Being it is Veterans Day, seems like a good time to give you a continuing update on my Texas Buckeye storyteller friend Fred. As you remember (or can read below), Fred is the WWII Veteran who I met in the 'Shoe at the spring game. His house was severely damaged in Hurricane Ike, so at age 92 he is rebuilding. The good news is Fred is back home, the bad news is he is living in a trailer awaiting the rebuilding of his house. Fred wrote me this week: "living in a 31' trailer rather than the house is rather confining. Saturday I went to the OSU Alumni club game watch at the SRO bar, since my trailer RV only gets 4 local stations. It's a 40 mile trip, but I'll take it again next Saturday". He is one dedicated Buckeye.

There is more heartening news. When Fred's son wrote me of his Dad's plight, I played a hunch and passed it on to Coach Tressel's Secretary. I was right. About a week later, I learned from Fred's son that a letter had arrived for Fred, with the return address of the OSU Football Office. Fred shared me the following about it: "When you see Coach Tressel, tell him I was very touched by his letter. It referred to the storm and rebuilding, and included an invitation to visit him the next time I visit Columbus."

Fred's daughter described the meaning of the letter to me much more candidly. She wrote, "He shows it to everyone, and you'd almost think it was printed in gold!"

All the best to Fred and all the Veterans on this their day.