First person account - John McCain, POW

I was at a Steve & Barry's sporting goods store here in Olathe the other day and I saw a black hoodie sweat shirt with the familiar white logo, " POW/MIA - You are not forgotten." As I thought about the message, I thought about my own father, who was MIA in 1968 (later declared KIA) and the experience of John McCain.

My own father's story is something I may tell at another time. In this post, I wanted to find a Web resource that tells John McCain's story, because I think it reveals something essential about the man, even as so much short-lived political spin fills the air. I found a Web link to McCain's first person narrative of his prisoner of war experience, published in U.S. News and World Report in May of 1973. It is a long article, but a riveting read.

Some excerpts from the first page of the 17 page account:

I pulled the ejection handle, and was knocked unconscious by the force of the ejection—the air speed was about 500 knots. I didn't realize it at the moment, but I had broken my right leg around the knee, my right arm in three places, and my left arm. I regained consciousness just before I landed by parachute in a lake right in the corner of Hanoi, one they called the Western Lake. My helmet and my oxygen mask had been blown off.

I hit the water and sank to the bottom. I think the lake is about 15 feet deep, maybe 20. I kicked off the bottom. I did not feel any pain at the time, and was able to rise to the surface. I took a breath of air and started sinking again. Of course, I was wearing 50 pounds, at least, of equipment and gear. I went down and managed to kick up to the surface once more. I couldn't understand why I couldn't use my right leg or my arm. I was in a dazed condition. I went up to the top again and sank back down. This time I couldn't get back to the surface. I was wearing an inflatable life-preserver-type thing that looked like water wings. I reached down with my mouth and got the toggle between my teeth and inflated the preserver and finally floated to the top.

Some North Vietnamese swam out and pulled me to the side of the lake and immediately started stripping me, which is their standard procedure. Of course, this being in the center of town, a huge crowd of people gathered, and they were all hollering and screaming and cursing and spitting and kicking at me.

When they had most of my clothes off, I felt a twinge in my right knee. I sat up and looked at it, and my right foot was resting next to my left knee, just in a 90-degree position. I said, "My God--my leg!" That seemed to enrage them —I don't know why. One of them slammed a rifle butt down on my shoulder, and smashed it pretty badly. Another stuck a bayonet in my foot. The mob was really getting up-tight.

From the last page, after his long stay in Hanoi was over....

I've received scores of letters from young people, and many of them sent me POW bracelets with my name on it, which they had been wearing. Some were not too sure about the war, but they are strongly patriotic, their values are good, and I think we will find that they are going to grow up to be better Americans than many of us.

This outpouring on behalf of us who were prisoners of war is staggering, and a little embarrassing because basically we feel that we are just average American Navy, Marine and Air Force pilots who got shot down. Anybody else in our place would have performed just as well.

My own plans for the future are to remain in the Navy, if I am able to return to flying status. That depends upon whether the corrective surgery on my arms and my leg is successful. If I have to leave the Navy, I hope to serve the Government in some capacity, preferably in Foreign Service for the State Department.

I had a lot of time to think over there, and came to the conclusion that one of the most important things in life—along with a man's family—is to make some contribution to his country.

TK: McCain is reaching for "some contribution" to his country now, and it may fall within his reach. While some conservatives have written off McCain as a Republican imposter, others, such as some quoted in this NYT ariticle - As McCain wins, critics on right look again - are reconsidering. After reading this first person account, I'm sure McCain can deal with whatever Limbaugh dishes out.

School based fruit and vegetable programs - the record so far

Lorelei DiSogra of United Fresh passes on this important report called, "School-based fruit and vegetable schemes: A review of the evidence," published in December 2007. The report is authored by Dr Karen Lock, Department of Public Health and Policy, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The thumbnail sketch - these programs work.

Here is the summary from the report:

SUMMARY
This report presents a systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to promote fruit and/or vegetable consumption in children in schools worldwide. The results show that school-based schemes are effective at increasing both intake of, and positive knowledge and attitudes to fruit and vegetable intake. Of the 35 studies included, 65% of studies in both younger and older age groups showed statistically significant increases in fruit and vegetable intake at follow, with none decreasing intake. There was marked heterogeneity in study design, measurement and reporting of intake which makes comparisons of effect size or meta-analysis difficult. Differences in intervention effect ranged from +0.14 servings/day to +0.99 servings/day. 25 studies had follow up periods greater than 1 year and this review provides evidence that both large (national) and smaller (local) scale FV schemes can have long term impacts on consumption. One study showed that free school fruit and vegetable schemes can also help to reduce inequalities in diet. Only one study showed an effect on both increasing fruit and vegetable intake and decreasing overweight in the same scheme. It was unsurprising that other studies showed no impact on overweight or obesity, as changes to weight would be expected to occur at longer time scales that changes in dietary intake.
This review concludes that school fruit and vegetable schemes work. Effective school programmes have used a range of approaches and been organised in ways which vary nationally depending on differences in the food supply chain and education system.

Agricultural Prices - January

Here is the text file for today's Agricultural Prices report. From the USDA:

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in January, at 150 percent, based on 1990-92=100, increased 6 points (4.2 percent) from December. The Crop Index is up 16 points (11 percent) but the Livestock Index decreased 4 points (2.9 percent). The All Farm Index and All Crop Index are at record highs. Producers received higher commodity prices for corn, soybeans, broilers, and wheat and lower prices were received for milk, tomatoes, hogs, and turkeys. The overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased average marketings of corn, soybeans, cattle, and strawberries offset decreased marketings of grapes, milk, broilers, and cottonseed. The preliminary All Farm Products Index is up 27 points (22 percent) from January 2007. The Food Commodities Index, at 150, increased 2 points (1.4 percent) from last month and increased 26 points (21 percent) from January 2007. Prices Paid Index Up 3 Points The January Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 168 percent of the 1990-92 average. The index is up 3 points (1.8 percent) from December and 13 points (8.4 percent) above January 2007. This is a record high for the index. Higher prices in January for cash rent, taxes, and other farm services more than offset the decline in diesel fuel, feeder cattle, and hay & forages.


Potatoes & Dry Beans: The January index, at 127, is up 1.6 percent from last month and 5.0 percent above January 2007. The all potato price, at $7.11 per cwt, is up 2 cents from December and 5 cents from last January. The all dry bean price, at $28.40 per cwt, is up $1.40 from the previous month and $5.70 above January 2007.

Fruits & Nuts: The January index, at 153, is down 1.9 percent from December but unchanged from a year ago. Fruit prices were down slightly compared to last month. Marketing of fruits decreased from last month.

Commercial Vegetables: The January index, at 147, is up 6.5 percent from last month but 17 percent below January 2007. Price increases during January for lettuce, broccoli, snap beans, and celery more than offset price declines for tomatoes, onions, and sweet corn.

On vegetables

The USDA Economic Research Service annual report on vegetables was released on Jan. 25 and can be found in text form here.


Here is a summary graph:

Fresh market vegetable and melon production for the 24 selected crops estimated in 2007 totaled 494 million hundredweight, up 2 percent from last year. Harvested area covered 1.94 million acres, virtually unchanged from 2006. Value of the 2007 crop is estimated at 10.9 billion dollars, up 2 percent from a year ago. The three largest crops, in terms of production, are onions, head lettuce, and watermelons, which combined to account for 38 percent of the total production. Head lettuce, tomatoes, and onions claim the highest values, accounting for 32 percent of the total value when combined. For the 24 selected vegetables and melons estimated in 2007, California continues to be the leading fresh market State, accounting for 46 percent of the harvested area, 50 percent of production, and 54 percent of the value.

Inside United Fresh

Congrats to the United Fresh Produce Association - Amy Philpott especially - for the first edition of Inside United Fresh, the new member email update. I like greater use of photos and I think midweek Wednesday delivery - as opposed to the Friday delivery of the now retired weekly update - serves members better. I note this interesting tidbit from the report:

Study Shows Fruits and Veggies in WIC to Boost Grower Returns

“With the inclusion of fruits and vegetables now on tap for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) government feeding program, most of us have been focused solely on the consumption increases that will be driven by some $500 million in federal funding,” said Lorelei DiSogra, vice president of nutrition and health at United Fresh. Now, a new economic study by the National Food and Agricultural Policy Project (NFAPP) at Arizona State University projects an additional impact on grower returns, due to the increased market demand. NFAPP examines one commodity – broccoli – to estimate the impact that adding fruit and vegetable vouchers will have in the marketplace. NFAPP’s Broccoli Market Watch builds on United Fresh’s estimate of $32 million in increased retail sales for broccoli, but then uses economic modeling to predict how strengthened market demand will boost grower returns as well. NFAPP estimates that demand will increase 2.2%, leading to a 3.8% increase in retail price, and 2.9% increase in grower price. That price impact alone would generate $21 million in increased returns to broccoli growers. For more information about fruits and vegetables in WIC, contact Lorelei, 202-303-3403.

TK: By the way, Lorelei helped set up an interview yesterday for me with researchers in Wisconsin studying the program effects of the fresh fruit and vegetable program there. More coming on that later....

Fresh & Easy Bay area

I see Tesco is not waving the white flag of surrender in the U.S. market yet. This story details Tesco's plans to build Fresh and Easy stores in the Bay area, and reflects some positive pub it is getting by putting stores in underserved areas. But you can't please everyone...
From the article in the The San Franciso Chronicle:

A British supermarket chain plans to open at least 18 stores throughout the Bay Area next year, many in neighborhoods that other grocery stores have long avoided.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the aggressively expanding U.S. division of Tesco PLC, the world's third-largest retailer, plans to build smaller than typical outlets offering prepared meals, fresh produce and perishables in Antioch, Concord, San Jose, San Francisco, Hayward, Oakland, Oakley and elsewhere.

Later...

"It's easier to go to a Burger King than it is to get a decent piece of fruit in many neighborhoods," said San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, who represents Bayview and Portola. "Fresh & Easy can help that."

Ken Hecht, executive director of California Food Policy Advocates, initially said he was pleased to hear that Fresh & Easy is expanding in the Bay Area, because the company repeatedly has said it will locate in neighborhoods underserved by grocery stores. But after reviewing the list of locations, which includes stores in upscale cities like Danville and Walnut Creek, he said the company isn't doing enough.

"This just isn't going to do what needs to be done if low-income people are to avoid obesity - and that's our biggest threat to public health right now," he said.