A Wandering Soldier Finds Unexpected Adventure in his Hometown

Clarksville, TN - For years, I've been a wandering soldier, deployed overseas, traveling as a contractor, and now traveling for recreation. Using Clarksville as a quiet, unchanging place, as our home base. I have been visiting new places around town recently. It has felt like I was stepping into a completely new world. It is proof that new adventures await around every corner.

My reconnaissance led me to a cluster of new businesses I barely recognized. Walking into "Firepot Korean Barbecue and Hot Pot" gave me an eye-opening glimpse into our changing city. The sheer scale of the restaurant's buffets blew me away. Rows of metal trays filled with noodles, fried rice, and savory chicken dishes. The industrial expansion has completely transformed our local culinary scene.

The quiet streets I settled in are bustling with new construction. Clarksville is really coming up in the world, largely thanks to the massive Samsung and Hankook factories that recently opened in our industrial park. With these massive companies came a wave of Korean managers and engineers, and thankfully, they brought their incredible food culture with them. Intrigued by the changes in my own backyard, I set out to explore these new experiences.

But the main objective for the day was trying something totally new to me: Korean Hot Pot. We grabbed a table equipped with its own integrated induction burner. I sat back and watched as my dining companion showed me the ropes, expertly snipping fresh ingredients into the simmering broth with scissors.

Learning the local techniques: using scissors to prep ingredients for the bubbling, spicy broth. The fiery red broth was rich and complex, making a perfect base for our meal. I loaded up my plate with a beautifully glazed pork rib and some massive shrimp to enjoy on the side. The perfect combo: A pot of bubbling stew right next to my plate of expertly grilled pork ribs and large shrimp. Our raw ingredients are ready to be cooked at the table.

For the main event, we had an incredible spread of fresh ingredients to cook in the broth, including a huge variety of seafood, clams, squid, and lotus root. Cooking it all right in front of us made the whole experience feel interactive and exotic, yet firmly rooted in the modern town that Clarksville is quickly becoming. The food was, without a doubt, unbelievably good.

I'm already planning my next mission back here. Next time we go, we are definitely getting the Korean BBQ so we can grill our own meat right at the table. Who knew that after traveling the world, some of my favorite adventures would be waiting for me right down the street?

A Journey Through the Ozarks: Tracing the Bloodshed and Bravery of Wilson’s Creek and Pea Ridge

THE OZARKS —We recently embarked on a moving journey through the rolling hills of Missouri and Arkansas, tracing the intense and often overlooked Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.

Our latest expedition took us to two of the most pivotal battlegrounds in the Western theater: Wilson’s Creek and Pea Ridge. Through our camera lens, we captured the stark contrast between the peaceful, sun-drenched landscapes of today and the brutal history that unfolded there over 160 years ago.

Wilson’s Creek: The First Major Battle of the West
  

The journey began in Republic, Missouri, at the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Fought on August 10, 1861, just weeks after the Battle of Bull Run in the East, the Battle of Wilson’s Creek was the first major military engagement west of the Mississippi River. Union forces, led by Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, launched a surprise attack on a much larger encamped force of Confederate troops and Missouri State Guard.

Though the battle was a tactical victory for the South—and resulted in the death of General Lyon, the first Union general killed in action during the war—it failed to secure Missouri for the Confederacy. The fierce fighting bought the Union time to organize and ultimately keep the critical border state under federal control. While exploring the grounds, we could see where the heavy artillery that defined these engagements.

Pea Ridge: The Battle that Saved Missouri

Following the historical timeline, we traveled south across the border into Arkansas to visit Pea Ridge National Military Park. By early 1862, the war that many thought would last only 90 days had dragged on, and control of Missouri remained a highly contested prize.

Fought on March 7–8, 1862, the Battle of Pea Ridge (also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern) was a decisive clash. A severely outnumbered Union Army of the Southwest, commanded by Brigadier General Samuel R. Curtis, managed to outmaneuver and defeat Major General Earl Van Dorn’s Confederate forces.

We looked upon sweeping views of the battleground from a high rocky overlook, illustrating the challenging, heavily wooded, and mountainous terrain both armies had to navigate.

The Union victory at Pea Ridge was monumental. It permanently cemented Union control over Missouri for the remainder of the war and opened the door for federal forces to push deeper into Arkansas.

A Somber Reflection

For us, walking the silent fields—now marked by wooden split-rail fences and silent iron cannons—was a stark reminder of the cost of a united nation. Through their travels, they continue to ensure that the sacrifices made in the rugged hills of the Ozarks are not forgotten by modern generations.

Stepping Through History: Our Day in Bentonville

BENTONVILLE- There's something about a crisp morning in Northwest Arkansas that makes you want to get moving. Terri and I recently headed over to Bentonville to knock out an AVA (American Volkssport Association) walk, and we couldn't have picked a better starting point than the historic downtown square. Between the fresh air and the deep dive into American retail history, it was a Saturday well spent.

We started our route right at the corner of NE 2nd Street, where the town's red-brick charm is on full display. Bentonville has done a fantastic job preserving its "Small Town, USA" feel, even as it serves as the home base for the global giant Walmart.  As we made our way through the square, we found ourselves standing in front of the iconic red-and-white striped awning of Walton's 5-10. You can't come here for a walk and not step inside the place where it all began.

Inside the museum, we followed the timeline of Sam Walton's journey. It's a classic American story: by June of 1945, Sam was discharged from the Army and looking for a place to settle down with his wife, Helen, and their first child, Rob.

He started out in Newport, Arkansas, running a Ben Franklin variety store, but eventually moved to Bentonville to open the store we were standing in. One of the most interesting tidbits we picked up was how the name "Walmart" came to be. In 1962, Sam was getting ready to open the first official Walmart in Rogers. A manager named Bob Bogle suggested the name, partly because it only had seven letters. Back then, you paid for signs by the letter, so "Walmart" was a whole lot cheaper to put on a building than "Walton's 5 & 10."

As we walked through the exhibits, one thing really stood out to me: Sam's 1979 Ford F-150 Custom. It's parked right there in the museum, looking exactly like it did when he drove it. It's got about 65,000 miles on the odometer, a four-speed manual transmission, and some old dog crates in the back. There was a quote on the wall that I think says everything you need to know about the man: "I just don't believe a big showy lifestyle is appropriate. Why do I drive a pickup truck? What am I supposed to haul my dogs around in, a Rolls-Royce?"

Seeing the original papers, keys, and even his sunglasses still sitting in the truck was a powerful reminder of the humility he expected from himself and his team, even as the company went public in 1970 and eventually crossed the billion-dollar-a-year mark.

After soaking in the history, Terri and I finished up our 5k loop. Walking past the old store interiors and the massive murals of the original "5-10" days really put the distance we covered into perspective. It wasn't just a walk through a town; it was a walk through a legacy of hard work and simple living.

If you're ever in the area for a hike or a ride, I highly recommend taking an hour to slow down on the Bentonville. It's a good reminder that even the biggest things usually start with a small shop, a cheap sign, and a reliable old truck.