| The Palmyra Gazette |
Breaking Free from the Shackles that Bind Us, July 4th 2008
| Stephanie Stearns aka Jennifer Jenkins |
Seawind
Iola
Malcolm "Mac"
Eleanor "Muff" Graham
Eleanor "Muff" Graham
Excerpts from the Movie “And The Sea Will Tell…”
Three days prior to leaving Palmyra Atoll, I received a letter from Buck Walker responding to a request I sent him asking him for an interview. The
preceding message is from Buck himself. In an attempt to clear up some of the Mystery surrounding the alleged murders on Palmyra, Buck wrote a 895 page
book "Palmyra: The True Story of an Island Tragedy" his first hand accounting of the goings on during this dark period in Palmyra History. Morgan Freeman
once said in a movie during his last successful parole hearing; "I'm an old man now. The kid that you put behind bars is long gone. If I could go back, I'd talk
to that kid and tell him not to make the mistakes he made. ... but I can't. I have to live with the memories of that horrible day and move on with my life."
I've watched the movie three times. First off Palmyra is flat as a pancake. The scenes in the movie shows hills and mountains in the back ground. The
contents were clearly directed to play to the public and that it has. What other facts in Vincent Bugliosi's book or the CBS movie are misleading or
incorrect? Perhaps it's Bucks time now to paint a first hand picture of just exactly what did go on during the fall of 1974? There are a number of people
that have profited from Buck's misfortunes. The Buck of that time period was obviously no saint and some of his actions helped cause the events that
unfolded. The man served his time and now it's time for Buck Duane Walker to regain his foothold in his life and perhaps clear the air regarding this Palmyra
Mystery. Watch for my up coming "MAP of EVENTS". While on Palmyra I took over 4500 pictures. I hope to tie some of theses pictures to the events
depicted in the story of two fateful cruisers. See "Yacht Club Art" for other stories on "Cruisers of Palmyra"
preceding message is from Buck himself. In an attempt to clear up some of the Mystery surrounding the alleged murders on Palmyra, Buck wrote a 895 page
book "Palmyra: The True Story of an Island Tragedy" his first hand accounting of the goings on during this dark period in Palmyra History. Morgan Freeman
once said in a movie during his last successful parole hearing; "I'm an old man now. The kid that you put behind bars is long gone. If I could go back, I'd talk
to that kid and tell him not to make the mistakes he made. ... but I can't. I have to live with the memories of that horrible day and move on with my life."
I've watched the movie three times. First off Palmyra is flat as a pancake. The scenes in the movie shows hills and mountains in the back ground. The
contents were clearly directed to play to the public and that it has. What other facts in Vincent Bugliosi's book or the CBS movie are misleading or
incorrect? Perhaps it's Bucks time now to paint a first hand picture of just exactly what did go on during the fall of 1974? There are a number of people
that have profited from Buck's misfortunes. The Buck of that time period was obviously no saint and some of his actions helped cause the events that
unfolded. The man served his time and now it's time for Buck Duane Walker to regain his foothold in his life and perhaps clear the air regarding this Palmyra
Mystery. Watch for my up coming "MAP of EVENTS". While on Palmyra I took over 4500 pictures. I hope to tie some of theses pictures to the events
depicted in the story of two fateful cruisers. See "Yacht Club Art" for other stories on "Cruisers of Palmyra"
Stories by Buck Walker
As American’s we celebrate our independence on this
day, July 4th. We are a society with rather strict rules
and governess that set our conduct of human behavior.
As long as we “play by the rules” and stay with in the
colored pages of our societies laws, we may live a life of
inalienable rights called freedom. Stepping outside this
societal control, we may find our selves in the fringes of
the law and come under scrutiny for that choice. Many
“color outside the lines” and see how close they can
get, go to that “line in the sand” with out crossing it or
if doing so, not getting caught for their transgressions
crossing into societal taboos and the potential to get
“nabbed” for their lawless efforts.
On May 29th 2008 Buck Walker was getting himself
ready for a 19-hour bus ride to head up to the Puget
Sound area in Washington for a visit with daughter and
grandkids thru the month of June. Buck has been
paroled and is out of prison relegated to a halfway
house. Essentially that means he is a free man to a
degree. Unlike allot of us American’s on this forth of
July, we can decide what we want to do or where we
head this day, the beach, the ocean or over to friends or
relatives to celebrate this day. Buck has to check in
with his parole officer every so often and “get
permission” to go out of the area as in this case to visit
his “family”.
Buck has kept me up to date on his trip. He found a
lovely little room to rent, renting from a sweet landlady
named Rita. In the back yard he had an umbrella
covered table where he could write his stories many of
which he has shared with me. We all want to make
some “mark” in our lives and not go out the other side
with the lamp burnt out. In Buck’s case, I believe he
wants to set the story right regarding his “Palmyra”
experience. He’s trying to get the folks of the know to
recognize his writing creations and possible have his
work published. Being a creative writer, I know how
Buck feels. Buck’s free, but not really. He would like to
live in Washington State near his daughter and
grandkids. In order to do this, he needs to get
“permission” to make the transfer.
Buck received a visitor while in Washington, “ "My
name's Moon," the man replies. "Probation office in
Tacoma." A less then inviting soul come to visit Buck
to “see” what he was up to. Buck wrote a very
enlightened story about this “civil servant” that at
some point should be included in the Gazette. You see,
these “folks” can visit at any time they like. When you’
re on parole, you are subjected to these impromptu
searches and inspections, which for most of us goes
“way” outside, against and beyond what we consider
personal freedoms of privacy. “ He whips out his ID
folder and badge, says, "No, I've already ratted you
out. I'm here to inspect your living quarters, to
determine whether you should be allowed to transfer
your parole supervision to this area." Nice guy
right? For the month of June 2008, Buck has enjoyed
the freedom of being with family members he obviously
loves and they too, him; who want to share their time
together. In the solitude of his new temporary digs, he
writes in his journal and reaches out into the world
made possible by today’s Internet. A freeman relishing
his time with his daughter and grandkids up in
Washington State now concluded by this 4th, a day of
celebration.
A year or so ago I ran into a similar moment with a
male Child Support Officer at Human Services in
Lewiston (DHS). I tried to explain to him the reason my
son’s mother was no longer receiving his child support
payment. I set up a savings account for Joe and sent
him a letter stating that he could now take charge of
“his” money. He needed to ask his mother what rent
money she would want and set up an allowance for
cloths and general spending that would be in his best
interest. What I was trying to do was first gain a little
more one on one time with my boy as that was
diminishing with the addition of an other year hence
since the divorce of his mother and I in 1999. Secondly,
to try to teach him the value of “money” as I would have
done if we still lived in the same house.
day, July 4th. We are a society with rather strict rules
and governess that set our conduct of human behavior.
As long as we “play by the rules” and stay with in the
colored pages of our societies laws, we may live a life of
inalienable rights called freedom. Stepping outside this
societal control, we may find our selves in the fringes of
the law and come under scrutiny for that choice. Many
“color outside the lines” and see how close they can
get, go to that “line in the sand” with out crossing it or
if doing so, not getting caught for their transgressions
crossing into societal taboos and the potential to get
“nabbed” for their lawless efforts.
On May 29th 2008 Buck Walker was getting himself
ready for a 19-hour bus ride to head up to the Puget
Sound area in Washington for a visit with daughter and
grandkids thru the month of June. Buck has been
paroled and is out of prison relegated to a halfway
house. Essentially that means he is a free man to a
degree. Unlike allot of us American’s on this forth of
July, we can decide what we want to do or where we
head this day, the beach, the ocean or over to friends or
relatives to celebrate this day. Buck has to check in
with his parole officer every so often and “get
permission” to go out of the area as in this case to visit
his “family”.
Buck has kept me up to date on his trip. He found a
lovely little room to rent, renting from a sweet landlady
named Rita. In the back yard he had an umbrella
covered table where he could write his stories many of
which he has shared with me. We all want to make
some “mark” in our lives and not go out the other side
with the lamp burnt out. In Buck’s case, I believe he
wants to set the story right regarding his “Palmyra”
experience. He’s trying to get the folks of the know to
recognize his writing creations and possible have his
work published. Being a creative writer, I know how
Buck feels. Buck’s free, but not really. He would like to
live in Washington State near his daughter and
grandkids. In order to do this, he needs to get
“permission” to make the transfer.
Buck received a visitor while in Washington, “ "My
name's Moon," the man replies. "Probation office in
Tacoma." A less then inviting soul come to visit Buck
to “see” what he was up to. Buck wrote a very
enlightened story about this “civil servant” that at
some point should be included in the Gazette. You see,
these “folks” can visit at any time they like. When you’
re on parole, you are subjected to these impromptu
searches and inspections, which for most of us goes
“way” outside, against and beyond what we consider
personal freedoms of privacy. “ He whips out his ID
folder and badge, says, "No, I've already ratted you
out. I'm here to inspect your living quarters, to
determine whether you should be allowed to transfer
your parole supervision to this area." Nice guy
right? For the month of June 2008, Buck has enjoyed
the freedom of being with family members he obviously
loves and they too, him; who want to share their time
together. In the solitude of his new temporary digs, he
writes in his journal and reaches out into the world
made possible by today’s Internet. A freeman relishing
his time with his daughter and grandkids up in
Washington State now concluded by this 4th, a day of
celebration.
A year or so ago I ran into a similar moment with a
male Child Support Officer at Human Services in
Lewiston (DHS). I tried to explain to him the reason my
son’s mother was no longer receiving his child support
payment. I set up a savings account for Joe and sent
him a letter stating that he could now take charge of
“his” money. He needed to ask his mother what rent
money she would want and set up an allowance for
cloths and general spending that would be in his best
interest. What I was trying to do was first gain a little
more one on one time with my boy as that was
diminishing with the addition of an other year hence
since the divorce of his mother and I in 1999. Secondly,
to try to teach him the value of “money” as I would have
done if we still lived in the same house.
In hindsight, I still think my initiative was a wholesome
gesture for the benefit of my son but his mother had “other”
ideas. The meeting with this “Civil Servant” went about as
well as Buck’s meeting with “Mr. Moon”. The man did not
care one iota what my reasoning was nor did he listen to my
story … Within seconds, I knew my words were lost on this
entrenched DHS servant. The law was the law and Joe’s
mother” was to receive the check directly! Now, I have a
direct withdrawal taken out of my company checking account
that goes directly to DHS. Janice, Joes mother no longer
sends me reports of Joe’s progress in school or any
information I should be aware of as his father. So here today,
as I’m confident with Buck; we “wish” for certain elements in
our lives to be a little different. We hope and pray that good
luck will foster plans that will add “reasonable expectations”
to our sometimes-unbalanced lives. I question, what’s Joe
doing today? What’s Buck’s daughter and grandkids up to on
this July Forth? How’s Buck feeling about this day, the forth
of July away from his family?
Needs to be noted; I feel many social service folks do a good
to great job and respect their position and those they service.
We all know “a few bad apples” spoil the barrel and so it is
with any thing as human’s we touch. Standards and
considerations very and so do the temperaments of the few
we speak of here today. Respect is, after all, an earned “two
way” street.
From Buck: “Wish you all the best, as I am certainly in
the midst of with my family - wow, great up here! Only 5
days left to the 30th, when it all comes to an end - unless
I'm successful in extending my stay. Buckerooney”
gesture for the benefit of my son but his mother had “other”
ideas. The meeting with this “Civil Servant” went about as
well as Buck’s meeting with “Mr. Moon”. The man did not
care one iota what my reasoning was nor did he listen to my
story … Within seconds, I knew my words were lost on this
entrenched DHS servant. The law was the law and Joe’s
mother” was to receive the check directly! Now, I have a
direct withdrawal taken out of my company checking account
that goes directly to DHS. Janice, Joes mother no longer
sends me reports of Joe’s progress in school or any
information I should be aware of as his father. So here today,
as I’m confident with Buck; we “wish” for certain elements in
our lives to be a little different. We hope and pray that good
luck will foster plans that will add “reasonable expectations”
to our sometimes-unbalanced lives. I question, what’s Joe
doing today? What’s Buck’s daughter and grandkids up to on
this July Forth? How’s Buck feeling about this day, the forth
of July away from his family?
Needs to be noted; I feel many social service folks do a good
to great job and respect their position and those they service.
We all know “a few bad apples” spoil the barrel and so it is
with any thing as human’s we touch. Standards and
considerations very and so do the temperaments of the few
we speak of here today. Respect is, after all, an earned “two
way” street.
From Buck: “Wish you all the best, as I am certainly in
the midst of with my family - wow, great up here! Only 5
days left to the 30th, when it all comes to an end - unless
I'm successful in extending my stay. Buckerooney”
Young Buck Walker
| Excepts from The Palmyra Mystery "Life on Palmyra," |
Daily Journal
See, Buck Walker's Stories Below
Visit Buck Walker's Web Site Here:
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Temporarily out of servic