There are only two in the world that can wear this patch.

™

I guess the easiest way to start off is at the age of nine. I'd like to consider myself, either Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer. My best buddy in this time period was a kid by the name of Georgie “Earsey” Tenenberg, who passed away in 2007.

We did everything you weren't supposed to do. Hooky school, swim bear ass naked in what was called “Big Timber Creek”, quite an accomplishment to learn how to swim in tidal water, stole fruit from anybody's tree that was available, especially apples. The other things we did I won't mention because I'm not sure of the statue of limitations.

“Earsey” was a little older than me, but a tremendous source of information. Most of it was wrong. But those were the days when they used to throw water on two dogs that were “stuck” together. Georgie had the answer for why this happened. Unbelievable.

Although Georgie and I were a threat together at nine years old, we had one other member of our “gang”, Bobby Johnson, who introduced us to sling shots and pea shooters. One of our favorite past times was stealing neighbor's clothes props, breaking them up in a back lot, and using them to bake our potatoes in the fire. The neighborhood police officer, Bill Barret who was a great positive influence on all us, would tell us that he really couldn't tell because they were too badly burned, but he thought they looked like Mrs Dickensheet's clothes props.

You know, it's funny but adults of authority made liars out of the kids of that generation. Remember the story about George Washington and the cherry tree? I mustn't tell a lie? Guess what, if you told your dad you were smoking, there was no way he would say.....that's great for telling me the truth. He would kick you in the ass and tell you to go to your room. No big choice there, I wasn't smoking. The same with a police officer...he handled little problems himself, you took the lecture or whatever, and kept it to yourself....you never went home and told you dad.

Now we talk about the blue-collar town I grew up in, Gloucester City, NJ. The kids were extremely tough, a lot of them wearing hand-me-down clothes and their parents trying to make it. If there was ever a case for Government assistance it was then and there. The town I grew up in most of the people worked two jobs, and that was just to make ends meet....but nobody cried about circumstances, they just went on and did what they had to do, and got by. You have to remember that the town right next to Gloucester was Camden. In recent years it was declared the “most violent city in the US”, two years in a row. Do you realize how many cities we have in the United States? Wow! I guess we really didn't have it that bad.

Miller's pond was an area we used for recreation year round. We swam there, we fished, daydreamed and ice skated. The year I was a sophomore in high school a bunch of us were down at the pond ice skating. There were certain areas that were OK to skate on and an area that wasn't. Anyone who skated regularly knew where to skate, on the day of this incident a young boy approximately 10 years old, went off the restricted area and fell in and went under the ice. I saw it happen and immediately jumped in after him. I was assisted by my friends and they pulled both of us out as I kept his head above the water. His mother was so grateful and knitted me a beautiful sweater as a gift, along with having an article put in the local paper thanking me for saving her son's life. It was quick actions and courage that would serve me the rest of my life, including Viet Nam.

Although I was an average student academically, I excelled in sports. I loved track, especially pole vaulting. I was on my to breaking all the school records for pole vaulting, when instead I broke my arm, ending my pole vaulting in my Jr year. I continued in other sports and at Graduation, I received the First Presidential Physical Fitness Award ever awarded.

Later, when I was in the Army and stationed at Ft Lee, VA I participated in the All Army Track Meet , 1964 and took Second Place in Pole Vaulting and cleared 14 feet. One time, one event, two days of practice. What a life.

After graduation I was member of the Operating Engineers and had a fantastic job working for The American Dredge Co. Times got slow, I was laid off and decided to fulfill my military obligation by joining the Army at Ft Dix, NJ

My MOS was Infantry/Airborne. The path was not as easy as it would seem. First everybody goes through Basic Training. Then I went to Advanced Infantry Training (AIT), Ft Polk, LA, after surviving both of them, I finally went to Jump School at Ft Benning, GA Then I knew what it was to really be in good physical shape. I went to Ft Lee, VA to Rigger School, learning how to pack chutes for paratroopers, heavy equipment and maintenance. Then was stationed at Ft Benning, GA There I packed parachutes for the Jump School students.

As soon as I got settled in my new post I was requied to make a “pay jump”.

This is where I met Sgt. Melvin Louis Sauer and entered into the world of Karate and events that would change my life. Melvin was a Jump Master and also the Main Gym Post Instructor at Ft Benning. He was the “ultimate” force and instructor for guerrilla training, aka “Karate”.

I was accepted as one of Melvin's students and karate became a way of life. All my spare time was devoted to training. I had already attained my “green belt” when I met the person who would become my best friend for the rest of my life. I had lots of buddies and pals, but only one would have the title of “best friend”. His name was Gervis Cherry.

The 11the Air Assault was being formed at Ft Benning, and Gervis transferring in from Ft Bragg, NC. He was a fellow rigger and Airborne, but had no idea what karate was. One night I was working out in the barracks and he sat there staring, and when I was done told me he had to know what that was. His comment to me was, I thought you were having some kind fit. I told him, you're a smart ass from the 82^nd, right? He took the bunk next to me, two weeks later I introduced him to Melvin Sauer.

While we are talking about Melvin, not only was he one of the most interesting and kindest person I ever met, but he was the ultimate karate instructor. His abilities were unbelievable. He was a great influence on the way I conduct myself in life as well a friend. He would say something like, I'm going to tell you a great secret and show you two killing moves. Now they wouldn't be a secret if I showed you all three. But these are the ones Henry used at the matches.....end of story. I never did learn the third one. And I have never shown anyone the two he taught me. Maybe someday I'll pass one along to Lester, the Master Instructor under me.

But I'll always keep one to keep “the secret”.

Gervis had the guts, the determination and discipline for karate and was the nicest guy I ever met. Lucky for Gervis, Melvin also felt the same and took a liking to him from day one. However, he still beat the shit out of him.

Now I had somebody like me, who couldn't get enough of the training. All our spare time was working out. We learned and practice the internal power “ki” and learned to absorb “anything”. A lot of blood, a lot of spitting up , no “I'm sorry”, a lot of “we'll get you treatment tomorrow and take care of those problems” including hospital time. I can attest to the “obsession” as I lost a left testicle and couldn't wait to get out of the hospital to continue training. It's just something inside you and can't be denied.

After several months of intense training under Melvin, I was the high ranking brown belt preparing for my black belt test, Gervis had just made his brown belt and Melvin decided it was time for me to meet Hank, as Melvin called him. To the rest of the world he was “The Commissioner”, the third highest ranking belt in the world, and the deadliest person who ever walked into a dojo. Fear and excitement. It was agreed that Gervis would accompany me to work out before Henry. We arrived in the afternoon, found Henry and introduced ourselves and delivered the sealed envelope from Melvin. He told us to meet him at the Main Post Gym the next day 1 PM.

All movement and sound stopped when Henry entered the gym. To use the phrase “you could hear a pin drop”, it has to be something lighter than a pin. He had total command of everything in his presence. Similar to the scariest movie you have ever seen, but the most exciting....you couldn't wait to see what was next. The words “ Amazing, incredible, astonishing” pale in comparison to the man. He watched us work out and then proceeded to show the proper way of doing everything, including the katas. The proper way almost killed me. Gervis was smiling as he was sitting in the proper position, which caused him to be bruised from the collar bone down to his first rib, as Henry hit him from approximately 2” away. I had my black belt.

The next visit, I received my 2^nd degree and Gervis his 1^st degree black belt.

Back to Ft Benning we go. Melvin (with Henry's approval) appointed me the Main Post Instructor with Gervis as my assistant, as he was given a clandestine assignment in Gulf Breeze Shore, FL to handle a Cuban crisis. Before his departure Melvin ask Gervis and me if we wanted to meet or work out with Elvis Presley. He would set it up with Henry and it was a “no brainer”. Too many things were going on, we took a rain check thinking we'd have all the time in the world. An opportunity missed....what a shame.

We spent the next few months training the elite servicemen and awarding belts with Melvin's approval. You have to be a 4^th degree Master Instructor to award a belt in our style, so they came under Melvin.

Now a major change, the 11^th Air Assault becomes the 1^st Cavalry Division was formed. Due to time constraints, Gervis was given an early out and I was sent to Viet Nam.

I spent 27 days on a troop carrier in horrendous weather. Most of the time the ships bow was under water. I had two buddies from Ft Benning, a brown belt by the name of James Roe and green belt by the name of Morgan. We worked out 2 or 3 times a day on the steel deck. After a couple of days the Company Commander came up and asked if I had been the Main Post Instructor at Ft Benning, I told him yes. He asked if I could train some of his men in killing techniques. I told him it all starts with the breathing exercise and I'll teach them the deadliest moves I can to bring them home safe. I taught about 200 men extreme defensive tactics. When we disembarked, I didn't think I ever see any of them again, other than my own company. We flew into Ahn Khe.

After discharge in 1965 I went home to Gloucester to pick up my life. I stayed in contact with Henry and Melvin. I opened my first dojo in Gloucester as a 4^th degree Instructor under Henry Slomanski.

While keeping active in Karate and running my dojos, I joined Westville Police Department. I obtained a degree in Police Science and Criminology and was certified as an instructor for the New Jersey Police Training Commission. It was at this time I introduced several courses in self defense which are still being used today, along with one of my black belts, Wayne Hires of W. Deptford Police Dept. and my Master Instructor, Lester Whinna of the Camden City Police Dept. Photos and other information can be seen on, www.henryslomanski.net and www.henryslomanski.com

I took an early retirement from police work in 1979 and moved to Potter County.

I stayed active in karate and stayed in touch with my black belts, including Les Whinna, my Master Instructor, in New Jersey. Over the years, I had three successful businesses which kept me in touch with a lot of different people. One incident happened several years ago in a local coffee shop. For several days I noticed a guy who kept gawking (staring) at me and my wife. After the third day, I used a technique I have of tightening my neck and sent a message to him “what the hell is your problem?” He came over to my table and said “Don't I know you?” I replied, “I don't think so”....he asked “ were you in the Army? I said “yes”...he said “were you Airborne?” I said “yes”.....he asked “Were you with the 1^st Cav?” I said “yes”. He asked if I was among the first to go over with them. I told him yes. He said “ I knew it! As soon as you tightened up your neck, (which incidentally is part of our breathing exercise) I knew who you were. You were the Karate Instructor who were teaching my guys (he was an E-7) how to defend themselves in Viet Nam.” “Am I right?” “That was me”. That's how it started.

He then gave me one of the greatest compliments I ever received. “What you taught them probably brought a lot of guys home safe”. His name is Fordyce Reese and he lives in Potter County. I see him regularly and although disabled is still around.

Behind everyone there is someone special who helps through all of it, thick and thin, and I am happy to have my wife of 43 years, Judy with me.

John B Burkhardt
Shi Han Master Instructor
Soke, Slo ryu Karate Do