Ernest Hemingway and the 1941 Pulitzer Prize

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John Oscar Branch joined the United States Navy in 1970 and was involved in a number of dangerous missions during the Vietnam War, including the Battle of Haiphong Harbor. Following his time in the Navy, he established several businesses throughout Oregon, including the Branch Appraisal real estate company and Oregon Chimney Repair and Cleaning. Beyond his entrepreneurial activities, John Oscar Branch enjoys reading classic literature, particularly the works of John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway. 

William Faulkner, John Updike, and Booth Tarkington are the only authors to receive two Pulitzer Prizes both in the category of fiction, originally known as the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel. The trio might have been a quartet if not for one of the most controversial decisions in Pulitzer history.

Ernest Hemingway published For Whom the Bell Tolls, his fifth novel, in the autumn of 1940. The book chronicled a doomed guerrilla mission during the Spanish Civil War. When it came time to award a Pulitzer Prize for the novel in 1941, Hemingway’s work led the field. In fact, the Pulitzer Prize committee for letters unanimously named For Whom the Bell Tolls as their winner.

The Pulitzer Board initially upheld the decision, but an influential associate of the board found the content inappropriate and lobbied to have the decision overturned. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University, ultimately had his wish granted and no prize was awarded for 1941, one of only a few such occasions since the prize’s inception in 1918. Though the prize has been withheld for various reasons, approval by both the committee and board indicates Hemingway’s denial was purely the result of a single individual’s politics.

For Hemingway, however, the Pulitzer would remain elusive for only a few more years. The author’s last significant work, The Old Man and the Sea, was published in 1952 and received the Pulitzer the following year.

VFW Holds 120th Annual Convention in Orlando

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Oregon-based business owner John Oscar Branch launched three successful companies in the Tigard area. Before his business career, he served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Rowan DD-782, which was used on missions to North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Today, John Oscar Branch continues to support the US military as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). 

In 2019, the VFW held its 120th Annual Convention July 20-24, in Orlando, Florida. The event attracted VFW members for five days of programming on the top issues affecting the nation's veterans, active-duty service members, and military families. The convention also provided VFW delegates with the opportunity to elect new leaders and handle other areas of VFW business. 

Highlights of the VFW's 120th Annual Convention included presentations from speakers such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie. The event also featured a four-day health clinic for veterans, service members, and their families. 

Additionally, several prominent groups and individuals received VFW awards during the convention. More information about the event and other VFW activities is available at www.vfw.org.

Do I Have a Great Business Idea?

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A United States Navy veteran, John Oscar Branch fought in Vietnam and was part of the Lions Den naval battle. After leaving the armed forces, John Oscar Branch founded and led three successful companies in Oregon.

Thinking of a great business idea is challenging regardless of the amount of experience you have as an entrepreneur. Here are three questions to ask yourself about a new idea:

- Why am I doing this?

The process of building a new company takes time and requires a great deal of passion. If you aren’t passionate enough about your business, you may lose energy and patience while establishing it. Make sure your business idea is something you care about and not something that you think will just make a lot of money.

- Does my idea solve a problem?

Usually, the best business ideas solve some sort of issue affecting you, your family, or other people. Take time before you create a customer profile. Figure out why these people need your business and what your company offers that the competition can’t.

- Am I flexible?

Be open to changing your ideas according to your customers’ desires. This flexibility is essential throughout the life of a business.

Benefits of Stainless Steel Chimney Liners

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An alumnus of Portland Community College, John Oscar Branch is a US Navy veteran who supported operations on board the USS Rowan during the Vietnam War. Upon returning to his home state of Oregon, John Oscar Branch founded a chimney repair and cleaning company.

Beyond its architectural impact, a chimney's main purpose is to safely transport dangerous flue gases from a wood stove or fireplace to the outside. A flue liner is essential, although they can become damaged due to improper construction, creosote buildup, and deterioration, meaning annual inspections are of central importance.

Flue liners are commonly made with tiles because they're a relatively inexpensive option, but this can make repairs both costly and difficult to accomplish. In some cases, a partial teardown of the chimney is required. 

Rather than pay for costly repairs and risk additional damage in the not-so-distant future, homeowners can opt to replace a damaged flue with a stainless steel chimney liner. These have the benefits of being more durable and affordable than traditional chimney liners. They are also easier to install and clean and provide added insulation to help the fireplace operate in a more efficient manner.

Three of the Most Common Chimney Problems

A U.S. Navy veteran who served on board the USS Rowan DD 782 from 1971 to 1973, John Oscar Branch turned his attention to entrepreneurship in the 1980s. John Oscar Branch founded three companies, including Oregon Chimney Repair and Cleaning, which he led from 1985 to 1987. 

Although fireplaces can add warmth and character to a home, the accompanying chimneys often require maintenance and service to fix various issues. Below are three common problems associated with chimneys:

1. Flue damage - The flue of a chimney refers to its lining, which can become damaged if subjected to high heat and continual stress. This is especially true if clay tile is used for the lining. A stainless steel lining, conversely, almost never needs to be replaced. A damaged flue can expose the home to carbon monoxide and contribute to a house fire should heat from the fire reach combustible components of the house. 

2. Creosote buildup - Creosote forms in fireplaces as a result of burning wood and, without regular cleaning, can contribute to serious chimney fires. As gases rise through the chimney and cool down, various chemicals stick to the sides of the flue, forming tar-like deposits that are highly flammable. 

2. Blockage - Although creosote buildup is one of the most common forms of chimney blockage, it isn't the only type. Blockages can also occur in the form of a bird's nest as well as leaves and other debris. Chimneys should be inspected for blockages on an annual basis.

Veterans of Foreign Wars' Unmet Needs Program

A retired entrepreneur, John Oscar Branch founded three Oregon-based companies, including Oregon Chimney Repair and Cleaning, during his career. Having served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, John Oscar Branch holds membership with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a group devoted to providing assistance to America's past and active armed service members.

Acknowledging the financial challenges faced by veterans and their families, VFW operates the Unmet Needs program, which provides grants valued at upward of $1,500 to support basic life needs. The program is supported by Burger King and grants are paid directly by VFW to recipients to simplify the process.

Active duty service members or veterans who were discharged following September 11, 2001, are eligible for the grants providing their financial hardship is either the result of a current deployment, a medical discharge, or injuries or illnesses accrued through service. Those discharged prior to September 11, 2001, must be on a fixed income with injury/illness-related VA compensation in order to receive the grant. 

Those seeking grants as a result of financial hardship caused by the mismanagement of finances or legal, civil, or domestic issues will not be eligible. Moreover, grant money cannot be used to cover expenses that are not deemed a basic life requirement, such as cable, internet, or vehicle rentals.

Three Surprising Facts about John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

An alumnus of Portland Community College who served in the U.S. Navy, John Oscar Branch founded and owned three companies while living in Oregon earlier in his life. Now a resident of Sun City West, Arizona, John Oscar Branch enjoys reading and counts John Steinbeck as one of his favorite authors. 

Prominently taught in high school English classes, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is one of the acclaimed author's more popular novels. Here are three surprising facts about the book:

The character of Lennie Small was based on a real person.
During a 1937 New York Times interview, Steinbeck revealed that one of the book's main characters was based on someone with whom he once worked. That person, at the time of the interview, was in a California mental institution.

Another title was considered.
The title Of Mice and Men was inspired by Robert Burns' poem To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough. However, Steinbeck's original title was more simple and direct: Something That Happened.

The first draft was eaten by his dog.
Steinbeck was an animal lover and owned dogs for much of his life. Unfortunately, one of his dogs, Toby, ate half of the novel's first draft.

When to Hire a Chimney Sweep

An Oregon-based entrepreneur, John Oscar Branch established three successful companies in the Greater Portland Area. These included John Oscar Branch Chimney Sweep and Oregon Chimney Repair and Cleaning, two companies providing chimney maintenance services.

Homeowners and businesses who maintain fireplaces with chimneys must have the chimneys swept regularly to keep them operating safely and efficiently. A chimney sweep provides inspections and, when necessary, removes built-up creosote, blockages, and soot from the chimney's liner, smoke chamber, damper, and firebox. The potential for a chimney to catch fire increases as more and more creosote builds up.

To prevent a chimney fire, homeowners and businesses should hire a chimney sweep to inspect the chimney at least once a year, according to the National Fire Protection Association's Standard 211. This is the national safety standard in the United States. Adhering to this standard helps a home or business owner to ensure a chimney is sound, maintains the correct clearances, and is free of deposits. If the chimney sweep spots any issues, he or she can recommend and provide repairs, maintenance, and cleaning to keep the chimney in safe working condition.

The 2019 VFW Legislative Conference

The holder of an associate degree in real estate appraisal from Portland Community College, John Oscar Branch is an Oregon-based retiree who founded three companies, including Oregon Chimney Repair and Cleaning, which serves customers to this day. A Vietnam veteran and former member of the United States Navy, John Oscar Branch regularly supports Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

The 2019 VFW Legislative Conference is scheduled to take place from March 3 to 7 in Washington, D.C., where VFW leaders across all 50 states will have an opportunity to personally speak to their respective lawmakers and lobby in support of important VFW agenda items. The event is also an opportunity for VFW supporters to witness the organization's commander-in-chief testify on their behalf before the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs committees on Capitol Hill. 

The VFW Legislative Conference has been held every year since 1949 and, since 1964, a member of the Senate or House has been selected to receive the VFW Congressional Award. Last year's award went to Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) for his work in improving the Department of Veterans Affairs and boosting national intelligence capabilities as well as his continued support for service members, veterans, and their families. Other awards handed out at the conference included the Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy scholarships.

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven in Popular Culture

John Oscar Branch is an Oregon-based retiree who previously managed his own real estate appraisal company and two chimney repair and cleaning businesses. In his free time, John Oscar Branch enjoys reading stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe.

Although it is only slightly more than 100 lines, The Raven is undeniably one of Poe's most memorable poems, especially in regard to its adaptation in popular culture. Below are three references to The Raven in pop culture:

1. The Baltimore Ravens - When it was announced Baltimore would become home to an NFL franchise in 1996, fans overwhelmingly supported the notion of naming the team the Ravens in honor of Poe, who is buried in the city. The team's mascot is even named Poe.

2. The Simpsons - One of the stories told in The Simpsons' first Treehouse of Horror Halloween episode featured Homer as the protagonist and Bart as The Raven, who is driving Homer into insanity while he mourns the death of his love. James Earl Jones voiced Homer's thoughts in the show. 

3. The Raven (2012) - This film takes place in 19th century Baltimore and involves a young madman who begins committing murders inspired by Poe's works. John Cusack stars as Poe, while Luke Evans plays Detective Fields, who is assigned to work with Poe in finding the culprit.