Lester Probst

Lester Probst served on the DMZ with the U.S. Army’s 40th Infantry Division during the Korean Conflict from 1953-54. In 1959, he graduated from New York University as an electrical engineer. His first job was designing flight simulators, and he formed and led several computer companies until he retired in 2002. In 2004, after his wife retired from teaching they moved to Los Angeles. In 2014, he joined the American Legion, Hollywood Post 43 where he was introduced to creative writing by Returning Soldiers Speak. Lester Probst served as Returning Soldiers Speak Treasurer, and then Board Member, until his death in 2024.

This Is War?

It’s 1953, just a few weeks after having completed intense advanced infantry training with the 511th Airborne at Ft. Campbell KY., and I find myself on a Navy vessel together with thousands of troops on the way to Korea to fight in a war. About two-thirds of the way there, we are awakened by loud speakers blasting away and saying the following: “Good news men, the South Korean government has just announced after several failed attempts, that a cease fire has been reached and the fighting is over.” We all look at each other and wonder out loud.

Patriotism — A Better “ism”

Today we are told that our country is split in half and someone or something has to bring us together again. A leading politician recently stated that an entire generation of Americans has come of age and has never seen American prosperity! How can that be when we all live in the most privileged of times and in the most prosperous nation of all. Only 43 % of the nations in the world are free. The US poverty line begins 31 times above the global average. Last month, over 100,000 people crossed our borders at great risk to experience our

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