kelley Deal made the most publicized move, out of Kim’s place and into a nearby house where she was arrested in November for receiving an Emery Worldwide package containing heroin. Her trial is set for July. Considering the circumstances, Kim’s desire to record a solo album made more than a little sense, for everybody concerned.

Pacer, that "solo record," hit shelves in the fall of '95 and — compared to Last Splash, anyway — was fairly low-profile. But it's a killer album, and somewhat forgotten these days, I think? If Kim had just called it a Breeders record, people might be more aware, I don't know. Anyway! The Amps toured a bit in '95 (I saw 'em open for Sonic Youth that October), and here's a nice audience tape of the band at Maxwell's that summer, playing a bunch from their then-unreleased debut, alongside a rambunctious closing cover of the Tasties' "Like A Briar." Take a trip down to Tipp City ...

[lboogie1906]

Lieutenant General Stayce D. Harris (August 19, 1959) is the first African American woman to hold a three-star General rank, the first Air Force Reservist to be promoted to the three-star rank other than the chief of the Air Force Reserve Command, and the first African American woman to serve as Inspector General of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

She was born in Los Angeles to Clyde Bruce Harris, a career airman in the Air Force, and Alice Mae Tabourn Harris, a banker. She graduated from the 71st High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and received her commission in the Air Force via the USC Air Force ROTC program, where she received her BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering.

She received her MS in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and completed Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base. She served in active duty until 1990 when she began working for United Airlines as a commercial pilot.

She made history by becoming the first African American woman to command an Air Refueling Wing. She served as the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff at the Headquarters.

She was promoted to Brigadier General, Major General, and Lieutenant General. She was appointed Inspector General of the Air Force. She was responsible for two field operating agencies: the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Air Force Inspection Agency.

Her recognitions include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass.

She retired from the Air Force Reserves in 2019. Her portrait hangs in the Pentagon. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[ragingphantom666]

DC Dimensions project plan - The Flash: Runs in the Family (Vol. 1)

This series is not an assured project. It is a concept that can still be changed or scrapped.

Synopsis

The heroes and villains of Central City have been behaving irregularly. They seem to be in a hypnotic trance. The Flash and Impulse investigate the suspect, a content creator going by "Spin."

Characters

Bartholomew Henry "Barry" Allen/The Flash - The second hero to take on the mantle of the Flash.

Bartholomew William "Bart" Allen/Impulse - The son of Barry Allen and Iris West.

Iris West - The wife of Barry Allen and mother to Bart and Joan Allen.

Joan Allen - The daughter of Barry Allen and sister of Bart. She seemingly has no superpowers.

Jay Garrick/The Flash - The first superhero to call himself "The Flash." He acts as the voice of wisdom for the Flash Family.

Maxwell Crandall/Max Mercury - A speedster from the 19th century and mentor of Impulse.

David Lloyd/Spin - A young content creator with aspirations for the big time. When he goes out to collect heroes and villains for his social media, he wears special gloves and an LED mask to hypnotize them. Little does he know that he is only a pawn for a villain called "The Puppeteer."

Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash - The arch nemesis of Barry Allen. He is a speedster connected to the Negative Speed Force.

Leonard Snart/Captain Cold - The leader of the Rogues and an occasional ally of Barry Allen.

Mick Rory/Heat Wave - Member of the Rogues. He is a close friend of Captain Cold. His weapon is a flamethrower pistol.

Lisa Snart/Golden Glider - Member of the Rogues. She wears special skates that allow her to travel at superspeed.

Sam Scudder/Mirror Master - Member of the Rogues. He has the power to move through mirrors.

Roscoe Dillon/Top - Member of the Rogues. He can spin at superspeed.

Hartley Sawyer/Pied Piper - Member of the Rogues. He uses sound-based weaponry.

James Jesse/Trickster - Member of the Rogues. He loves playing pranks on the Flash.

Jordan Weir - The therapist of Joan Allen. There is a secret dark side to him.

Other Information

Golden Glider's skates are based on Shadow the Hedgehog's air shoes.

[unwelcome-ozian]

"Exploring the mind frontier is essential and the key to successful exploration is a greater psychic awareness. The mind is rich in unfathomed resources ripe for exploration, a limitless source of treasures for advancing all mankind, and a serious threat to those who ignore its potential. We must overcome our psychic inhibitions, stop denying the existence of paranormal events, and start trying instead to understand the nature of these phenomena."—Dolan M. McKelvy, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 1988

[usafphantom2]

Walter L.Watson, Jr was an SR -71 RSO. He was the first and only African-American to fly the SR-71. I didn’t know him because he was stationed at Beale Air Force Base after my family left. BUT, I have watched videos of him. Check out YouTube. m.youtube.com/watch?embeds_r…

Watson was born in Columbia, South Carolina, he was the oldest of four children of Walter L. Watson, Sr. and Mildred Platt Watson. After graduating C.A. Johnson High School, he attended Howard University in Washington, D.C where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree and commission as an Air Force Officer through the ROTC program. Watson later obtained a master’s degree from Chapman College of Orange, CA in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management.

He entered the Air Force as an avionics maintenance officer, but in 1973, he was selected for aviation training, beginning a diverse and distinguished flying career in the Air Force. His first assignment was flying the C-130E in Southeast Asia. He later became a flight instructor, flight examiner, and flight commander in tactical fighter and strategic reconnaissance squadrons that flew F-4C/D/E, F-111D, and SR-71 aircraft. Watson was the first African American and only one to qualify as a crew member of the SR-71.

After completing his flying career, Waston continued to serve in the Airforce in production and training. As Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies at North Carolina A&T State University, his leadership helped his unit to achieve the following production milestones: 1) 20% of all African-American Second Lieutenant Pilots, 2) 50% of all African-American Second Lieutenant Navigators, and 3) 25% of African-American female commissioners in 1993. These accomplishments led to assignments to a number of leadership positions at HQ Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC at Maxwell AFB, AL). As the Chief of the AFROTC Scholarship branch, he supervised all scholarships for over 5,000 students across the nation with an annual budget exceeding $22 million.

Colonel Watson also served as a key decision-maker for Air Force Relations with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). He received numerous awards and medals over his career time. He was awarded the Brig Gen Noel F Parrish Award which is Tuskegee Airmen Inc.’s highest national award for service and impact.

Thank you Walter for your decision to become an SR-71 RSO. Thank you, Harris Wilson for your idea posted on SR-71Blackbird

Linda Sheffield Miller

[michellesmusing]

My New Hero!

I so Want to meet her!

CAPTAIN MELANIE "MACH" KLUESNER

Captain Melanie Kluesner is the Commander, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The mission of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration team is to showcase the unique aerial capabilities of the Air Force’s most advanced 5th generation multi-role stealth fighter, the F-35A Lightning II, as well as highlight the history of the Air Force’s service through heritage formation flights. Additionally, she provides operational oversight and direction for the 13-personnel team, to include maintenance, aircrew flight equipment, and public affairs Airmen.

Capt Kluesner entered the Air Force in 2015 after receiving her Distinguished Graduate commission from the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program at the University of Southern California. She is an experienced fighter pilot with more than 800 flying hours in the F-16C Fighting Falcon, F-35B, and F-35A Lightning II. Her flying assignments include Undergraduate Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and fighter training in the F-16C at Luke AFB, Va., in the F-35A at Eglin AFB, Fl., and in the F-35B at MCAS Beaufort, SC. Operational assignments include Kunsan AFB, South Korea, a USMC exchange at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Luke AFB, Arizona, and Hill Air Force Base, Utah. In 2020, she became the first USAF pilot to deploy in the F-35B. 

EDUCATION: 


2014 Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cali.  2021 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.  October 2015 – February 2017, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas 2.  March 2017 – December 2017 Student, F-16 Basic Course, Luke AFB, AZ 3.  Janruary 2018 – January 2019, F-16 Pilot, Kunsan AB, KOR 4.  February 2019 – May 2019, F-35A Transition Course, Eglin AFB, FL 5. June 2019-August 2019 – F-35B Transition Course, MCAS Beaufort, SC 5. September 2019 – June 2021, F-35B Flight Lead, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan 6. July 2021 -- October 2023- F-35A Instructor Pilot and OSS Flight Commander, Luke AFB, AZ 7. November 2023-February 2024- F-35A Instructor Pilot, Hill AFB, UT 6.  March 2024 – Present, F-35A Demonstration Team Commander, Hill AFB, Utah

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Senior Pilot Flight Hours: More than 1000 Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-38C, F-16C, F-35B, F-35A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Air Force Commendation Medal Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant  May 2013 First Lieutenant  May 25, 2015 Captain, May 25, 2017 (Current as of March 2024)

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 39 of 2023

Title: First In, Last Out: An American Paratrooper in Vietnam With the 101st and Vietnamese Airborne Authors: John Howard ISBN: 9780811766067 Tags: AC-130 Spectre, AUS ADF AA 1st Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, B-52 Stratofortress, C-130 Hercules, CHE Geneva Conference of 1954 (French Indochina War), Cold War (1946-1991), CUB Cuba, CUB Cuban Missile Crisis, FAC, FRA ADT French Ground Army (Armée de terre), FRA ADT Groupement Mobile 100 (French Indochina War), FRA France, GER Berlin, GER Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie, GER Berlin Wall, GER Germany, GER Munich, KHM Cambodia, KHM Cambodian Incursion (1970) (Vietnam War), KOR Blue House Raid (1968), KOR Camp Greaves, KOR Freedom Bridge, KOR Imjin River, KOR Korea, KOR Korean War (1950-1953), KOR Munsan, KOR President Park Chung Hee, KOR ROK Capital Tiger Division, KOR ROK KATUSA Korean Augmentation to the US Army, KOR ROK Republic of Korea Army, KOR ROKMC Republic Of Korea Marine Corps, KOR UN UNC United Nations Command, KOR US USFK US Forces Korea, LAO FSB 31 (Lam Son 719) (Vietnam War), LAO Lam Son 719 (1971) (Vietnam War), LAO Laos, M113 APC, O-2 Skymaster, PHL Philippines, PHL US USAF Clark Air Force Base, PRK Kim Il Sung, PRK KPA 124th Army Unit, PRK KPA North Korean People's Army, PRK North Korea, SA-2 Guideline SAM, SA-7 Strela SAM, SAM, THA Bangkok, THA Bangkok - Nick's #1 Hungarian Inn, THA RTAFB Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, THA Thailand, U-2, UN United Nations, US Ambassador Maxwell Taylor, US Martin Luther King Jr (Civil Rights Leader), US MOH Medal of Honor, US MSTS Military Sea Transportation Service, US MSTS USNS General Leroy Eltinge (T-AP-154), US OH Kent State University, US OH Kent State University Shootings (1970) (Vietnam War), US OH Ohio, US President John F. Kennedy, US President John F. Kennedy Assassination - Dallas TX (1963), US President Lyndon B. Johnson, US President Richard M. Nixon, US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, US USA 101st Airborne Division - 1st Brigade, US USA 101st Airborne Division - 3rd Brigade, US USA 101st Airborne Division - Screaming Eagles, US USA 173rd Airborne Brigade - Sky Soldiers, US USA 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, US USA 1st Cavalry Division, US USA 1st ID - 3rd Brigade, US USA 1st ID - Big Red One, US USA 23rd Infantry Regiment, US USA 23rd Infantry Regiment - 3/23, US USA 2nd ID, US USA 2nd Infantry Regiment, US USA 2nd Infantry Regiment - 2/2, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327 - A (ABU) Co, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327 - B Co, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327 - Tiger Force Recon, US USA 38th Infantry Regiment, US USA 38th Infantry Regiment - 2/38, US USA 502nd Aviation Bn, US USA 502nd Aviation Bn - A Co, US USA 502nd Infantry Regiment, US USA 502nd Infantry Regiment - 2/502, US USA 502nd Infantry Regiment - 2/502 - C Co, US USA 503rd Infantry Regiment, US USA 503rd Infantry Regiment - 1/503, US USA 503rd Infantry Regiment - 2/503, US USA 70th Engineer Bn, US USA 7th ID, US USA 8th Army, US USA 937th Engineer Group, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment - 1/9 - F Troop, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment - 1/9 - Headhunters, US USA Col David Hackworth, US USA Col Jack Jacobs (MOH), US USA Fort Benning GA, US USA Fort Benning GA - Airborne School, US USA Fort Benning GA - IOAC Infantry Officers Advanced Course, US USA Fort Benning GA - NCOCC NCO Candidate Course, US USA Fort Benning GA - Ranger School, US USA Fort Benning GA - US Army Infantry School, US USA Fort Campbell KY, US USA Fort Ord CA, US USA Fort Ord CA - USATC US Army Training Center, US USA General Barry McCaffrey, US USA General Charles H Bonesteel III, US USA General Creighton Abrams, US USA General Fred C. Weyand, US USA General Frederick Koresen, US USA General James A. Hollingsworth, US USA General John Guthrie, US USA General John Heintges, US USA General John McGiffert, US USA General John R. McGiffert, US USA General Normal Schwarzkopf, US USA General Ray Lynch, US USA General Thomas Kennan, US USA General Willard Pearson, US USA General William Coleman, US USA General William Enemark, US USA General William Westmoreland, US USA LRRP Team (Vietnam War), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USA USSF Team ODA-221, US USA USSF Team ODA-222, US USA Walter Reed Hospital, US USAF 21st TASS - Rash FAC, US USAF 21st TASS - Sundog FAC, US USAF United States Air Force, US USMC 3rd Marines - 3/3, US USMC United States Marine Corps, US USN NPS Naval Postgraduate School CA, US USN United States Navy, US USN USS Newport News (CA-148), US USN USS Pueblo (AGER 2), USMA West Point, USMA West Point - Camp Buckner, USSR, USSR 1st Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, USSR General Secretary of the Communist Party Leonid Brezhnev, VNM 1968 Tet Offensive (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM 1972 Easter Offensive / Nguyen Hue (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM An Khe, VNM An Loc, VNM An Ninh, VNM Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of An Loc (1972) (1972 Easter Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Camp Holloway (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Dak To (1967) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954) (French Indochina War), VNM Battle of Hue City (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Ia Drang Valley (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Saigon (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Tan Son Nhut (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Binh Dinh Province, VNM Binh Long Province, VNM Buddhist Crisis (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Cam Ranh Bay, VNM Camp Carroll (Vietnam War), VNM Camp Evans (Vietnam War), VNM Camp Holloway (Vietnam War), VNM Central Highlands, VNM Cham People, VNM Cholon, VNM Cholon - Binh Xuyen (Cholon Mafia), VNM Chon Thanh District, VNM Chu Lai, VNM Cua Viet River, VNM Cung Son Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Da Nang, VNM Dak To, VNM Di An, VNM DMZ Demilitarized Zone - 17th Parallel (Vietnam War), VNM Dong Ba Thin, VNM Dong Ba Thin Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Dong Tre, VNM Dong Tre Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM DRV Ho Chi Minh, VNM DRV NVA 320B Division, VNM DRV NVA 7th Division, VNM DRV NVA 95th Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 95th Regiment - 5th Bn, VNM DRV NVA Communist B2 Front, VNM DRV NVA General Tran Van Tra, VNM DRV NVA General Vo Nguyen Giap, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV Party Secretary Le Duan, VNM DRV Politburo Central Military Committee, VNM DRV VC 5th Division, VNM DRV VC 9th Division, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM DRV VM Viet Minh, VNM Emperor Minh Manh, VNM FRA 1st Vietnamese Paratroop Bn (French Indochina War), VNM FRA French Expeditionary Corps (French Indochina War), VNM French Indochina War (1946-1954), VNM FSB Mai Loc (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Sarge (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Than Khai (Vietnam War), VNM Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) (Vietnam War), VNM Heiu Xuong District, VNM Highway 1, VNM Highway 13 - Thunder Road, VNM Highway 19, VNM Highway 9, VNM Hill 169, VNM Hill 65, VNM Hill 875, VNM Hue, VNM Hue - Le Huan St, VNM Hue - The Citadel, VNM I Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Ia Drang Valley, VNM II Corps (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM IV Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Kontum, VNM Kontum Province, VNM Lai Khe, VNM Loc Ninh, VNM LZ Albany (Vietnam War), VNM LZ Sally (Vietnam War), VNM LZ X-Ray (Vietnam War), VNM Mekong Delta, VNM Montagnard, VNM My Canh, VNM My Chanh River, VNM My Lai, VNM My Lai Massacre (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM My Phu, VNM Nha Trang, VNM Nhon Co, VNM Ninh Thuan Province, VNM Operation Arc Light (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Checkerboard (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Dong Tien (1970) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Flaming Dart (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Hump (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Lam Son 72 (1972) (1972 Easter Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker I (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker II (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation MacArthur (1967-1969) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Sayonara (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Silver Bayonet I (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Van Buren (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Phan Rang, VNM Phan Thiet, VNM Phu Bai, VNM Phu Sen, VNM Phu Yen Province, VNM Phung Ha, VNM Pleiku, VNM Quang Tri, VNM Quang Tri - Citadel, VNM Quang Tri Province, VNM Qui Nhon, VNM RVN ARVN 11th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 15th Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 18th ID, VNM RVN ARVN 1st ID, VNM RVN ARVN 20th Tank Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 21st ID, VNM RVN ARVN 31st Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 3rd ID, VNM RVN ARVN 56th Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 5th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 5th ID, VNM RVN ARVN 6th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 8th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 9th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 9th ID, VNM RVN ARVN Airborne Division - Su-Doan Nhay Du, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group, VNM RVN ARVN General Cao Van Vien, VNM RVN ARVN General Du Quoc Dong, VNM RVN ARVN General Hoang Xuan Lam, VNM RVN ARVN General Le Van Hung, VNM RVN ARVN General Ngo Quang Truong, VNM RVN ARVN General Nguyen Van Minh, VNM RVN ARVN General Vu Van Giai, VNM RVN Madame Nhu (Tran Le Xuan), VNM RVN Marines, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Diem, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Nhu, VNM RVN Nguyen Van Thieu, VNM RVN SVNAF Da Nang Airbase, VNM RVN SVNAF South Vietnamese Air Force, VNM Saigon, VNM Saigon - Missouri BOQ (Vietnam War), VNM Saigon - Pham Van Hai St, VNM Saigon - US Embassy (Vietnam War), VNM Srok Ton Cui, VNM Tan Khai, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base - Camp Alpha (Vietnam War), VNM Thach Han River, VNM Thanh Binh, VNM Thanh Hoi, VNM Tuy Hoa, VNM US MAAG Military Assistance Advisory Group Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV AAG Army Advisory Group (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV ADAT Advisory Team 162 (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV ADAT Airborne Division Assistance Team (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV BCAT Battalion Combat Assistance Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV DCAT Division Combat Asisstant Team (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV FRAC First Regional Assistance Command (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV TRAC Third Regional Assistance Command (Vietnam War), VNM US Project 100000 (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 3rd Field Hospital - Saigon (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 85th Evacuation Hospital - Phu Bai (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 8th Field Hospital - Nha Trang (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Hackworth (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tau, VNM War Zone D (Vietnam War), VNM Windy Hill Rating: ★★★★ (4 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.ARVN.Airborne Division, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Specops.LRRPs, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Advisor, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Infantry

Description: Fresh out of West Point, John Howard arrived for his first tour in Vietnam in 1965, the first full year of escalation when U.S. troop levels increased to 184,000 from 23,000 the year before. When he returned for a second tour in 1972, troop strength stood at 24,000 and would dwindle to a mere 50 the following year. He thus participated in the very early and very late stages of American military involvement in the Vietnam War. His two tours—one as a platoon commander and member of an elite counterguerrilla force, the second as a senior advisor to the South Vietnamese—provide a fascinating lens through which to view not only one soldier’s experience in Vietnam, but also the country’s. **

Review:   Let me first say that I did enjoy this book - to a degree. That's why it gets 4 stars. But it's important to know that this is not a great book, which with the authors experiences, it really could have been. One of the biggest deficiencies is that he spends more time telling than showing. Good books of this genre give you a first hand view of what happened and what someone experienced. This book is very light on that, especially during his 1965 tour. It gets better with his Korean and Advisor experiences later on, but only just. Instead you get a lot of history of Vietnam, a lot of history of what happened, who went where, what they did. It's all very strategic and 1000 foot level when what this book is supposed to be is very in the weeds at the 1 foot personal experience level. This is a man who participated in a lot of intense operations, worked with incredible people like Foley and Hackworth, and was both a part of ABU and Tiger Recon with the 101st. But you never really get a feel for what it was like to be a member of either. You never get to experience a recon mission, though he was a part of many. You just know that x unit moved to y place, and then this is what happened / this was the outcome. 

You get a good overview of the battles, the war, and even a few of the people, but very little else from his time with the 101st. 

His time in Korea is a bit better and gives you a good understanding of what happened and some incidents and the people. Also his time as an Advisor is also more personal as well. So maybe it's just a memory thing and things from 72 are easily recalled vs 65. 

One thing you'll notice is a lot of ring knocking and naming of generals... so many generals. So just... be prepared for that.  

Overall though, a decent book... he needs to work on the tell vs show more than anything. Up next, going to read Foley's Special Men. I always loved Foley's fictional writing, so I have high hopes for his book about his time with Tiger Recon and other units. I have a feeling it's going to be a good compliment to this book. 

[oliviarogersblog]

How to Overcome Local Market Challenges with Homes for Sale in Prattville, AL: A Seller’s Guide to Getting the Best Deal

Selling a home is never as simple as putting up a “For Sale” sign and waiting for buyers to come knocking—especially in a tight-knit local market like Prattville, Alabama. Even though Prattville’s real estate scene remains strong and steady, local sellers often face unique hurdles that can make or break a deal.

Whether you’re selling your first home or moving up to your dream house, understanding and overcoming these challenges can help you attract serious buyers, sell faster, and pocket the best possible price.

This comprehensive guide will break down the common issues sellers face with homes for sale in Prattville, AL, and give you practical strategies to tackle them head-on.

1. Understand the Prattville Housing Market

The Prattville market combines the charm of small-town Alabama with convenient access to Montgomery’s job market. This makes it appealing to families, military personnel stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base, and retirees alike.

However, this unique buyer mix means that pricing must be spot-on. Overpricing your home can scare away budget-conscious buyers, while underpricing leaves money on the table.

How to overcome it:

Check recent comparable sales. Look at what similar homes for sale in Prattville, AL, sold for in the last 6–12 months.

Know the seasonality: In Prattville, spring and early summer are peak buying seasons. Listing at the right time can help you sell faster.

Work with a local expert: A local agent knows neighborhood trends and buyer profiles better than a big-city broker.

2. Price It Right—The First Time

One of the biggest mistakes Prattville sellers make is testing the market with a high price “just to see what happens.” This often backfires: overpriced homes sit unsold, get stale, and attract lowball offers.

How to overcome it:

Start with a realistic price: well-priced homes sell faster and often receive multiple offers.

Be ready to adjust: If your home hasn’t had serious showings in the first few weeks, it’s time to revisit the price.

Use price bands: Buyers search online using price brackets. Pricing at $299,900 rather than $305,000 might catch more eyes.

3. Make a Great First Impression

In a market where buyers have choices, curb appeal is crucial. Many Prattville buyers are families looking for a move-in-ready home—peeling paint, an overgrown yard, or outdated fixtures can scare them away.

How to overcome it:

Boost curb appeal: Fresh paint, a power-washed driveway, a mowed lawn, and tidy landscaping work wonders.

Stage key areas: Focus on the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom. Remove clutter and personalize with neutral décor.

Fix obvious issues: Leaky faucets, squeaky doors, and cracked windows should be repaired before showings.

A clean, inviting home helps buyers see themselves living there—and that’s what sells.

4. Market Beyond the MLS

Listing your house on the MLS is just the starting point. In Prattville, word-of-mouth and local connections often matter just as much.

How to overcome it:

Use high-quality photos: Listings with professional photos attract more clicks.

Add a video tour. Virtual walkthroughs are a must for out-of-town buyers, including military families moving to the area.

Promote on social media: Share your listing in local community Facebook groups and neighborhood apps.

Host open houses: Well-advertised open houses can bring in more traffic in a short time.

Good marketing ensures your homes for sale in Prattville, AL, get noticed by the right buyers.

5. Be Prepared for Local Buyer Concerns

Prattville buyers often have practical concerns:

Proximity to good schools.

Commute time to Montgomery or Maxwell AFB.

Insurance costs, especially for older homes.

How to overcome it:

Highlight perks: If your home is near highly rated schools or has easy access to I-65, mention it prominently.

Offer a home warranty: For older homes, a home warranty can reassure buyers about potential repairs.

Provide clear disclosures: Be upfront about the roof’s age, HVAC condition, and any past repairs.

Addressing buyer concerns early helps avoid deal-breaking surprises later.

6. Be Flexible With Showings

Buyers today expect to tour homes on their schedule—not yours. Making your house easy to show is critical.

How to overcome it:

Use a lockbox so agents can show the home even when you’re not there.

Keep it clean daily: A tidy home is always ready for last-minute appointments.

Accommodate evening and weekend showings: that’s when most buyers are free.

A little inconvenience now can lead to a faster sale and a better offer.

7. Handle Offers Like a Pro

When an offer comes in, excitement can quickly turn to stress—especially if there are multiple offers or lowball bids.

How to overcome it:

Review all terms. Price is important, but so are closing dates, contingencies, and financing.

Don’t reject too quickly: If an offer is low, counter with a price you’d accept.

Work with your agent: they’ll help you negotiate smartly and keep emotions in check.

Remember, the goal is not just to accept an offer—it’s to get to the closing table successfully.

8. Be Ready for Appraisal and Inspection Hurdles

Many sales fall apart when the appraisal comes in lower than the agreed price or an inspection reveals major issues.

How to overcome it:

Price wisely upfront: Proper pricing reduces the risk of a low appraisal.

Pre-inspect if needed: For older homes, consider a pre-listing inspection to spot problems early.

Be open to repairs: Minor repairs or credits can keep the deal moving.

A proactive approach prevents surprises and protects your sale.

9. Work With a Local Real Estate Professional

Selling your home on your own might sound tempting, but in Prattville’s close-knit market, a good local agent can make all the difference.

Benefits of hiring local expertise:

They know neighborhood-specific pricing and buyer trends.

They can market to the right local and out-of-town buyers.

They handle negotiations, paperwork, and closing details—saving you stress and time.

A trusted agent is your best ally in maximizing your profit and selling smoothly.

10. Keep Emotions in Check

Selling your home is emotional—but letting feelings cloud your judgment can cost you money.

How to overcome it:

Detach: Treat the sale like a business transaction.

Be realistic: Understand your home’s real market value.

Stay patient: Some deals take time, but smart preparation pays off.

A clear head helps you make better decisions at every step.

11. Highlight Prattville’s Unique Lifestyle

Prattville buyers are often drawn by the city’s small-town charm, community spirit, and easy access to nature and amenities.

How to leverage this:

Mention local highlights: Pratt Park, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, and excellent schools.

Promote community events: seasonal festivals, farmers markets, and family-friendly activities.

Share neighborhood vibes: If your area is walkable or close to shops, say so!

Showing buyers how your home fits into the Prattville lifestyle makes it more irresistible.

12. Don’t Let Your Listing Get Stale

If your home has been on the market for months with no offers, it’s time to act.

How to overcome it:

Reassess the price: Is it still competitive?

Refresh your listing: New photos, updated descriptions, and reposting can attract fresh interest.

Offer incentives: Seller-paid closing costs or a home warranty can tip a buyer’s decision.

Small tweaks often get big results.

Final Thoughts

Selling your home in Prattville doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. With the right pricing, smart marketing, local knowledge, and a proactive approach, you can stand out among other homes for sale in Prattville, AL, attract serious buyers, and close the deal on your terms.

If you’re ready to make your next move, consider partnering with an experienced local agent who understands Prattville inside and out. Their expertise, combined with your preparation, will help you get top dollar and a smooth sale—so you can focus on your next chapter.

[maymax77]

Selling in a Competitive Market: How to Overcome Local Challenges with Homes for Sale in Montgomery, AL

Montgomery, Alabama—known for its historical richness, growing economy, and Southern charm—is also home to a competitive real estate market. Whether you’re relocating, downsizing, or upgrading, selling a home here isn’t always simple. From pricing your property right to navigating buyer expectations, sellers must be strategic and informed to close a successful deal.

This comprehensive guide explores how to overcome common local challenges when listing homes for sale in Montgomery, Alabama, and provides actionable tips to help sellers stand out, attract buyers, and maximize return in this vibrant yet evolving housing market.

1. Understanding the Montgomery Housing Market

The Local Challenge:

Montgomery’s real estate market fluctuates with seasonal demand, employment rates, and economic trends. The city’s diverse neighborhoods—like East Montgomery, Cloverdale, and Midtown—cater to different demographics, which can complicate pricing and marketing.

Solutions:

Analyze Local Data: Monitor median sale prices, average days on market, and inventory levels specific to your neighborhood.

Know Your Buyer Pool: Families may prefer homes near top-rated schools, while young professionals could lean toward walkable, urban areas.

Work with a Local Realtor: Agents familiar with homes for sale in Montgomery, Alabama, can offer insight into buyer preferences, local demand, and micro-market performance.

2. Pricing Competitively Without Undervaluing

The Local Challenge:

Montgomery’s buyers are price-sensitive, and overpricing a home can result in it sitting on the market too long. On the flip side, underpricing may lead to leaving money on the table.

Solutions:

Use a comparative market analysis (CMA): Evaluate what similar homes in your area have recently sold for to set an accurate price.

Price Strategically: Round numbers like $199,000 may psychologically attract more attention than $205,000.

Adjust as Needed: If buyer traffic is low in the first few weeks, be prepared to revise the price based on feedback and market changes.

3. Curb Appeal Still Counts—Big Time

The Local Challenge:

Buyers in Montgomery often form opinions before they walk through the door. A lackluster exterior can turn away serious interest.

Solutions:

Freshen Up the Exterior: Power wash the driveway, paint the front door, and update landscaping.

Pay attention to the roof and gutters: These features are frequently scrutinized in home inspections.

Southern Charm Sells: Add welcoming elements like a porch swing, hanging plants, or tasteful shutters to appeal to regional aesthetics.

4. Stage for Local Buyer Preferences

The Local Challenge:

What works in other markets may not apply to Montgomery. Local buyers typically value traditional layouts, functional kitchens, and space for entertaining.

Solutions:

Neutral Decor Wins: Use soft, neutral tones and minimize clutter.

Highlight Popular Features: Open kitchens, energy-efficient windows, and home offices are strong selling points.

Stage Key Rooms: Focus on the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom for the biggest impact.

5. Marketing Your Listing Effectively Online

The Local Challenge:

With so many homes for sale in Montgomery, Alabama, sellers must compete not just in the local market but also online, where buyers begin their search.

Solutions:

Hire a professional photographer. Great photos can make your listing stand out among hundreds of similar properties.

Craft a Compelling Description: Focus on unique features like smart home upgrades, proximity to Maxwell Air Force Base, or access to the Riverwalk.

Use Multiple Platforms: List your home on Zillow, Realtor.com, Facebook, and local Montgomery groups for maximum visibility.

6. Hosting Open Houses and Private Showings

The Local Challenge:

In-person impressions can make or break a sale in Montgomery’s competitive market. But if showings aren’t handled well, you risk losing buyers.

Solutions:

Stage for Every Showing: Keep the house clean, well-lit, and clutter-free.

Be Flexible with Scheduling: Accommodate potential buyers as much as possible, even on evenings and weekends.

Leave During Showings: Give buyers the space to explore and imagine themselves in your home without pressure.

7. Competing with New Construction

The Local Challenge:

Montgomery has seen a rise in new construction, especially in East Montgomery and Pike Road. These new homes often offer modern designs, energy efficiency, and builder incentives.

Solutions:

Emphasize Value: Highlight the benefits of your home’s location, established landscaping, and lower property taxes.

Upgrade Where it Matters: Small updates like fresh paint, new fixtures, and modern appliances can help your older home compete.

Offer Incentives: Consider offering a home warranty or covering closing costs to give your home an edge.

8. Handling Inspection and Appraisal Issues

The Local Challenge:

Buyers are wary of homes that don’t pass inspections, and appraisals may not always match your selling price—especially in fluctuating markets.

Solutions:

Get a Pre-Listing Inspection: Address issues like HVAC systems, roofing, and plumbing before they scare away buyers.

Provide Maintenance Records: Transparency builds trust and may reassure buyers.

Be Ready to Negotiate: Be flexible and open to repairs or price adjustments when legitimate issues arise during inspections or appraisals.

9. Timing the Market in Montgomery

The Local Challenge:

Spring and early summer are typically hot selling seasons in Montgomery, while winter months can slow down due to holidays and colder weather.

Solutions:

List Strategically: Try to hit the market between March and June for maximum visibility.

Be Prepared for Off-Season Listings: If selling in fall or winter, make your home cozy and bright, and consider slightly more competitive pricing.

Monitor Market Conditions: Interest rates and local employment news can impact buyer activity—stay informed and act accordingly.

10. Navigating Buyer Financing and Offers

The Local Challenge:

Some Montgomery buyers may rely on VA, FHA, or USDA loans, which come with additional requirements that can delay or complicate the closing process.

Solutions:

Vet Buyer Pre-Approvals: Ask for proof of financing and choose offers that are most likely to close without delays.

Work with Experienced Professionals: An agent or attorney who understands local lending challenges can guide you through tricky transactions.

Be Realistic in Negotiations: While it’s tempting to hold out for top dollar, working with motivated, well-qualified buyers is often the smoother path to closing.

11. Building the Right Real Estate Team

The Local Challenge:

Working with an inexperienced or out-of-town agent can cost you time, money, and peace of mind—especially in a market as specific as Montgomery.

Solutions:

Choose a local expert: Hire someone who knows the Montgomery neighborhoods, schools, and pricing nuances.

Read reviews and ask for referrals. Prioritize agents with a track record of success and strong client feedback.

Make Sure They’re a Marketing Pro: The right agent should be tech-savvy, communicative, and proactive in promoting your listing.

12. Preparing Emotionally and Logistically for the Sale

The Local Challenge:

Selling a home—especially a long-term residence—can be emotionally taxing. Emotional attachment can cloud judgment and slow down decisions.

Solutions:

Set Clear Goals: Know what you want from the sale—whether it’s top dollar, a fast closing, or the right buyer.

Create a Moving Plan Early: Reduce stress by lining up your next residence and coordinating moving services in advance.

Treat the Process Like a Business Transaction: Detach emotionally and focus on presenting the home as a valuable product.

Final Thoughts: Stand Out Among Homes for Sale in Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery is a competitive yet rewarding market for home sellers. By understanding local dynamics, preparing your home properly, and implementing smart marketing strategies, you can rise above the competition and achieve a fast, profitable sale.

[jointbaseandrews]

Joint Base Andrews

Joint Base Andrews in Clinton, MD: A Historic Hub of National Defense and Community Strength

Located just outside Washington, D.C., in Clinton, Maryland, Joint Base Andrews is one of the most renowned and strategically important military installations in the United States. Known globally as the home of Air Force One, this base plays a critical role in national defense, executive transportation, and international diplomacy. But beyond its high-profile missions, Joint Base Andrews (JBA) is also a vital part of the Clinton community, contributing to the local economy, offering support services, and embodying a proud tradition of service and sacrifice.

With a rich military history and modern operational capabilities, Joint Base Andrews is not only a cornerstone of U.S. military readiness but also a source of local identity and pride in southern Prince George’s County.

A Legacy of Military Excellence

Established in 1943 as Andrews Field, the base was originally used as a training ground for pilots during World War II. It was later renamed Andrews Air Force Base in honor of Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews, a pioneer in military aviation who died in service. In 2009, as part of a Department of Defense initiative to streamline operations, Andrews merged with Naval Air Facility Washington to become what is now Joint Base Andrews.

Over the decades, JBA has evolved into a multifunctional base that supports not only the United States Air Force but also Army, Navy, and Marine Corps units, as well as other federal agencies. It is home to the 316th Wing, which operates and maintains the base, as well as the Presidential Airlift Group, responsible for the air transportation of the President, Vice President, and other key government officials.

Home of Air Force One

Perhaps the most iconic aspect of Joint Base Andrews is its role as the home of Air Force One. When the President of the United States needs to travel by air, the mission is launched from this very base. Though the designation “Air Force One” refers to any Air Force aircraft carrying the president, the specially outfitted Boeing VC-25 aircraft most commonly associated with this name is permanently housed and maintained here.

Joint Base Andrews is therefore not just a military installation—it’s a symbol of American power and presidential mobility. It’s where foreign dignitaries are welcomed to the United States and where some of the most historic and highly secure flights in modern political history have originated.

While access to this area of the base is restricted to authorized personnel, the impact and prestige associated with hosting Air Force One contribute significantly to the national and international profile of the Clinton community.

Economic and Community Impact

The presence of Joint Base Andrews provides a significant economic boost to Clinton and the surrounding region. The base employs thousands of active-duty personnel, reservists, and civilian workers, many of whom live in nearby communities and contribute to local businesses, schools, and services.

From housing and healthcare to dining and retail, the base drives demand for a wide array of local resources. Contractors, suppliers, and vendors across Maryland benefit from partnerships with the base. This economic synergy fosters growth not only in Clinton but across Prince George’s County.

Additionally, the families of service members stationed at JBA become deeply woven into the fabric of local life. Children attend area schools, spouses participate in local organizations, and many military retirees choose to settle in the region after completing their service. This enduring presence helps strengthen community ties and supports a diverse and dynamic population.

Annual Events and Public Engagement

While Joint Base Andrews is primarily a secure military facility, it does engage with the public through special events and outreach programs. One of the most anticipated events is the Andrews Air Show—a public air demonstration that showcases military aviation, aeronautical technology, and the skill of U.S. armed forces pilots. The event draws thousands of visitors from across the D.C. metropolitan area and features stunning aerial performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and other elite flying teams.

The air show also includes ground displays of aircraft, military vehicles, and exhibits that educate the public about the different branches of the military. These events offer a rare and exciting glimpse into the world of aviation and defense for both children and adults.

Beyond large-scale events, Joint Base Andrews regularly engages with local schools, civic organizations, and charitable causes. Service members often volunteer their time, mentor youth, and participate in community improvement projects. These outreach efforts build trust, respect, and collaboration between the base and the surrounding community.

Education and Support Services

Joint Base Andrews supports military families with a wide range of education, healthcare, and support services that also benefit the local community. The base is home to schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and is located near many top-rated public and private schools in Clinton and Prince George’s County.

Families have access to medical care through base clinics, and mental health services are available to support military members and their dependents. In addition, the base offers recreational facilities, childcare centers, career counseling, and transition assistance for those leaving the service.

These services not only ensure the well-being of military families but also provide opportunities for local residents to engage with and support service members. Educational partnerships and job training initiatives help bridge the gap between the military and civilian sectors.

Strategic Importance in the Nation’s Capital Region

As part of the Washington, D.C. metro area, Joint Base Andrews holds a uniquely strategic geographic location. It is less than 15 miles from the White House, the Pentagon, and Capitol Hill. This proximity makes it an essential asset for rapid deployment, executive transport, and coordination during national emergencies.

The base’s airfield operations support a wide range of missions, including aeromedical evacuations, humanitarian aid deliveries, and military exercises. Its location also allows for quick responses to crises in the Mid-Atlantic region and plays a vital role in homeland security.

Joint Base Andrews is considered one of the most secure and operationally ready installations in the country. Its air defense systems, personnel readiness, and cutting-edge infrastructure are key to supporting both peacetime diplomacy and active military operations.

A Source of Local and National Pride

For residents of Clinton, Joint Base Andrews is more than a military facility—it’s a point of pride and a key part of the community’s identity. The presence of the base reinforces the area’s connection to national service, civic duty, and the core values of the U.S. military.

It is common to see American flags displayed proudly around Clinton, and many local events include tributes to the men and women stationed at the base. Schools, churches, and businesses all contribute to a culture of respect and gratitude toward those who serve.

As the base continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to excellence in mission readiness, community partnership, and national service.

Final Thoughts

Joint Base Andrews stands as a powerful symbol of American strength, leadership, and resilience. Located in the welcoming community of Clinton, Maryland, it serves as both a high-security military hub and a pillar of local life. From the roar of Air Force One to the quiet contributions of military families in local neighborhoods, the base's presence is felt in countless ways.

Whether you're a military enthusiast, a student of history, or simply a resident of Prince George’s County, the story of Joint Base Andrews is one that inspires pride, purpose, and a deeper understanding of the vital role our armed forces play—right here at home.

Please support the business of one of our partners.

3487 Fetchet Dr. JB Andrews, MD 20762, United States

Don't miss this next place.

[khumaerbayas]

Lowell High student receives Air Force JROTC Flight Academy Scholarship

LOWELL — Gabriella Santos, an 11th grade Air Force Junior ROTC cadet at Lowell High School, has received a scholarship to attend an accredited aviation university participating in a private pilot license training program this summer. Cadet Santos is one of 194 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets around the world to receive the scholarship from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base,…

[jpbjazz]

LÉGENDES DU JAZZ

GLENN MILLER, LA SYMPHONIE INACHEVÉE (2e partie)

JAZZ DE GUERRE

Travailleur acharné, Glenn Miller avait toujours livré beaucoup plus que ce qu’on attendait de lui sur le plan professionnel. Miller commençait à peine à savourer son succès lorsqu’il avait surpris tout le monde en décidant de s’enrôler dans l’armée à l’automne 1942, ce qui l’avait contraint à renoncer à un revenu assuré de 20 000 $ par semaine (c’est-à-dire l’équivalent de 330 000$ au cours de 2022) avec son orchestre.

Au début, Miller avait d’abord présenté sa candidature pour un poste dans la Marine, mais son offre avait été rejetée. Comme Miller l’avait expliqué en août, son plus ardent désir était de contribuer au moral des troupes en insufflant ‘’a little more spring into the feet of our marching men and a little more joy into their hearts and to be placed in charge of a modernized army band." Même si à trente-huit ans, Miller était trop vieux pour être mobilisé, il était parvenu à se faire confier la direction d’un orchestre avec le grade de capitaine.

À l’époque, la Marine était aux prises avec un scandale impliquant des célébrités qui s’étaient servies de leur statut pour éviter d’être mobilisées. Même si Miller n’était pas impliqué dans le scandale personnellement, cela avait incité la Marine à ne pas donner suite à sa candidature. Miller avait alors décidé de présenter sa candidature à l’armée de l’air. Lors d’une visite à Washington en mars 1942, Miller avait eu une rencontre avec les officiers du Army Bureau of Public Relations et de l’Army Air Forces. Le 12 août de la même année, Miller avait envoyé une lettre de trois pages au général Charles Young des Army Service Forces, dans laquelle il avait exprimé son intérêt pour la musique militaire moderne ainsi que son “sincere desire to do a real job for the Army that is not actuated by any personal draft problem.’’ Le général Young avait fait parvenir la lettre de Miller au général Brehon Somervell, le commandant des forces armées qui avait approuvé sa candidature. L’armée de l’air avait confirmé la nomination de Miller le 8 septembre 1942. On avait donné à Miller un délai d’un mois pour régler ses affaires avant de se reporter à la USAF.

Miller avait fait ses adieux à la vie civile en tournant un dernier commercial pour les cigarettes Chesterfield le 24 septembre 1942. À la fin de l’émission, Miller avait présenté son successeur Harry James à l’équipe de la série, un geste dont James lui avait toujours été reconnaissant. Le 27 septembre, l’orchestre de Miller avait présenté un dernier concert au Central Theater de Passaic, au New Jersey. Le 7 octobre, Miller s’était rapporté au Seventh Service Command à Omaha comme capitaine du Army Specialist Corps.

Après un entraînement d’un mois à Fort Meade, au Maryland, Miller avait été transféré à l’Army Air Forces (AAF) le 25 novembre 1942 sur ordre du général Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold. Miller avait d’abord été affecté à l’AAF Southeast Flying Training Command de Maxwell Field, en Alabama, comme assistant spécial, ce qui lui avait permis de visiter les différences bases de l’Air Force dans la région et de se familiariser avec son rôle de commandant. À Montgomery, Miller avait aussi fait une apparition sur l’émission du réseau NBC “Army Hour”. Miller avait également participé à une émission de la station de radio WAPI de Birmingham. Dans le cadre de cette émisssion, Miller avait fait une prestation aux côtés des Rhythmaires, un groupe de quinze musiciens. Éventuellement, Miller avait été nommé directeur de l’entraînement des groupes du Technical Training Command.

À partir du 1er janvier 1943, Miller avait été assigné aux quartiers-généraux du AAF Technical Training Command (TTC) à Knollwood Field, en Caroline du Nord. Placé sous l’autorité du général Walter R. Weaver, Miller était devenu directeur de tous les groupes du AAFTTC. Affecté au AAF Training Center à Atlantic City, au New Jersey, Miller supervisait le recrutement du personnel des différentes bases de l’AAF à travers le pays. La première unité de production de l’AAF à Hollywood était commandée par le major Eddie Dunstedter et avait comme directeur musical le sergent-major Felix Slatkin. On avait confié le mandat à Miller de former et de diriger la Second AAF Radio Production Unit and Orchestra, qui enregistrait à partir de New York. L’unité de production de Miller avait officiellement été autorisée le 20 mars 1943 et avait été assignée à l’AAF Training School à l’Université Yale à New Haven, au Connecticut, du milieu de 1943 au milieu de 1944. Après avoir contribué à organiser près ce cinquante groupes musicaux, Miller avait éventuellement été autorisé à créer sa propre formation.

Composé de trente musiciens en février 1944, l’alignement du groupe avait été porté à cinquante au moment du départ de Miller pour l’Angleterre à l’été 1944. En plus des soldats proprement dits, l’orchestre comprenait également des membres de l’ancien groupe de Miller comme l’arrangeur Jerry Gray, ainsi que des vedettes d’autres groupes civils comme Ray McKinley, Peanuts Hucko et Mel Powell. Le groupe comprenait aussi des chanteurs comme Johnny Desmond et l’ensemble vocal The Crew Chiefs.

Après avoir été promu au grade de major, Miller avait commencé à enregistrer pour l’effort de guerre. Il avait même enregistré aux studios Abbey Road bien avant que les Beatles ne contribuent à assurer leur célébrité.

L’orchestre de Miller était une combinaison de musiciens talentueux issus tant du domaine du jazz que de la musique classique. Avec son groupe, Miller était parvenu avec succès à réaliser une sorte de fusion du jazz, de la musique populaire et de la musique classique dite ‘’légère.’’ L’orchestre, qui comprenait également une section de cordes, avait permis à Miller d’aller encore plus loin qu’il l’avait fait jusqu’alors dans la vie civile.

En novembre 1943, Miller avait été libéré de ses responsabilités concernant la gestion des autres groupes, ce qui lui avait permis de se concentrer sur le développement de sa propre formation. Miller désirant obtenir un son d’ensemble, l’improvisation n’était pas tolérée. Miller avait également refusé de donner des permissions aux membres de l’orchestre, car il considérait que ses musiciens avaient la vie plutôt facile comparativement aux soldats qui avaient été envoyés sur le front.

Enregistrant et se produisant à la radio depuis New York, le groupe de Miller avait participé à l’émission “I Sustain the Wings.” Diffusée une fois par semaine, l’émission avait d’abord été radiodiffusée sur le réseau CBS à partir du 5 juin 1943 puis sur le réseau NBC du 18 septembre 1943 au 10 juin 1944. L’AAFTC orchestra dirigé par le sergent-major Harry Bluestone avait pris la relève du groupe de Miller lorsque celui-ci avait été affecté outre-mer. Comme la plupart des formations sous contrat avec l’armée à l’époque, le groupe de Miller avait également enregistré des disques de la Victoire (les célèbres V-Discs) et enregistré des émissions pour l’Office of War Information et l’Armed Forces Radio Service. Parmi ces émissions, on remarquait “Music from America” et “Uncle Sam Presents."

Convaincu qu’il était primordial pour l’orchestre de demeurer à proximité des troupes de combat, Miller avait fait transférer son unité à Londres où celle-ci avait été rebaptisée "American Band of the Allied Expeditionary Force." Durant son séjour au Royaume-Uni, l’orchestre avait livré plus de 800 performances devant environ un million de soldats alliés. Reconnaissant l’importance de l’orchestre pour le moral des troupes, le général Jimmy Doolittle avaiy déclaré à Miller: "Next to a letter from home, Captain Miller, your organization is the greatest morale builder in the ETO (European Theater of Operations)."

En plus de l’orchestre proprement dit, l’AAF Training Command de Miller comprenait un ensemble de cors et clairons et un groupe de jazz dirigé par le sergent Ray McKinley, le populaire batteur et chef d’orchestre. Initialement désigné sous le nom de 418th AAF Band, le groupe de Miller avait été rebaptisé la Second AAF Radio Production Unit le 6 décembre 1943. À l’époque, les fonctions de l’unité avaient été transférées au 708th AAF Band, une unité de musiciens distincte de l’orchestre de la radio. L’ensemble de cors et clairons de Miller s’était particulièrement rendu célèbre par l’utilisation de jeeps sur lequels on avait disposé des batteries et des contrebasses dans le cadre des performances.

Lors de son séjour dans l’armée, Miller avait été impliqué dans une controverse avec des puristes de l’armée qui s’étaient opposés à l’utilisation d’arrangements de jazz comme “The Saint Louis Blues” et “Blues in the Night” de préférence aux marches militaires traditionnelles. Par contre, les soldats avaient plutôt apprécié et l’AAF avait éventuellement tranché le débat en se prononçant en faveur de l’approche moderne de Miller. La tentative de Miller d’incorporer des instrument à cordes dans son groupe avait également été bien accueillie. Éventuellement, Miller avait été blâmé pour des propos qu’il avait tenus dans le cadre d’une entrevue accordée au magazine Time en septembre 1943. Dans le cadre de l’entrevue, Miller avait critiqué le traditionnalisme de la musique militaire de l’époque. On avait également cité des propos de Miller dans lesquels il avait critiqué les marches militaires de Sousa, qui étaient considérées comme une sorte de standards pour les groupes militaires de l’époque. Même si Miller avait protesté en déclarant que ses propos avaient été mal cités, le magazine avait refusé de publier une rétractation.

Le 24 mai 1944, le général Dwight D. Eisenhower avait envoyé un télégramme à Washington afin d’exiger le transfert de l’unité de Miller. Avec l’imminence du débarquement allié en Normandie, les quartiers généraux de l’armée et le corps expéditionnaire allié avaient décidé de centraliser leurs opérations dans le cadre d’un réseau de radiodiffusion commun. Très reconnaissant envers Miller, Eisenhower avait même qualifié son unité de seule organisation ‘’capable of performing the mission required.” Anxieux d’être envoyé outre-mer, Miller avait finalement obtenu la permission en juin 1944 de partir pour l’Angleterre avec son orchestre. L’Army Air Force avait approuvé le déploiement de l’unité de Miller à la condition qu’elle continue de demeurer sous son autorité. Miller et son producteur radio, le sergent Paul Dudley, s’étaient envolés pour Londres le 19 juin. Les membres du groupe avaient suivi par mer et avaient pris place à bord du RMS Queen Elizabeth, qui était utilisé comme transport de troupes.

À son arrivée à Londres, le groupe de Miller avait été d’abord logé à Sloane Court, près de Chelsea. Il s’agissait d’une affectation temporaire, car Miller avait déjà pris des dispositions pour que son unité ait ses quartiers permanents à Bedford. En raison des bombardements croissants de fusées V-1 sur l’Angleterre, la Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionnary Force (SHAEF) avait finalement décidé de loger le groupe à l’endroit où la BBC avait transféré ses activités durant le Blitz de 1940-41. À Bedford, l’unité de Miller avait utilisé les facilités qui avaient été mises en place pour Sir Adrian Boult et la BBC Symphony. Peu avant l’arrivée du groupe à Bedford, Miller avait eu une rencontre avec les officiers de la SHAEF et les dirigeants de la BBC. Parmi ces hommes, on retrouvait le directeur du nouveau Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme (AEFP), Maurice Gorham, le Director of Broadcasting de la SHAEF, le colonel américain Edward Kirby, et le Deputy Director of SHAEF Broadcasting, le lieutenant-colonel britannique David Niven). Ce sont ces hommes qui avaient formé la chaîne de commandement de Miller.

L’orchestre de Miller était rattaché à la SHAEF à Londres, et avait ses quartier généraux à Milton Ernest près de Bedford, en Angleterre. Lorsque le groupe était arrivé à Londres, il avait d’abord été logé aux bureaux de la BBC situés au 25 Sloane Court. Ces bureaux étant situés en plein coeur de "Buzz Bomb Alley", comme on appelait le secteur qui était particulièrement visé par les bombardements de fusées V-1, les membres du groupe parvenaient difficilement à trouver le sommeil. Afin de remédier à cet état de fait, Miller avait ordonné le transport de son unité à Bedford le 2 juillet 1944. Il s’en était fallu de peu, car le lendemain, un V-1 était tombé devant les anciens quartiers du groupe à Londres. L’édifice avait été complètement détruit, provoquant la mort de plus de cent personnes, dont soixante-quinze Américains. Heureusement, aucun des membres du groupe de Miller n’était au nombre des victimes. Comme Miller l’avait déclaré plus tard au lieutenant Don Haynes, "As long as [the Miller Luck] stays with us, we have nothing to worry about." Cependant, Miller n’allait pas tarder à se rendre compte qu’il n’était pas vraiment invulnérable.

Le 9 juillet 1944, l’orchestre de cinquante et un musiciens de Miller et le personnel de production avaient commencé à participer à une série d’émissions supervisées par l’AEFP et la BBC. Parmi ces émissions, on remarquait “The American Band of the AEF’” (avec l’orchestre complet), “Swing Shift” (avec l’orchestre de danse de Ray McKinley), “Uptown Hall” (avec le Mel Powell jazz quartet), “Strings With Wings” (avec l’orchestre à cordes du sergent George Ockner), “Song by Sgt. Johnny Desmond” (avec l’orchestre dirigé par le sergent-major Norman Leyden) et “Piano Parade” (avec les pianistes solistes Jack Rusin et Mel Powell). L’orchestre de Miller avait également fait une apparition dans des émissions de l’Office of War Information. L’American Broadcasting Station in Europe (ABSIE) transmettait ses émissions sur une base quotidienne en Europe et en Allemagne. L’une des premières émissions en langue allemande du réseau était “Music for the Wehrmacht’’, dans laquelle Miller avait fait des annonces en se servant de transcriptions phonétiques en allemand. Une annonceuse de langue allemande surnommée ‘’Isle’’ (qui était en réalité l’annonceuse de l’ABSIE, Gloria Wagner) participait également à l’émission. Le sergent Johnny Desmond avait même chanté en allemand dans le cadre de l’émission.

Durant son séjour en Angleterre, le groupe de Miller avait également fait de nombreuses apparitions dans les bases aériennes américaines. Des vedettes américaines de passage en Angleterre comme Bing Crosby, Irene Manning et Dinah Shore avaient même fait des apparitions sur les émissions de radio de Miller. Shore avait également rejoint Miller dans le cadre d’une session d’enregistrement aux célèbres studios Abbey Road où l’orchestre enregistrait ses émissions en allemand.

L’ensemble du personnel de l’armée appréciait énormément l’orchestre de Miller. Le concert du groupe à l’abbaye de Wycombe (qui abritait les quartiers généraux de la Eighth Air Force), avait été enregistré sur vidéo par l’American Forces Network le 9 juillet 1944. Le général James H. Doolittle, le commandant général de la 8e Air Force, avait exprimé sa satisfaction au sujet des performances du groupe en déclarant: "Captain Miller, next to a letter from home, your band is the greatest morale booster in the European Theater.” Le film est maintenant la propriété des Archives nationales à Washington.

Comme chef d’orchestre, Miller avait plusieurs excellents arrangeurs à son service, dont Jerry Gray (qui avait été arrangeur pour Artie Shaw), Bill Finegan (un ancien arrangeur de Tommy Dorsey), Billy May, Norman Leyden, Ralph Wilkinson, Mel Powell, Steve Stecket et, dans une moindre mesure, George Williams et Vic Schoen. Ce sont ces arrangeurs qui avaient écrit pour Miller des compositions originales comme ‘’String of Pearls" (qui avait été écrit et arrangé par Jerry Gray) ou avaient adapté d’anciens classiques comme "In The Mood" (qui avait été arrangé par ddie Durham) et ‘’Tuxedo Junction’’ (qui a été arrangé par Jerry Gray). En 1943, Miller avait écrit un manuel intitulé Glenn Miller's Method for Orchestral Arranging, un ouvrage qui avait été publié par sa propre maison d’édition, la Mutual Music Society de New York. Le livre d’une longueur de 116 pages comprenait des illustrations et des partitions qui expliquaient comment il écrivait se arrangements.

En novembre 1944, Miller et le Lieutenant-colonel David Niven avaient demandé et obtenu l’autorisation de quitter l’Angleterre pour la France avec l’orchestre. À l’époque, le SHAEF venait d’être relocalisée à Versailles. Il avait alors été décidé qu’un réseau sûr de retransmission devait être mis en place à Paris afin que l’orchestre puisse présenter des concerts dans les hôpitauxet devant les troupes. Le déménagement était prévu pour la mi-décembre. En guise de précaution, l’unité de Miller avait dû pré-enregistrer quatre-vingt heures d’émissions avant d’être relocalisée en France. Le 11 décembre 1944, Niven avait ordonné à Miller de remplacer son officier exécutif, Donald Haynes, et de compléter les arrangements nécessaires pour que le déménagement puisse avoir lieu.

UNE CATASTROPHE ANNONCÉE

Après avoir complété ses pré-enregistrements et ses émissions de radio le 12 décembre 1944, le groupe de Miller s’était préparé à son déménagement en France. À la demande de Niven, Miller avait pris place à bord d’un appareil de passagers de l’Air Transport Command qui faisait la navette entre Londres, Bovington et Paris le 14 décembre. Miller devait initialement s’envoler pour l’aéroport d’Orly le 13 décembre, mais le vol avait été annulé en raison de la mauvaise température qui prévalait en France. Un vol prévu pour le lendemain avait également été annulé. Frustré et de plus en plus impatient, Miller avait commencé à croire que le déménagement ne pourrait avoir lieu au moment prévu. Après avoir téléphoné à Haynes, Miller avait appris que le lieutenant-colonel Norman Baessell du Eighth Air Force Service Command à Milton Ernest s’apprétait à partir pour la France le 15 décembre à bord d’un appareil Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman piloté par le Flight Officer John Stuart Morgan. Baessel avait alors invité Miller à faire partie du voyage.

Les ordres de Miller ne l’autorisant pas à prendre place à bord d’un appareil civil, il n’avait pas dévoilé ses intentions à ses supérieurs, ce qui explique pourquoi la SHAEF s’était trouvée dans le noir complet lors de la disparition de Miller. Même si des avions de combat et des appareils de transport de l’AAF et de RAF s’étaient envolés ce jour-là, la base d’entraînement de la RAF à Twinwood Field, située à Clapham, dans le Bedfordshire, avait été fermée. L’aéroport étant toujours ouvert, Morgan avait atterri à Twinwood à 13h45, avait embarqué Baessell et Miller, avant de redécoller dix minutes plus tard. Le UC-64, un monomoteur de marque Noorduyn Norseman et ses occupants n’avaient plus jamais été revus par la suite. Le lendemain matin, la Bataille des Ardennes commençait.

Le vol ayant été gardé secret, la Eighth Air Force et la SHAE ne s’étaient aperçus de la disparition de Miller que trois jours plus tard, le lundi, 18 décembre 1944. Après avoir réalisé que l’appareil avait disparu avec Miller à son bord, le général Orvil Anderson, le Deputy Commander for Operations of the Eight Air Force, qui avait épousé la cousine de Miller, Maude Miller Anderson, avait ordonné une enquête. Pendant ce temps, l’unité de Miller était arrivée en France à bord de trois appareils C-47 et se préparait à participer à ses premiers concerts et émissions de radio. À l’époque, Paris venait d’être libérée, et Miller devait se produire dans le cadre d’une émission de Noël enregistrée à l’Olympia de Paris. L’émission devant être retransmise aux États-Unis par l’entremise du réseau de micro-ondes, l’annonce de sa disparition ne pouvait être retardée plus longtemps.

Les quartiers généraux de l’AAF à Washington, D.C., avaient informé l’épouse de Miller, Helen, de sa disparition le 23 décembre dans le cadre d’une visite de deux officiers à son domicile ainsi que d’un appel du général H. H. Arnold. Le lendemain 24 décembre à 18h00, la SHAEF avait officiellement annoncé la disparition de Miller à la presse, tout en précisant qu’aucun membre de son unité ne se trouvait avec lui à bord de l’appareil au moment du drame. Miller laissait dans le deuil son épouse Helen et les deux jeunes enfants qu’il avait adoptés. Miller avait seulement quarante ans.

Malgré la mort de Miller, le Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra s’était produit tel que prévu le 25 décembre sous la direction du sergent Jerry Gray. Le groupe avait continué de participer à des émissions de radio et de se produire sur scène à travers l’Europe jusqu’en août 1945 lorsque la capitulation du Japon avait officiellement mis fin à la Seconde Guerre mondiale. L’orchestre avait même été décoré par le général Eisenhower. Après être retourné aux États-Unis, le groupe avait repris son émission “I Sustain the Wings” sur le réseau NBC. Le groupe avait présenté son dernier concert le 13 novembre 1945 lors d’une prestation au National Press Club. Faisaient partie de l’assistance le président Harry Truman ainsi que le premier ministre canadien William Lyon Mackenzie King. Le groupe s’apprêtait à interpréter son grand succès “Moonlight Serenade’’ lorsque le président Truman s’était levé et avait invité les spectateurs à applaudir. Le groupe avait aussi été félicité par le général Eisenhower et le général Arnold. La dernière performance du groupe avait eu lieu le 17 novembre 1945 dans le cadre de l’émission du réseau NBC I Sustain the Wings. L’émission avait été présentée depuis Bolling Field, près de Washington, D.C. Avec la fin de la guerre, l’unité de Miller avait été démobilisée graduellement, et avait cessé officiellement ses activités en janvier 1946.

Lorsque Miller s’était vu décerner la Bronze Star Medal à titre posthume dans le cadre d’une cérémonie tenue à ses anciens bureaux de New York le 23 mars 1945, c’est son épouse Helen qui l’avait acceptée en son nom. On avait aussi rendu hommage à Miller en proclamant officiellement le 5 juin 1945 comme la Journée Glenn Miller.

Lorsque Miller avait officiellement été déclaré mort en décembre 1945, Helen avait reçu une lettre formelle de condoléances du général H. H. Arnold. Lorsque le Major-général Orvil Anderson était rentré d’Europe, il avait visité Helen et l’avait informée des résultats de l’enquête.

Le 20 janvier 1945, une commission d’enquête de la Eighth Air Force en Angleterre avait conclu que l’appareil UC-64 de Miller s’était écrasé dans la Tamise à la suite d’une combinaison d’erreurs humaines, de défectuosités mécaniques et de mauvaises conditions météorologiques. Les résultats de l’enquête avaient été publiés dans le cadre d’une publication de l’armée en 1946. Les restes de l’appareil et de ses passagers n’avaient jamais été retrouvés. En 1985, le plongeur britannique Clive Ward avait repéré les vestiges d’un appareil Noorduyn Norseman au nord de la France, mais l’épave était tellement endommagée qu’elle n’avait pu être identifiée avec certitude. Avrec les années, plusieurs hypothèses avaient été formulées pour expliquer les causes de la tragédie. L’une d’elles prétendait que l’avion de Miller avait été abattu par des bombardiers de la RAF après un raid raté en Allemagne. Les bombardiers, qui auraient été à court de carburant, auraient largué 4000 tonnes de bombes sur un site supposément sûr afin d’alléger leur cargaison. Une autre théorie encore moins crédible reposait sur le témoignage de Fred W. Atkinson, Jr., un vieillard de 75 ans qui avait rapporté en avril 1999, c’est-à-dire cinquante ans après la tragédie, avoir assisté à l’écrasement de l’appareil. Atkinson avait ajouté que certains de ses camarades soldats avaient découvert les vestiges de l’avion ainsi que les dépouilles des victimes. Atkinson avait déclaré: "Our crew also said that the other body definitely was that of Glenn Miller. They said there were identification papers and dogtags that were on his body."

Après la tragédie, le nom de Miller avait été inscrit pour la postérité sur des monuments érigés au Cambridge American Cemetery et au Memorial run by the American Battle Monuments Commission de Cambridge, en Angleterre. Les noms du l’officier de vol John R. S. Morgan et du Lieutenant Colonel Norman Baessell avaient également fait l’objet de leurs propres inscriptions. À l’initiative de la famille Miller et de la Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, une cérémonie de l’US Air Force avait également été organisée au Memorial Run à l’occasion du 50e anniversaire de la mort de Miller et de ses compagnons, le 15 décembre 1994. Une minute de silence avait aussi été observée en l’honneur des victimes au cimetière national d’Arlington, en Virginie. À la demande de la fille de Miller, un monument de marbre a également été érigé dans la section H du cimetière national d’Arlington, en 1992. Un trombone accompagné des mots "Bronze Star Medal" a également été gravé à l’arrière du monument.

Les principaux documents faisant état de la carrière militaire et de la disparition de Miller ont été dévoilés en 2017 dans l’ouvrage “Glenn Miller Declassified” publié par Dennis M. Spragg, le directeur des Glenn Miller Archives. La publication de ces documents avait permis d’étouffer dans l’oeuf toutes les spéculations et les théories de la conspiration qui avaient été formulées à la suite du décès de Miller.

En 2019, on avait rapporté que l’International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) avait enquêté sur une éventuelle découverte de vestiges de l’appareil de Miller à plusieurs miles à l’ouest de sa disparition, mais la rumeur n’avait jamais pu être confirmée. Grâce à la technologie moderne, il sera peut-être possible un jour de repérer les vestiges de l’appareil dans la région s’étendant de Langney Point (Beachy Head) et St. Valery, en France, mais aucun débris n’a encore été découvert à ce jour.

Lors de son séjour dans l’armée, Miller avait remporté plusieurs médailles militaires, dont la Bronze Star Medal, la World War II Victory Medal, l’American Campaign Medal, la European, African and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal et la Marksman Badge with Carbine and Pistol Bars. La remise de la Bronze Star Medal était accompagnée de la citation suivante:

"Major Alton Glenn Miller (Army Serial No. 0505273), Air Corps, United States Army, for meritorious service in connection with military operations as Commander of the Army Air Force Band (Special), from 9 July 1944 to 15 December 1944. Major Miller, through excellent judgment and professional skill, conspicuously blended the abilities of the outstanding musicians, comprising the group, into a harmonious orchestra whose noteworthy contribution to the morale of the armed forces has been little less than sensational. Major Miller constantly sought to increase the services rendered by his organization, and it was through him that the band was ordered to Paris to give this excellent entertainment to as many troops as possible. His superior accomplishments are highly commendable and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States."

POSTÉRITÉ

À la suite de la disparition de Miller, ses descendants avaient autorisé la formation d’un groupe en son honneur, qui serait bientôt connu sous le nom de Glenn Miller Orchestra. Le groupe était dirigé par Tex Beneke, qui avait été saxophoniste ténor et chanteur avec l’orchestre civil de Miller. Disposant d’une configuration analogue au groupe militaire de Miller, le groupe comprenait une importante section de cordes. À l’origine, les deux tiers environ des membres du groupe étaient des anciens des formations civiles et militaires de Miller. L’orchestre avait fait ses débuts officiels au Capitol Theatre de Broadway, où il avait entrepris un contrat de trois semaines le 24 janvier 1946. Le futur compositeur de musique de films Henry Mancini avait été pianiste avec le groupe ainsi qu’un de ses principaux arrangeurs.

Très populaire, le groupe avait énormément d’admirateurs d’un bout à l’autre des États-Unis. Le groupe s’était même produit à quelques reprises au Palladium d’Hollywood en 1947, où le groupe original de Miller avait joué en 1941. Un site web consacré à l’histoire du Palladium écrivait: "[even] as the big band era faded, the Tex Beneke and Glenn Miller Orchestra concert at the Palladium resulted in a record-breaking crowd of 6,750 dancers." Malheureusement, la baisse de popularité des big bands à la fin des années 1940 avait obligé le groupe à abandonner sa section de cordes en 1949. Le "Glenn Miller Orchestra Under the Direction of Tex Beneke" avait finalement changé de nom pour devenir "The Tex Beneke Orchestra". En 1950, Beneke et les héritiers de Miller avaient éventuellement décidé de se séparer. D’autres chefs d’orchestre avaient dirigé le groupe au cours de sa longue histoire, dont Ray Mckinley, Buddy DeFranco, Peanuts Hucko, Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Henderson, Al Porcino et Dick Gerhart.

Très influent, l’orchestre de Miller avait fait plusieurs émules du vivant du compositeur, dont le chef d’orchestre Bob Chester. Au début des années 1950, plusieurs groupes continuaient toujours d’imiter le style de Miller, dont Ralph Flanagan, Jerry Gray et Ray Anthony. À la suite du succès du film The Glenn Miller Story (1953), une adaptation très romancée mettant en vedette l’acteur James Stewart, les héritiers de Miller avaient demandé à Ray McKinley de diriger un nouveau groupe-hommage appelé le Glenn Miller Orchestra. Le groupe existe toujours et continue de faire des tournées à travers les États-Unis. Il est présentement dirigé par Nick Hilscher. Pour sa part, l’héritage militaire du Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra avait été transmis par le groupe Airmen of Note, une formation de la United States Air Force. Principal groupe de jazz de la USAF, l’orchestre est stationné à la base d’ Anacostia-Bolling de Washington, D.C. et constitue un des six groupes musicaux de la USAF. Fondé en 1950 afin de poursuivre la tradition du Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Forces Dance Band, le groupe comprend un total de dix-huit musiciens, dont un vocaliste. Fondé à partir de petits groupes de la Bolling Air Force Base de Washington, D.C., le groupe continue encore aujourd’hui d’interpréter de la musique de jazz à l’intention de la communauté de la USAF et du public en général. L’héritage de Miller est également bien vivant au sein du groupe de la USAF en Europe stationné à la base de Ramstein, en Allemagne. De nos jours, chaque branche des forces armées dispose de son propre big band. Parmi ceux-ci, on remarque The Ambassadors in U.S. Army Air Forces Europe, The U.S. Army Band's Army Blues, the U.S. Army Field Band's Jazz Ambassadors et le U.S. Navy Commodores. La Garde côtière dispose aussi de sa propre organisation musicale qui interprète tous les genres de musique. Le Coast Guard Band et les groupes de l’Université Yale ont d’ailleurs présenté un concert conjoint à l’occasion du 75e anniversaire du décès de Miller. Glenn Miller est considéré de nos jours comme le père de tous les groupes de l’armée américaine.

Plusieurs centres d’archives, musées et monuments ont aussi été établis aux États-Unis et en Europe afin de rendre hommage à Miller. Le frère de Glenn, Herb, a d’ailleurs dirigé son propre groupe aux États-Unis et en Angleterre jusqu’à la fin des années 1980. Des festivals annuels ont également été fondés en hommage à Miller dans les deux villes qui avaient marqué sa jeunesse: Clarinda, en Iowa, et Fort Morgan, au Colorado. Depuis 1975, la Glenn Miller Birthplace Society tient un festival annuel en l’honneur de Miller à Clarinda. Parmi les faits saillants du festival, on remarque des performances du Glenn Miller Orchestra dirigé par Nick Hilscher ainsi que d’autres groupes civils et militaires, des visites à la résidence nouvellement restaurée de la famille Miller (devenue le Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum), des expositions d’archives organisées par l’Université du Colorado, des lectures et des présentations illustrant la vie et la carrière de Miller, et un concours de bourses à l’intention des jeunes musiciens de jazz et de musique classique.

En 1989, la fille de Miller avait racheté la maison natale de Miller à Clarinda. La Glenn Miller Foundation avait été fondée expressément pour superviser la restauration du bâtiment. La maison fait aujourd’hui partie du Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum. À chaque été depuis 1996, la ville de Fort Morgan, au Colorado, tient un événement appelé le Glenn Miller SwingFest. Miller avait complété ses études secondaires au Fort Morgan High School, où il avait joué au football et à d’autres sports, joué avec l’orchestre de l’école et formé son propre groupe avec ses camarades de classe. Parmi les activités tenues dans le cadre de l’événement, on remarque des performances musicales, des soirées de danse, des pique-niques, des lectures et des récoltes de fonds destinées à financer le bourses d’études de la School for the Performing Arts, un programme d’études couvrant des disciplines aussi variées que la danse, la musique et le théâtre. Environ 2000 spectateurs assistent annuellement au festival qui permet de familiariser les jeunes générations avec la musique de Miller ainsi qu’avec les danses et l’habillement typiques de l’époque des big bands. Le International Glenn Miller Festival of Swing, Jazz & Jive est également tenu en août de chaque année à l’aéroport de Twinwood au Royaume-Uni où Miller avait été vu vivant pour la dernière fois.

Les Archives Glenn Miller conservées à l’Université du Colorado à Boulder possèdent plusieurs enregistrements de Miller, des copies de ses disques d’or et d’autres documents inestimables. Les archives sont également accessibles aux chercheurs et au public en général. Fondées par Alan Cass, le Archives possèdent notamment le manuscrit original de la chanson-thème de l’orchestre de Miller, "Moonlight Serenade". En 1957, lorsque le nouvel édifice de l’Association des étudiants avait été érigé à l’Université du Colorado, la salle de danse du bâtiment avait été baptisée le Glenn Miller Ballroom en l’honneur de Miller. En 2002, le Glenn Miller Museum avait ouvert ses portes en Angleterre dans le anciens bâtiments de la RAF à Clapham, dans le Bedfordshire. Un admirateur de Miller appelé Peter Cofrancesco a acheté un site dans le Grove Street Cemetery de New Haven, au Connecticut, et y a fait installer un cénotaphe de granit noir en l’honneur de Miller. Cofrancesco n’avait aucun lien de parenté avec Miller.

Le Service des Postes des États-Unis a émis un timbre en l’honneur de Miller en 1996. Miller s’est également vu accorder une étoile sur le Hollywood Walk of Fame. Les quartiers-généraux de la United States Air Forces in Europe Band à la base de Ramstein, en Allemagne, ont été rebaptisés le Glenn Miller Hall. Le 25 juin 1999, la Nebraska State Highway Commission avait accepté à l’unanimité de renommer la section de la Nebraska Highway 97 entre North Platte, où Miller avait fait ses études élémentaires, et Tryon, où la famille Miller avait vécu pour une brève période, la Glenn Miller Memorial Highway.

Même s’il n’avait jamais remporté de prix Grammy lui-même, trois des enregistrements de Miller, "Chattanooga Choo Choo’’, ‘’In the Mood’’ et “Tuxedo Junction” ont été intronisés à titre posthume au sein du Grammy Hall of Fame, un prix spécial qui avait été établi en 1973 afin d’honorer des enregistrements vieux d’au moins 25 ans et dotés d’une importance historique ou qualitative majeure. En 2003, Miller avait également remporté un Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award pour couronner l’ensemble de sa carrière.

Résumant la contribution de Miller au monde du jazz, le critique Ralph De Toledano écrivait dans la National Review qu’il avait "synthesized all the elements of 'big band' jazz and gave a generation of young people the apotheosis of dance music: smooth, sophisticated, and with a patina of sentimentality.’’ Miller avait également contribué à éliminer certaines barrières raciales en intégrant certains musiciens afro-américains dans son orchestre. Considéré comme un des plus célèbres chefs d’orchestre de l’ère du swing, Glenn Miller avait récolté plus de grands succès que Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford et Harry James réunis. Même s’il avait souvent été dénigré par les critiques et les puristes de jazz, seize des pièces de Miller s’étaient classées au premier rang du Hit Parade. Soixante-neuf autres de ses chansons s’étaient hissées dans les dix premières positions du palmarès. Miller avait réalisé tout cela en à peine trois ans et demi.

Miller avait influencé de nombreux musiciens de jazz au cours de sa carrière, dont Louis Armstrong, qui avait fait transférer ses enregistrements sur des rubans de sept pouces afin de pouvoir les écouter en tournée. Le quintet du pianiste britannique George Shearing avait également été très influencé par Miller. Les chanteurs Frank Sinatra et Mel Tormé avaient aussi énormément d’admiration pour l’orchestre de Miller. Tormé avait même déclaré que Miller lui avait donné de précieux conseils lorsqu’il avait commencé sa carrière de chanteur et de parolier dans les années 1940. Dans une entrevue accorde à l’écrivain George T. Simon en 1948, Sinatra avait déploré la faible qualité de la musique qu’il avait enregistrée à la fin des années 1940 comparativement à "those great Glenn Miller things". Plusieurs sessions d’enregistrement de Sinatra de la fin des années 1940 et du début des années 1950 mettaient d’ailleurs en vedette d’anciens membres de l’orchestre de Miller. Le clarinettiste Buddy DeFranco, qui avait dirigé un groupe en hommage à Miller à la fin des années 1960 et au début des années 1970, avait également louangé certains aspects du style musical de Miller. DeFranco avait déclaré: "I found that when I opened with 'Moonlight Serenade', I could see men and women weeping as the music carried them back to years gone by." 

 ©-2024, tous droits réservés, Les Productions de l’Imaginaire historique