The Wives of Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp

By Terry McGahey
Associate Writer/ Old West Historian

After my article on Nellie Cashman, I have decided to do a short series about women who lived in the Old West.

Louisa Houston Earp, who was married to Morgan Earp in Montana sometime between 1871 and 1877, was born on January 24th, 1855, in Wisconsin and was supposedly the granddaughter of Sam Houston of Texas fame. Before Lou, as she was known, met Morgan, she and her sister Kate were both Harvey girls.

Fred Harvey opened a chain of hotels and restaurants along the railroad lines, which became known as Harvey Houses. In order to become a "Harvey Girl," the women had to have at least an 8th-grade education, good moral character, good manners, and be neat as well as articulate. Not only did Louisa have all of those qualities about her, but she was also a very pretty woman who didn't hurt either.

Just as always, Hollywood rarely gets anything correct. In the movie Tombstone, Louisa Earp went to Morgan's side in Hatches saloon after he was shot and killed. In reality, Louisa was staying with Morgan Earp's mother and father in Colton, California, at the time Morgan was killed. He felt that she would be safer with his folks than being in Tombstone.

After Morgan's death, Louisa stayed in Southern California, where, in 1885, she re-married a longshoreman in Long Beach by the name of Gustav Peters. This marriage only lasted about four years because Louisa died on June 12th, 1894, of Nephritis and Diarrhea.

Nephritis is a medical term for inflamed kidneys, and if not treated, it leads to complete kidney failure. It was said about Lou by people who knew her that Morgan was the true love of her life and that she actually died of a broken heart -- if one can believe that.

Celia Ann "Mattie" Blaylock, Wyatt Earp's common-law wife, was born in January of 1850 in Monroe Township, Johnson County, Iowa, not far from Fairfax, Iowa. Being raised on her very strict parents' farm, Celia or Celie, as she was known by her nickname, wanted nothing to do with farm life, and with her younger sister, Sarah ran away in 1868.

It's not known how the two survived during that time, but both were excellent seamstresses and could have made their living at that trade. At some point within a year, Sarah decided that it was too hard trying to survive on her own and went home to her parents.

It was sometime after her sister left that Celia chose the alias of "Mattie." This was most likely to conceal her real name and identity.

The first known record of Mattie was of a picture taken in Fort Scott in 1871, and court records show she had adopted prostitution as her profession in 1872. Mattie met Wyatt Earp in Fort Scott and again later in Dodge City somewhere between 1871 and 1873.

During Wyatt and Mattie's early time together, she continued plying her trade as a prostitute. In the 1878 United States Census, she was listed as Wyatt's wife but no record of a legal marriage between the two ever existed.

Mattie became afflicted with severe headaches, which today would be known as migraines. And by the time she and Wyatt arrived in Tombstone, Mattie was addicted to Laudanum, which was a very strong opiate pain killer of that time period.

Following the murder of Morgan Earp in March of 1882, Wyatt, along with his youngest brother Warren as well as other posse members, began their vendetta ride searching out Morgan's killers. Mattie left Tombstone with the other Earp family members and headed to Colton, California, to the home of their parents.

Mattie waited to hear from Wyatt, but she never did. Basically, Wyatt had abandoned her with his folks, and after the vendetta ride ended, he headed into New Mexico and on to Colorado while all the time planning to head up to San Francisco to be with Josephine Marcus.

Mattie left Colton and went to Pinal City, Arizona, where she had planned once again to ply her trade of prostitution, but when she arrived, the silver boom town had mostly played out, and the bulk of the population had moved on, making it hard for her to make a living.

Mattie died of a lethal dose of Laudanum mixed with alcohol on July 3rd, 1888. Her death was ruled a suicide, but it is possible that it was an accidental overdose because no suicide note was found. If Mattie would have wanted Wyatt to feel guilty for her death like the movie Tombstone presented, she would have defiantly left a suicide note.

Josephine Sara Marcus, Wyatt Earp's last common-law wife, was born in 1860 in New York, but the family moved shortly afterward to San Francisco, California, in 1868. Josephine attended dance school somewhere between the ages of 7 or 8 and decided to run away from home around the age of 14.

Records show that she may have reached Prescott, Arizona Territory, as early as 1874 as well as Tip Top, Arizona Territory, that same year under the name of Sadie Mansfield, working as a prostitute in the area from 1874 to 1876. She became ill and returned home to San Francisco, possibly in 1876.

Josephine's life is very sketchy between the years of 1874 to 1880, but the records of Tombstone, later on, had also shown the name of Sadie Mansfield, and the two were very similar in many ways, making it a high probability that Sadie and Josephine were one and the same.

Josie, as she was known, joined the Pauline Markham Theater Company around the age of 19 in 1879. And while in the Arizona Territory, she fell in love with Johnnie Behan, who was the Cochise County Sheriff. He resided in Tombstone.

Behan had promised to marry her, but he never did, so she became known as his common-law wife. Sometime between 1880 and 1881, Josie left Behan for Wyatt Earp even though Wyatt was still with Mattie, his common-law wife.

After the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Josie returned to San Francisco in 1882, where she was met by Wyatt in the fall of that same year. Wyatt and Josie stayed together until Wyatt's death in 1929. They were together for 46 years.

Once again, Hollywood gets it wrong in the movie Tombstone. In the movie, Josie came to Tombstone with an entertainment troupe and put on a show at the Birdcage Theater. This is not possible because the Birdcage Theater did not open until December 26th, 1881, two months after the gunfight at the OK Corral had taken place.

Alvira "Allie" Packingham Sullivan Earp, or Allie as she was known, was born to John and Mary Louise Sullivan on January 1st, 1849, in Florence, Nebraska Territory, which is now part of Omaha. She was the middle child of nine children.

The Sullivan family witnessed the Mormon Migration while living in Florence at the same time Brigham Young was there.

The family moved to Omaha just before Allie's father went off to fight in the Civil War in 1861, and shortly after that, her mother died. Allie's father, John Sullivan, could not be reached, so Allie and her siblings were divided up among various families in Omaha. Allie lived with the McGath family, where she was treated as nothing more than an indentured servant, so she ran away living with various other families in the area.

In 1873, Allie was working as a waitress in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she met Virgil Earp. From there, in 1879, the couple traveled to Prescott, Arizona Territory, where Virgil was appointed Deputy United States Marshal on November 27th, 1879. And after only one month, they went to Tombstone.

In retaliation for the O.K. Corral shootout, Virgil was badly wounded on December 28th, 1882, losing the use of his left arm, with Allie staying by his side almost constantly. After Morgan Earp was murdered by an ambush on March 18th, 1882, Allie, along with the rest of the Earp family, escorted Morgan's body, departing Tucson on March 20th, only two days after Morgan's death, to the home of the Earp seniors in Colton, California.

Allie was with Virgil as he became a peace officer in Colton, and up until the time he became the city marshal in Gold Field, Nevada, where he contracted pneumonia and died in 1905. Allie Passed away on her birthday, January 1st, 1947, at the ripe old age of 98 years.

We all know the story of the Earp brothers while they were in Tombstone, but the story of their wives is just as interesting but in a different way. These women lived a hard life even before meeting the Earp brothers and lived a hard, heartbreaking life after becoming the wives of these men.

In this day and age, we can't even imagine the hardships of the women who did whatever it took just to survive back then. Make no mistake, the majority of western women during that time period were a hardy lot.

About the author:

Terry McGahey is a writer and Old West historian.

This once working cowboy is best known for his fight against the City of Tombstone and their historic City Ordinance Number 9, America's most famous gun-control law.

He was instrumental in finally getting Tombstone City Ordinance Number 9 repealed and having Tombstone fall in line with the state of Arizona.

If you care to read how he fought Tombstone's City Hall and won, please click:

The Last Gun Fight -- The Death of Ordinance Number 9 (Chapter One)

By Voting -- I Protested

If you know a Clinton supporter who is rioting, burning cars and buildings, or attacking law enforcement officers, please explain to them that We The People have had our protest -- and we won!

It's true! As part of We The People, I protested recently. In fact, a great number of us protested. It was such a protest that many are now calling it a revolution. And fact is, they are right! It was a revolution to make America great again. And yes, we won!

What was I protesting against? 

Well, I protested against Obama and his ilk, Obama's executive orders, ObamaCare, the Clinton political machine, over-regulation, over-taxation, Socialism, Communism, government over-reach, the lies and the fraud and the waste and more.

I protested against Democrats and RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) who consistently attack our sacred Bill of Rights, especially the 2nd Amendment which grants us the right to self-protection. I protested against our Federal government bowing to the will of the United Nations. I protested against United Nations Agenda 21 and the corruption in the UN which supports attacks on Israel.

I protested against Obama looking the American people in the eye time and time again and knowingly lying to us about everything under the sun. Including, how he lied to the American people about why 4 Americans were allowed to die in Benghazi, Libya, and Hillary Clinton's role in allowing those Americans to die when U.S. Marines were only an hour away.

Yes indeed, I protested against the blatant abuse of power by Obama and this administration, their continuous criminal conduct. I protested against the double-standard taking place in America these days, the fact that we don't need a two-tier justice system where the rich and politically connected don't have to answer for their unethical conduct while average Americans are harassed and harangued by the government for crimes not committed.

I protested against a government which fines and imprisons men and women in our military for doing far less than what presidential candidate Hillary Clinton admitted to doing. And yes, I protested against a government run by the Democrat Party. A government where the Democrat Party tells our so-called representatives how to govern. A government which failed to listen to the people and only acts in its own self interest and above the rule of law.

And yes, I protested against the Liberal Mainstream Media. I protested against their nonexistent integrity, no impartiality, their pure partisanship and hate for Conservatives.

Yes, I protested against CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and taxpayer funded NPR,all which have been shown to be controlled by the Democrat Party. All just a giant propaganda machine a hundred times larger than Pravda which was the official news agency of the Soviet Union's Communist Party.

I protested against the evils of Political Correctness, Liberal indoctrination in our schools, Leftist teachers, government attacks on Christmas, and their fervent persecution of Christians.

I protested against not allowing Christian prayer in schools, yet allowing Muslim religious rites to be taught in schools. I protested against a government which attacks Christian bakers for not baking a cake for someone who violates their belief, yet allowing Muslims to refuse to bake a cake for a Jew.

Yes, I protested against the double standard that persecutes the rites and practices, the age old traditions of Christians, a religion that makes up over 80% of the American population, while giving preference to Muslims which make up less than 1% of our population.

I protested against allowing Syrian Muslims into the United States when they have absolutely no desire to assimilate or adhere to the Constitution of the United States. Time and time again, Muslim religious leaders have come forth to say they will not live under our Constitution. Their reasoning is that the Koran, and Sharia Laws, supersedes, yes trumps, our Constitution.

I protested against this and the fact that they want to come here with violent intentions. Violent intentions such as the killing of gays and those who refuse to convert to Islam. I protested against Democrats and RINO (Republicans In Name Only) who see the Muslim threat as exaggerated and want more Muslims to be allowed in.

I protested against the IRS using their power to audit political opponents, and I protested the EPA acting as a dictatorial agency putting businesses out of business. I protested against the Climate Change hoax, the contamination of rivers by the very people who fine and imprison others for doing far less, and the killing of an innocent rancher protesting in Oregon.

I protested against a government that uses unreasonable regulations and restriction to attack ranchers and farmers, and manufacturers, yet allows produce and meats and other goods to come into our nation from nations that uses banned pesticides and human waste as fertilizer. Yes, nations that use slave labor and political prisoners to manufacture goods to be sold here.

What? You didn't see me on a street threatening to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump? You didn't see me beat and kill supporters of Donald Trump? You didn't see me do the things that many Clinton protesters are doing?

There is a reason that you didn't see my mugshot on the news. I protested by voting for Donald Trump and the Republican Party. I protest by standing in line and filling out a ballot. I protested by making my voice heard in the way that American protests should take place.

No, I did not go out into the streets and burn cars and attack law enforcement officers. The irony of course is that those who are doing that, are actually burning and looting in Blue cities and counties.

Yes, they are actually protesting and attacking others who voted for Hillary Clinton and the Democrat Party. But of course, besides Blue folks rioting and attacking people in Blue cities and counties, there is another irony to all of the anti-Trump protests going on.

Unlike me and the millions who voted our protest, and in fact achieved our goal of putting Donald Trump in the White House, it has been reported that the vast majority of anti-Trump protesters, yes those ignorant vile individuals who hate all for the sack of hating, actually didn't bother getting off their lead asses and vote for the person that are supposedly so passionate about now. 

While they should have voted to make their voices heard as adults exercising their right to choose our new leader, the vile bastards that are now protesting -- are now doing so like children. Yes, the Democrat protesters out there right now are nothing more than whiny out of control children no different than those brats everyone has seen in grocery stores. They throw themselves on the floor and have a temper tantrum because they can't get their way.

And yes, the last bit of irony is that they are throwing a tantrum and angry at the results which they helped creating by not voting. Fact is, if they want to be angry at something, instead of being angry at our election system, they should be angry at each other for not voting.

Friends, if you want to try to educate them, forget it. Many of these petulant children are ultra-Liberal University students. And because they are who they are, and since they are being lectured by professors who hate America while reaping the rewards of living in America, these students think they know it all.

Subsequently, they can't be helped because they will never understand how my protest achieved something or value while their's will not.

And yes, that's just the way I see it.

Tom Correa

William Mason -- Unknown Genius, Gunsmith, Inventor

Dear Friends,

Every once in a while, I'll find someone who really needs to be talked about. And as my regular readers already know, I talk a lot about the real Old West and those who have contributed significantly to our history. And yes, as most of you know, I like talking about people who are not very well known. Yes, the unsung heroes, lawmen, great inventors, the pioneers who have taken a back seat to the more glamorized individuals made famous in Dime Novels, and later Hollywood.

As for great American gunsmiths and inventors, most folks know the story behind the partnership of Smith & Wesson and the genius of John Moses Browning. And of course, most know about Samuel Colt and how, in 1836, he patented the first revolver mechanism that led to the widespread use of revolvers.

Most know the story about how Colt came up with the idea for the revolver while at sea. Most know how he was inspired by the capstan, which had a ratchet and pawl mechanism on it, a version of which was used in his guns to rotate the cylinder. And of course, we know of his great design which is the 1873 Colt Single Action Army.

But wait, Samuel Colt died on January 10th, 1862. So how did he invent the 1873 Colt Peacemaker? Well, he didn't. That distinction goes to the man that I want to talk about here. Yes, the man that I'm about to talk about actually created some of the most iconic guns and firearm innovations in the history of firearms. Yet very sadly, he's almost completely unknown.

His name is William Mason, and he was born on January 30th, 1837, in Oswego, New York. He died on July 17th, 1913, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Yes, he died at 76 years of age. And by the way, he was still involved in making guns when he passed on.

So who was William Mason, you ask?

Well, he was a pattern-maker, a mechanical engineer, in fact one of the founding members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He was a gunsmith, a gun designer, a machinist. He was an inventor who worked for Remington Arms, Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, and Winchester Repeating Arms Company throughout the mid to late 1800s and the very early days of the 20th century.

While some say he started out with Colt, he actually started our his career as a gunsmith and inventor as an apprentice pattern-maker with Remington Arms. It was there that he started working in the gun business. And yes, it was there that he made a name for himself in the firearms industry.

The Swing-Out Cylinder

While at Remington Arms, he received U.S. patent 51,117 on November 21st, 1865. This was the patent for a swing-out cylinder used today for easy loading, and the star ejector mechanism to eject spent cartridge cases in revolvers.

As most of us know, the most modern method of loading and unloading a revolver is using the swing-out cylinder. So if you've ever wondered who designed and patented the swing-out cylinder and the star ejector mechanism that we all use to eject spent cartridge cases from modern revolvers, that inventor was William Mason.

In 1866, he left Remington Arms to work for Colt as the Superintendent of their armory. As I stated before. Samuel Colt died on January 10th, 1862. So yes, it had been over four years by the time William Mason went to work for Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. And with his talents and genius, Colt Manufacturing Company would reap the rewards of hiring William Mason.

In fact, among other great innovations, because of William Mason, Colt Manufacturing Company would be the first firearms manufacturer to produce a revolver with a swing-out cylinder. That pistol was the 1889 Colt which we will talk about later.

The Richards-Mason Conversion

It's said that because Colt was legally bound by the Rollin White patent #12,648 of April 3, 1855, and not wanting to pay a royalty fee to Smith & Wesson, Colt could not begin development of bored-through revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use until April 4, 1869. But once the Rollin White patent expired, along with gunsmith Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, William Mason patented designs to convert percussion revolvers into rear-loading metallic cartridge revolvers. Those converted revolvers are identified as the "Richards-Mason conversion".

While an early form of centerfire ammunition, without a percussion cap, was invented between 1808 and 1812 by Jean Samuel Pauly. The first fully integrated centerfire ammunition was invented by the Frenchman Clement Pottet in 1829. However, Pottet would not perfect his design until 1855.

The conversion of percussion revolvers to fire self-contained metallic cartridges was taking place before the Civil War 1861 to 1865. Then, because troops discovered the advantages of the cartridge over loose powder and ball or paper cartridges, the development of centerfire ammunition really took off after the war.

At the time the concept of a metallic cartridge became widely accepted simply because of their reliability in all types of weather, they could be carried without having to worry about the integrity of the cartridge, and of course the ease and speed of reloading compared to loose powder, loose balls, and paper cartridges. 

In the early days of westward expansion, you needed your pistol or rifle or shotgun to fire when you needed it to fire. Many a pioneer reported damp powder, and hard to find balls. And yes, paper cartridges were fragile and rough handling left you with a ball and powder in the bottom of your cartridge box!

Early Colt conversions were based on the patent by Elisha Root. These conversions, while a marvel in engineering, were not very reliable or popular and the metallic cartridge was loaded into the front of the cylinder in much the same manner as the older percussion revolvers the conversions were based on.

In 1871, Richards was given a patent for converting the popular Colt 1860 Army revolver to fire metallic cartridges. Richards' patent used a rimmed metallic cartridge that loaded into the rear of the cylinder. It was William Mason who was given a patent for his conversion of the Colt revolver that was simpler than the Richards' patent.

After working on these conversions, Mason began work on Colt's first metallic cartridge revolvers in 1871. The Colt Model 1871-72 "Open Top" revolver was the third such pistol, following the .41 caliber House Pistol and the .22 caliber seven-shot Open Top. 

The Open Top .44 was a completely new design and the parts would not interchange with the older percussion pistols. Mason moved the rear sight to the rear of the barrel as opposed to the hammer or the breechblock of the earlier efforts.

The caliber was .44 Henry and it was submitted to the US Army for testing in 1872. The Army rejected the pistol. But they stated that they would accept a resubmitted pistol with a more powerful caliber in a stronger frame. 

The 1873 Colt Single Action Army  

For the redesign of what would become the 1873 Colt Single Action Army, Colt turned to its best two engineers -- William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards. Colt knew both had made valuable contributions to the company by developing a number of revolvers and black powder conversions.

Tasked with the demand for more knockdown power and a more robust frame, Charles Richards worked on a new cartridge while William Mason redesigned the frame to incorporate a top strap, which was already in use by Remington and other gun makers on their revolvers. Mason also placed the rear sight on the rear of the frame.

While the first prototype was chambered in .44 rimfire, the revised version utilized the newly designed caliber known as the .45 Colt. At the time, the .45 Colt cartridge was, as it is today, a centerfire design. But the original .45 Colt cartridge contained charges of up to 40 grains of black powder and a 255-grain blunt round-nosed bullet.  Yes, there you have the knockdown power which has become legendary.

The result of Mason and Richards' work was a revolver that was chosen by the Army in 1872. The first order was shipped in the summer of 1873. The first order was for 8000 revolvers. Yes, with that, the legendary 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver, also known as the Colt Peacemaker, was born. 

Also referred to as the "New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol," production began in 1873 with the very first Single Action Army revolvers.

As for a bit of trivia, though thought lost after its production, 1873 Colt Single Action Army with the Serial Number 1 was found in a barn in Nashua, New Hampshire in the early 1900s. And though the Colt Colt Single Action Army has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths over the years, the pistol with Serial Number 1 was chambered in .45 Colt.

The Colt Single Action Army revolver, along with the 1870 and 1875 Smith & Wesson Model 3 "Schofield" revolver, replaced the Colt 1860 Army Percussion revolver. While it's said that the Colt quickly gained favor over the S&W and remained the primary US military sidearm until 1892, that was due to the anemic round of the S7W Model 3. Fact is, those issued the Model 3 preferred the loading and unloading of the Model 3 over the Colt Single Action Army.

Combining the Single Action Army with the potent knockdown power of the .45 Colt, and it is no wonder that 12,500 Colt Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge had been sold by the end of 1874.

Colt's 1874 "The New Line"

After the success of the Colt Single Action Army and Colt's conversion of existing percussion revolvers to Richards-Mason conversions, William Mason went on to design Colt's smallest revolvers "The New Line" in 1874. 

"The New Line" of 1874

There were 5 variants of Colt's smallest revolver "The New Line" of 1874, each differed in size and caliber, but all using a breechblock designed by Mason. And yes, to answer the question if this was Colt's attempt to get into the pocket pistol business dominated by Smith & Wesson and others? Yes it was. 

Colt 1877 "Lightning"

While it is said that Colt had first developed the concept of a "double-action" revolver as early as 1857 and a patent was filed, it was never built by Colt. Fact is, double-action revolvers were being made in Europe for many years before Colt patented his concept of a double-action. 

Some want to give credit to British gun maker Robert Adams for his 1851 double-action design. Robert Adams, who was a manager for a London based gun manufacturer called George & John Deane, invented a revolver where pulling the trigger cocked the hammer, rotated the chamber and then released the hammer, all with a single trigger pull. His double-action pistol was a cap-and-ball percussion revolver.

While percussion caps were developed in the 1820s, pinfire metallic cartridges were invented by French gun maker Casimir Lefaucheux in the 1830s. And while I hate disputing history books, I was recently introduced to a double-action revolver that pre-dates the 1851 Adams double-action pistol. 

It is a Schilling double-action revolver. The double-action pistol was designed by Prussian gun maker Valentin Christian Schilling. It was a pinfire manufactured in 1849 in Suhl, Prussia. Yes, there were double-action revolvers as early as 1849. 

As for Colt, by the mid-1870s, they were feeling increased competition from their British rival, Webley & Scott. So Colt had Mason design a double-action revolver for them in 1877. 

Colt 1877 Lightning

That pistol became the Colt M1877 double-action pistol. The Colt M1877 was manufactured by Colt's Patent Fire Arms from January 1877 to 1909 for a total of 166,849 revolvers. The Model 1877 was offered in three calibers, which lent them three unofficial names, the "Colt Lightning", the ""Colt Thunderer", and the "Colt Rainmaker". 

The biggest difference between the models was the caliber of the cartridge which they were chambered for. The "Lightning" was chambered in .38 Long Colt. The ""Colt Thunderer" was chambered in .41 Colt. Both models had a six-round capacity. The "Rainmaker" was offered in .32 Colt.

So yes, the M1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the M1873 Colt Single Action Army, William Mason. It was Colt's first attempt at manufacturing a double-action revolver. While the Model 1877 was not the first double-action revolver made, it was the first successful American-made double-action cartridge revolver.

Following this, William Mason again teamed up with Richards to produce a larger framed version of the Colt Lightning, the Colt Model 1878 Frontier. And while some may think he only worked on revolvers, he is also responsible for designing a hammerless double-barrel shotgun for Colt.

Colt's hammerless double-barrel shotgun

In fact, Colt introduced a hammerless double-barrel shotgun designed by William Mason, and covered by a number of his patents in 1881 and 1882. Besides the internal hammers, his design also incorporated double triggers and a sliding thumb safety on the tang. His design can be found in the Colt Model 1883 double hammerless shotguns. And yes, the Model 1883 Shotgun was one of Colt's finest products and was produced.

Below is a Colt advertisement introducing their hammerless double.

The 1889 Colt 

William Mason's final design for Colt was the Colt Model 1889. Even though Mason left Colt in 1882, his collaboration with Carl J. Ehbets for a revolver with a swing-out cylinder ended up with the M1889 being produced 7 years after Mason left Colt to go to work for Winchester.

Winchester Model 1886 rifle

When Mason went to work for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1882. And while he was originally hired to design a revolver to compete with Colt's revolvers, Mason eventually made working prototypes of many of John Moses Browning's designs.

The Winchester Model 1886 was a lever-action rifle designed by John Browning to handle some of the more powerful cartridges of the period. William Mason was assigned to the Model 1886 and is said that he contributed to it by making some improvements to Browning's original design.

A year earlier, in 1885, he became the Master Mechanic at Winchester and held that position until his death in 1913. 

William Mason was an inaugural member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. And while we celebrate American gun makers like Colt and Browning, Smith & Wesson, throughout his life, William Mason patented 125 inventions for firearms, ammunition, firearm manufacturing machinery, steam pumps, and power looms.

Winchester historian Mary Jo Ignoffo called William Mason, "one of the most significant designers of the nineteenth century". Yet sadly, he is largely unknown for his contribution to America's firearms industry. For his lifetime of work, for his 125 inventions, for giving to America some of our nation's most iconic firearms, I salute him! 

Tom Correa

The Evil Hillary Clinton

49 abominable facts about Hillary the media won't tell you 

By Jen Kuznicki

September 03, 2016

If you listen to the news, the only real reporting being done about Hillary Clinton has to do with her email scandal. Even though she violated the Espionage Act, the FBI refused to prosecute. Her family’s foundation is under heavy scrutiny. But did you know these other important points about Hillary’s life-long run to the White House?

Saul Alinsky

• During her college years at Wellesley, Hillary Clinton formed her political ideology as a close friend and confidant of Saul Alinsky, the Marxist firebrand who resurrected the “Communist Manifesto” and urged young liberals to agitate and create unrest to establish communist ends.
• Hillary Clinton’s senior thesis at Wellesley College was locked at her husband’s request during his time as president. The 92-page thesis was about Alinsky, with whom Clinton shared a mentor/apprentice relationship.
• According to NBCNews, David Brock called Hillary “Alinsky’s daughter” in his 1996 biography, “The Seduction of Hillary Rodham.”
• Hillary Clinton wrote in her thesis, “Much of what Alinsky professes does not sound ‘radical.’” This, coming from the man who dedicated his book, “Rules for Radicals” to Lucifer, “the first radical.”
• To read a more in depth article about Hillary and Saul Alinsky, read, “Alinsky’s Daughter: Here’s the truth about Hillary the media won’t tell you.”

Leftist Law Firm

• After college, Hillary searched for a leftist “movement” law firm and secured a spot at Treuhaft, Walker and Burnstein.
• Treuhaft was a former Communist Party member who defended the Black Panthers and other radical leftist groups.
• Walker was an avowed Communist until the day she died, and was notorious for successfully defending Angie Davis, a California Communist, on conspiracy murder charges. Davis purchased two firearms two days prior to an armed takeover of a county courthouse. While governor, Ronald Reagan barred Davis from teaching at any California University because of her militant communist beliefs. Walker made a living defending Communists against the Smith Act.
• Burnstein was a defender of leftist radical protesters, taking the side of the Communists in Vietnam.
• Hillary claimed to work on a child custody case only at the radical firm, but others recall differently. “We did a lot of conscientious-objector work,” during the Vietnam War.
• Why did Hillary go to Treuhaft, Walker, and Burnstein? Carl Bernstein quoted Treuhaft as saying, "The reason she came to us, the only reason I could think of because none of us knew her, was because we were a so-called Movement law firm at the time.

Israel

• As a college student, Hillary embraced the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and admired its leader Yassar Arafat, once defending him as a “‘freedom fighter’ trying to free his people from their Israeli ‘oppressors.’”
• In her run for senator from New York, Hillary claimed she had Jewish roots by bringing up her grandmother’s remarriage to a Jewish man.
• In reaction to seeing a menorah in a friend’s home, Hillary wouldn’t get out of her car, and friends heard Bill explain, "I'm sorry, but Hillary's really tight with the people in the PLO in New York. They're friends of hers, and she just doesn't feel right about the menorah."

Whitewater Scandal

• As partners in the Rose Law Firm, Hillary, Bill, and Jim and Susan McDougal participated in a pyramid scheme that used fraudulent real estate loans involving inflated appraisals to circumvent federal law. By the time the FBI investigated, every single person involved was indicted or destroyed except Bill and Hillary. Power Line reported in March 2015:

Clinton, working with Webster Hubbell and Vince Foster, stole hard copies of the billing records of the Rose law firm where they were partners. They erased the electronic version of these records. One set of these documents was later found in the White House, just outside Hillary’s private office, by an employee. Another set was found in Foster’s attic by his widow, some years after he committed suicide. Clinton’s time sheets (handwritten, as was the practice back in the day) were never found.

Fighting for Women

• While an attorney in Arkansas, Hillary defended a child rapist, knew he was guilty, but impugned the character of the 12 year old victim anyway, which would send the now-52 year old woman on a path to a life of drugs and crime. Hillary claimed the girl actively sought out “older men,” and had a reputation as a liar. In an interview, Hillary talked about having the rapist take a lie detector test, which he passed, and laughing, Hillary said, “Which forever destroyed my faith in polygraphs.”
• Hillary successfully defended a 300 lb man who obviously beat his girlfriend, and got the case thrown out on a technicality.
• Juanita Broaddrick claimed she was raped by Bill Clinton, Paula Jones won a $850,000 settlement when she accused Bill of sexual harassment, and Kathleen Willey accused Bill of sexual assault. In each of these cases, and many more, Hillary hired private detectives to dig up dirt on Bill’s accusers in order to destroy their stories, and keep Bill on his path to the White House, as told by biographer Carl Bernstein, former aide George Stephanopoulous, and former Clinton aide Dick Morris.

Black Lives Matter

• Hillary has said that white people have to, “recognize our privilege and practice humility.”
• To BLM rioters she said, “We need you. We need the promise of a rising generation of activists and organizers who are fearless in your advocacy and determination.”
• The Black Lives Matter founder from Worchester, Massachusetts, once complained to Hillary, “Until someone speaks the truth to white people in this country so that we can actually take on anti-blackness as a founding problem in this country, I don’t believe that there is going to be a solution. What in your heart has changed that’s going to change the direction of this country?” Hillary responded, “I don’t believe you change hearts, I believe you change laws. You change allocation of resources. You change the way systems operate,” indicating that she would change government to implement BLM’s demands.

Muslim Brotherhood

• Hillary backed the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Mursi. Incidentally, on the way to meet with Mursi, Hillary, was pelted with tomatoes while the Egyptians chanted, “Monica, Monica!”
• Hillary’s top aide, Huma Abedin, has well-established ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Hillary sided with the second official-of-record of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya and discussed what could be done to hamper Qaddafi. “Hillary’s war,” as identified by U.S Navy Rear Admiral Charles Kubic, ended in destabilizing Libya and enhancing the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS.

Gun Control

• Hillary believes that Second Amendment proponents are a “minority” of people, and that their viewpoint is “terrorizing” the American people.
• Hillary not only wants to make gun ownership illegal for many, but would allow gun manufacturers to be sued by those who have been shot by a legally owned gun. This would include those committing crimes on private property.
• Hillary said that the Supreme Court is wrong about the Second Amendment, referring to District of Columbia v. Heller, which struck down the D.C. gun ban and ruled that individuals have a fundamental right to gun ownership under the Second Amendment.

The First Amendment

• Hillary has condemned the Citizens United court ruling and wants a constitutional amendment to overturn it. The Citizens United case hinged on the right to free speech and censorship of opposing views. Justices looked at the FEC ban as akin to book burning, and the court ruled that the FEC could not limit political speech.
• After four American lives were lost in Benghazi, Hillary Clinton blamed Nakoula Basseley Nakoula for a film he made about Islam. Hillary further falsely claimed the attack was in response to said film. To Charles Woods, the father of one of the deceased at Benghazi, Hillary said, “We will make sure that the person who made that film is arrested and prosecuted.” Nakoula was immediately jailed for over a year.
• She has every intention of using the full power of the federal government to snuff out religious liberty.
• Hillary has a long history of faulting or trying to ban movies, music, and video games for the actions of criminals.

Abortion

• Hillary’s view is that people’s religious beliefs have to be changed when it comes to abortion. “Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will,” she explained. “And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.”
• Hillary believes that an unborn child — just hours before delivery — has no constitutional rights, i.e., no right to life.
• Hillary praised her husband Bill for vetoing a partial birth abortion ban. Partial-birth abortion is exactly what it implies, a child is pulled feet-first out of the mother's womb past the navel and the abortionist punctures the skull of the baby, inserts a powerful vacuum, and suctions the baby's brains which collapses the skull and the child is pulled the rest of the way and discarded. At the time of the veto, the Clintons claimed it was a procedure to protect the health and life of the mother, but a prominent abortion advocate said at the time that the information given to the public was intentionally misleading.
• Hillary wants more funding to go to the abortion giant and butcher shop, Planned Parenthood.
• Hillary wants to overturn the Hyde Amendment, which is intended to ban government funding for abortion.

Immigration

• Hillary’s voter registration leader for her campaign is an illegal immigrant.
• Clinton wants to increase Syrian refugees coming into America from 1,500 to 65,000.
• At the Univision Democratic debate in March, Hillary said, “I am committed to introducing comprehensive immigration reform and a path to legitimate citizenship within the first 100 days of my presidency.”
• Hillary would allow illegal immigrants to obtain health insurance under Obamacare.

Much More

• Hillary’s first solo legal case was in defense of a canning corporation when a man found the back end of a rat in his pork and beans. Affectionately known as the “Rat’s ass case,” Hillary claimed it would be considered food in some countries.
• Grateful for Hillary’s help in his presidential run, President Jimmy Carter put her in charge of Legal Services Corporation, a federally funded nonprofit, whose budget under Hillary would swell from $90 million to $321 million. Investigators from the General Accounting Office found that during her leadership, those involved with the LSC were, “uniquely reprehensible.”
• In 1978 and 1979, Hillary turned a $1,000 investment into $98,540 in less than one year trading cattle futures under the guidance of a Tyson Foods outside attorney. Tyson Foods, under state law, was supposed to dispose of its chicken manure properly, but the state’s governor, Bill Clinton, never enforced the law. Five years later, seepage from the waste contaminated a community’s drinking water and made people sick. It took Bill Clinton 15 months to declare the town a disaster area.
• In two years, 2013-2015, Hillary made $2.9 million in speaking fees from large corporations including $675,000 from Goldman Sachs.
• In her commencement speech at Wellesley, Hillary quoted her mother as saying, “You know I’ll always love you but there are times when I certainly won’t like you.” In 1993, in an interview with the New York Times, Hillary attributed that exact quote to her father instead.
• Hillary was “the first presidential spouse to be subpoenaed. Bill and Hillary Clinton are the first and only first couple to be fingerprinted by the FBI.”
• Hillary was at the center of “Travelgate” during her time as first lady. The controversy surrounded seven people who were fired in the office and replaced with her cronies.
• Hillary claimed she came under sniper fire during a trip to Bosnia. That claim was easily debunked by Sharyl Attkisson who was accompanied Hillary’s trip as a member of the press. Hillary twice tried to make the silly suggestion stick before the media caught up with her.
• Hillary hailed the television channel Al Jazeera and said its viewership was going up in the U.S. “’because it’s real news. You may not agree with it, but you feel like you’re getting real news around the clock.’ She said it was ‘changing peoples’ minds and attitudes. And like it or hate it, it is really effective.’ U.S. news, she added, was not keeping up.”

Hillary is a radical's radical, a compulsive liar, and is intoxicated by the accumulation of wealth and power. Her Marxist ideology and belief that destroying this nation from within is what has motivated and propelled her to become president of this nation. Anyone considering voting for this destroyer should have their heads examined.

Editor's Note:

The Jen Kuznicki article above has not been edited by me in any way. I'm posting it here because Jen Kuznicki has chronicles the evils that are Hillary Clinton. Evils which the Liberal Mainstream Media refused to mention before the 2016 Election. 

And yes, if you want to know how great a victory yesterday was, please understand that the list above speaks to the evil woman who we successfully beat yesterday! 

As for who is Jen Kuznicki? She is a contributor to Conservative Review, blue collar, wife, mom, political writer, humorist, conservative activist, a seamstress by trade, and compelled to write.

Tom Correa

This Is The 2016 Bottom Line

A meme you can share ...

Hillary Clinton is a Criminal

The M14 DMR, EMR, & EBR

The DMR

The United States Marine Corps used the M14 to create the DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) which is more formally the "United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14."

The DMR (aka the M14) is a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. It is simply a modified version of the M14 rifle built and utilized by the United States Marine Corps.

The big difference between the M14s that I was issued in the Corps and the DMR being issued is with all of it's modification and match-grade M118LR 175-grain Long Range ammunition.

The "basic" DMR, without secondary sight, magazine, sling, basic issue items, cleaning gear, suppressor and bipod, weighs 11 pounds or less. The DMR design facilitates repairing or replacing of the sight mount, barrel, bolt, and other key assemblies at the third echelon maintenance level.

The USMC Precision Weapons Section at Marine Corps Base Quantico built all DMRs. The Marine Corps replaced the DMR with the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle and the Mk 11 Mod 0 on a one-for-one basis.

There are several notable differences between the basic M14 and the DMR:

• Barrel: 22 inches, stainless steel, match-grade barrel by Krieger Barrels, Inc.
• Stock: McMillan Tactical M2A fiberglass stock. This particular stock features a pistol grip and a butt stock with adjustable saddle cheek piece.
• Optics: An over-action MIL-STD-1913 picatinny rail sourced from either GG&G Armament Arizona or Smith Enterprise, Inc. allows for the use of any optic compatible with the rail; this includes a rather large variety of military scopes and imaging devices.

The most common scope used on the USMC DMR are TS-30.xx series Leupold Mark 4 day scopes, AN/PVS-10 or AN/PVS-17 night vision scopes, and Unert M40 10× fixed power scopes.

• Muzzle device: Most DMRs utilize the traditional M14 muzzle device, although since deployment in 2001 in Iraq and Afghanistan, some DMRs are now equipped with the OPS, Inc. 2-port muzzle brake, which is threaded and collared to accept an OPS-Inc. 12th Model sound suppressor.
• Bipod: A Harris S-L bipod is used on the USMC DMR.

For the Marine Corps, a grunt operating as the Designated Marksman (DM) using a DMR is an integral part of Squad Tactics. The Marine DM's role fills the gap between a regular infantryman and a sniper typically being deployed at ranges of 270–550 yards and DMRs have been developed with this middle ground in mind.

These rifles have to be effective, in terms of accuracy and terminal ballistics, at ranges exceeding those of ordinary assault rifles and battle rifles typically 270 yards or less, and up to 550 yards respectively, but do not require the extended range of a dedicated sniper rifle which is typically employed for targets at ranges from 550–2,200 yards.

DMRs, however, often share some basic characteristics with sniper rifles in difference to the weapons carried by others in the DMs unit. DMRs may have an attached telescopic sight, quickly deployed stabilizing bipod to allow optimized accuracy and low-recoil in temporarily fixed situations or an adjustable stock.

They will, though, generally retain semi-automatic firing capability, to be more rapid than bolt-action sniper rifles, and a larger magazine capacity of 10, 20, or 30 rounds depending on the firearm in question.

A designated marksman primarily uses DMRs for enhanced accuracy and range.

The DMR fills the need for a lightweight, accurate weapon system utilizing a cartridge more powerful than the M16A4's standard 5.56x45mm NATO—the 7.62x51mm NATO.

Most DMRs are a battle rifle, semi-automatic or full-automatic, that fires 7.62mm NATO or similar full-power rounds - and not under-powered rounds of assault rifles such as that of an M16.

Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams, Scout Snipers and sniper spotters also used DMRs when the mission requires rapid, accurate fire at long range.

The EMR

The Marine Corps is replacing the DMR with the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle and the Mk 11 Mod 0 on a one-for-one basis. Where the DMR looked like an up to date modernized tricked out M14, the M39 EMR looks like the M14 on steroids!

The M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR) or more formally the Rifle, 7.62 MM, M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR)) is a semi-automatic, gas-operated designated marksman rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge.

It is a modified and accurized version of the M14 rifle and is based on the current United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), which it is replacing. The rifle is currently issued with match-grade M118LR 175-grain Long Range ammunition.

The "basic" EMR, without telescopic sight, magazine, sling, basic issue items, cleaning gear, suppressor and bipod, weighs 13 pounds or less. The EMR is primarily used by a Designated Marksman, to provide precision fire for units that do not rate a Scout Sniper.

As a replacement for the DMR, the EMR fills the need for a lightweight, accurate weapon system utilizing a cartridge more powerful than the M16A4's standard 5.56x45mm NATO—the 7.62x51mm NATO.

The EMR is also used by Marine Scout Snipers when the mission requires rapid accurate fire and by Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. While the EMR stays in service with Marines in the field as its Designated Marksman weapon, in early 2012, the Marine Corps started replacing the M39 with the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System for its snipers.

Back in 2003, the US Army issued a market survey for a 7.62 mm Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS). Smith Enterprise responded to the market survey with an M14 rifle variant that was very impressive. They made the case why the Army should adopt the M14 Rifle and not an M16 platform as with the M110 for its sniper needs.

The EBR

The Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) is a variant of the M14. It was built for use with units of the United States Special Operations Command.

The EBR is being made with the intention of carrying out both designated marksman and CQB roles in combat. The weapon takes the standard M14 action and replaces the standard 22.0" barrel with an 18.0" barrel.

The barreled action is then bolted into a telescoping chassis stock system, with a pistol grip, a different front sight, Harris bipod, four picatinny accessory rails (which surround the barrel), and a more effective flash hider in place of the standard lugged USGI flash suppressor. A paddle-type bolt stop similar to that of the M4 carbine is used on the rifle.

The EBR chassis system stock is made up entirely of lightweight aircraft alloy.

A Kydex hand guard and M68 CCO are also added as standard external accessories, though they are almost always replaced with a vertical fore-grip and magnifying scope for better handling and for use in a designated marksman role.

A Wind Talker suppressor can be mounted on the DC Vortex flash hider, though the U.S. military did not adopt one to active service.


No, the M14 EBR isn't anything like the M14 that I was trained with in Boot Camp or carried overseas. But, it is certainly its great-grandson on steroids with a 7.62 attitude. And yes, this is very close to the sort of M14 that my father-in-law Nickel Jim would build -- but that's a story for another day.

One other thing that is really important to note. Because the M14 is so reliable and powerful, it is often favored by users for high lethality at longed ranges with great penetration. Those are features much appreciated by US troops in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and other places around the world.

Since the start of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, many M14s have been employed as Designated Marksman and Semi-Auto Sniper Rifles. These are original production M14s with common very easy modifications including scopes, fiberglass stocks, and other accessories.

In 2009, a study conducted by the U.S. Army claimed that more than half of the all enemy engagements in Afghanistan occurred from beyond 300 meters (330 yards). The study claimed that America’s 5.56mm NATO service rifles, the M16 and the M4, are ineffective at these ranges. 

Since they had a report that told them what troops already knew, that report prompted the reissue of thousands of M14s to our troops. And with the reintroduction of the M14, our military understood that an M14 platform was needed to keep our troops safe and able to accomplish their mission better than before.

So now, can you see why for my money the M14 rifle is greatest battle rifle ever created? From the original design being as functionally perfect as it gets, the M14 has shown to be a platform in which to improve on.

And yes, that's just way I see it.

Tom Correa

My Brother Herman Ray -- I Already Miss Him

Dear Friends,

Almost six years ago, my older brother had heart surgery. After that surgery, his health had gotten worse and worse. In fact, since this last March, our family has spent a great deal of time and effort to get him to his appointments, to emergency rooms, and shuttling him between one emergency care unit in Jackson and over to the VA hospital in Sacramento.

While our frustration has been with the VA in Sacramento, the nonsensical policies of hospitals when dealing with the VA, and of course the lack of communication at times, we just kept doing what we could do for him. Yes, even on a night when I was out of town and he tried calling me, our 81 year old mom picked him up at midnight at his home and transported him the hour and a half ride to the VA hospital in Sacramento because a local ambulance service didn't.

Please understand, this blog post is not meant to slight all of the wonderful efforts made by my sisters Valerie and Joanie, or my brothers Vernon and Howard, or anyone else. This is about the passing of our brother Herman Ray and my relationship with him, especially over these last 16 years.

Since late February, he spent more time in the hospital than not. About four months ago, because his body was retaining massive amounts of water and his liver and kidneys were feeling the impact of "aggressive" treatment, his "team" at the VA gave him just days to live. Weeks and a month at best. But, as unlikely as it was, he made a recovery that amazed us and his team.

Sadly, my bother's recovery didn't last and he was back in the hospital by October 25th. The VA in Sacramento said that they did not have a bed for him. So after going to the Emergency Room at Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson, he was transported to Sutter Memorial in Sacramento.

Because of a few medical problems of my own, I was only able to talk to him on the phone. And frankly, after talking to those treating him there, it really sounded as though they would have him up and going in no time. We even discussed transferring him to a Skilled Nursing Facility so that he could build up his strength and get some therapy before going home again.

Late on November 1st, yes his birthday, I got a call that said that I better get down there to see him "if I want to see him alive."

Around midnight, I picked up my mom and by one o'clock we were at my older brother Herman's bedside in ICU at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. He was barely coherent, but he knew we were there. We were there for a while before having to leave to take my mom back to her home in Ione.

RN Danielle Ruiz said she would pass the word on to let me know pf any changes. I thanked her and told her that I appreciated all of what she was doing. Like all of the staff there, RNs Jennifer Oscapinski, Rose Keyser, Paula Bennett, and RT Tina Sin, they were very wonderful and caring. And yes, I told RN Elissa Friedrich that I couldn't do her job. No, I really do not know how they do it.

I came home and cleaned up expecting to get another call. I was expecting the worse. I fell asleep in my recliner, and was out like a light for a few hours when I got a call from a Case Worker who was telling me about the plan to get him to a Skilled Nursing Facility. That was about 10 am, and I assumed that he condition had improved drastically.

By Noon, things took a bad turn and his treatment team wanted to have a tele-conference with me and my brother's two children. We had the tele-conference at about 3 pm.

With his cardiologist present, his treating physician Dr. Daniel Ikeda who told us the bad news. There was nothing more that could be done for Herman. They recommended that his aggressive medical treatment be stopped and comfort care begin so that he wouldn't endure any more pain since his liver and kidneys had all but completely shut down, and his heart was too blocked to function.

My brother was divorced and a widow. He lived alone and his children were on their own. He asked, and I accepted the responsibility of looking after his needs if he was ever in a position where he couldn't make a medical decision for himself.

Frankly, it has been a double-edged sword. On one hand, I'm very honored to do my best to see his wishes carried out.

We were not the closest brothers for many years because of this or that, but over the last 16 years he has been a great older brother and best friend. He moved to Sutter Creek and then to neighboring Jackson, and this brought him about 25 minutes away. And yes, he enjoyed coming out to see my wife and me. He also enjoyed coming out to shoot on my pistol range on the side of our house, going with me to get hay in Angels Camp, and of course having steak and eggs over at Mel & Faye's Diner in Jackson.

He called me just about everyday. Some times he needed to complain about something not going right in the world, but mostly we talked about growing up in Hawaii and how much we both miss those days.

He liked my little "ranch". But frankly, it's not much of a ranch more than it is a reminder of those days spent on our grandpa's ranch. And while I know some folks may have been fooled by his present-day city ways, my older brother was a real cowboy. And yes, I can attest that he could rope and ride and wrestle cows and calves, cattle of all sorts and temperaments, if need be.

We talked a lot about his being able to ride again. I'd promised him a bomb-proof horse that wouldn't kill him. And he'd tell me that that didn't sound like a bad way of going. Sadly, his health never allowed him to get back in the saddle. And yes, I feel that I really wish I had put my older brother on a horse like he did me when we were growing up.

As for the other side of that double-edge sword pertaining to his care at the end, I never thought this day was coming for some strange reason. I guess I accepted his refusing to believe that he may die. While he and I talked a lot about what to do in regards to his care, and what he wanted if and when he would die, he didn't want to make any arrangements. And while he had an Advance Directive and I had Power of Attorney for him, he didn't make out a Will.

So after talking with his his cardiologist and treating physician, after getting the bad news, I phoned my mom and told her that I'd be picking her up, that we needed to get back to the hospital. And yes, I knew there would be all sorts of problems coming up if he passed away because he and I didn't get a Will drawn up.

Along with my wife Deanna, we arrived at the hospital at about 7 pm. Yes, Sacramento is about 2 hours away. And yes, the mind wonders during a long quiet drive like that.

For me, I thought about our lives. I thought about how we have a large family, about how we finally became close, and about what he wanted. I wondered what to do with his home and property since I wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on to help him. But mostly, I thought about his wishes versus what was needed for the emotional state of his son and daughter who were with him in his ICU room when we arrived.

The doctors said they would not stop his aggressive care and start his comfort care until I arrived. And when my mom, my wife and I arrived, we were surprised to see his face under an oxygen mask. Yes, his breathing was shallow and he needed that thing to keep him alive.

When I checked on when the terminal comfort care would start, I was told that the end would start when I wanted it to. My friends, carrying out his last wishes were one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do.

I decided to wait until after a Chaplin showed up to give Herman the sacraments of the sick. When he arrived we all held hands and prayed. To myself, I begged God for a miracle. But no, none came.

I was told that Herman might gasp for air when his mask was removed before they replace it with another less intrusive nasal oxygen tube. I didn't want his children and grandchildren to see that. No, I didn't want that to be one of the last images of their father and grandfather. So I asked everyone to leave for a few minutes while RN Elissa Friedrich and RT Howard removed his mask and made him presentable.

I watched him as they got him ready. And yes, I tried to hold all my tears inside as he gasped a little. But soon, well soon he was just snoring away. Yes, he was asleep and snoring. And yes, they increased the morphine going to him steadily.

Before the others came back into the room, I held his hand, leaned over, and kissed the top of my brother's head. I told him that I loved him. I told him that I was doing what he wanted. And whether it was my imagination or not, as I squeezed his hand, I thought I felt him squeeze mine back. So yes, even at that moment, I knew that I was going to miss him something awful.

Yes, I will miss how we laughed about the old days when we kids were climbing trees and getting into mischief. I will miss reminiscing about how we didn't worry about getting hurt or having to wear bicycle helmets and pads and such just to have fun as kids do today. I will miss our talks about how our Oahu has changed into what it is today. And yes, I will certainly miss us joking about how men today are being feminized and how it has become fashionable to be an angry women and looking like an MMA fighter.

I will miss his rants about how parents are to blame for much of the wrong going on these days, and how being a rebel doesn't mean being a jerk. And of course, I will miss him going on about his frustration with his beloved Oakland Raiders. Yes, he was a devout Raider fan.

The others came back in the room and though not an easy thing, like me, they were there to say goodbye as well. They were there in his final hours. They were doing what family is supposed to do. All out of love.

I was told that it might take minutes, or it might take a day or two. It was up to Herman Ray. So with that, we watched him sleep and snore. And soon, while he slept, we talked about the times and the things we will all remember. And yes, we laughed at some of those things. The laughter was not loud but more like a coping mechanism. It was needed in that bleak moment.

It was around 1 am that my mom was looking pretty tired, and the nurse had just increased Herman's morphine drip to 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. It was then that I said that I needed to take mom home. It was then that most everyone then left.

Of course, not my nephew Steven who had been there sitting with his dad for three days. He had been sleeping on the floor in a corner of that ICU room and he refused to leave. Yes, he stayed with his dad to the end. And frankly, I have never more proud of him.

My wife and I dropped my mom off at her home about 3 am. My wife and I got home to Glencoe a little before 4:30 am. We were in bed less than an hour when our phone rang at 5:30 am. It was RN Elissa Friedrich telling me that his blood pressure and heart beat had dropped to the point where it would be soon.

I thanked her for the call. She is a great person, very caring, and she said how sorry she was for my family. Again I thanked her. A couple of minutes after I hung up with her, my nephew Steven called to tell us that his dad, my older brother, just passed away quietly.

Steven then called my mom, his grandma, and he also called his sister and others. And frankly, while I was mentally and emotional exhausted, I answered the phone every time my wife answered it and handed it to me.

Since I was informed that we have three days to have him out of the hospital's mortuary, I worked on this most of Thursday and Friday. I have gone through most of his papers and now I'm forming a battle plan as to what to do next.

At midnight on Thursday, my nephew Steven and I talked for about an hour. I hope and pray that he and his sister, my nephew and niece, know that our family is there for them -- not just now, but forever. Yes, we are there for them. They should not feel alone because their dad has passed.

At 10 am, I met with him and my niece Jessica at their dad's house. My wife, my mom, bother sisters, and Steven's close friend Gina were there. I let them know what I've found in his papers, what I'm doing in the form of arrangements, and we tossed around what we all wanted in the way of a memorial.

Since my brother wants to return home to Hawaii, and have his ashes scattered at sea, we will do that. When that happens, I will make sure his children and grandchildren see where we were from on Oahu, where we grew up, the place that influenced who we are. And no, looking back on life, he and I were different in some ways but not where it counts. Yes, love and commitment to family is at our core.

As for my brother Herman Ray, well he was ornery, hardheaded, a real rebel. But besides swearing no different than other Boatswain-mate that I've ever known, he was very proud of his many years in the Navy. So yes, we all agreed that we will have a military memorial service for him. And yes, I will be proud to arrange that.

My job, what role I have is actually simple. I have to do what my brother wanted me to do, while at the same time doing right by my niece and nephew. They are my brother Herman's children, they are my blood, and my soul. And yes, I look at them and I see my brother and that is a comfort to me.

My brother Herman Ray Correa passed away at around 5:30 am on Thursday, November 3rd, 2016. He was 62 years and 2 days old. And though this is now Saturday, I already miss him a great deal.

So now, why write this story? Well, I wanted to tell you about my older brother. I wanted to tell you how a good man passed away recently.

You see, I write about the real Old West. I write about guns, and horses, and Conservative politics. I've even written about my love for America. And now, I wanted to write something about my big brother Herman Ray.

I love the fact that he loved my blog, and that he was always supportive when it came to my writing. And yes, he was absolutely pissed when he found out about a few teachers who tried their best to stop me from writing when I was in my twenties and thirties.  

In his life, my brother made some mistakes. But then again, haven't we all? I mean really, who among us hasn't done things we regret? I know I have.

As for being a dad, he told me that he was trying to be as good a dad as possible in his own way. But friends, as he said, most of the time he didn't know if he was screwing up or not. I can attest to the fact that he loved both of his children and worried about them.

So friends, as far as I'm concerned, my brother was a good man trying to do right. And yes, in many ways, that's especially true during his last days when he was trying to make up for some of those mistakes he made.

A very long time ago, I found out how short life really is. I've learned that if we are lucky, have longevity in our families, and work very hard at maintaining a healthy lifestyle, then maybe we may live a little longer than some. And while, I know that that is about all that we can hope and pray for, I know my brother Herman is now with God, our dad and grandparents, and the angels in Heaven.

I also know that I will see him again. You see, I truly believe that our souls will again saddle up and ride together like we did when we were kids. And yes, since he liked to read my blog, I know real well that he would have loved to read that.

Tom Correa