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Dennis Morehouse - Interview With an Oregon Editor

© Sue Barton

Eugene is within easy driving distance for anything we don't have locally.

SB: How did you get your start writing?

DM: I've been writing since I was about seven years old but never submitted anything until I found Suite101. My mother had all of us reading by the time we were four or five and, for me, the inclination to write just seemed to naturally follow. Other than an occasional letter to the editor, I've never had anything published except on Suite101.



SB: Do you write for traditional venues as well as online?

DM: No.

SB: Do you write for other online sites?

DM: No.

SB: What is the basis of your General Military column? Is it all from your personal experience?

DM: I base my columns on things that bug me or that catch my interest. The reason I selected 'General Military' as a topic is that my interests bounce all over the map. Anything from the diet of Ghenghis Khan's hordes to proper footwear for soldiers, to potential weapons in space can be subject to my nosiness. Everything I write is colored by my experience, of course, but I try to maintain a balanced view whenever I'm writing. Each of the military services has its own positive and negative attributes and I prefer to stay on the positive side. (unless some specific item BUGS me!) For subjects from outside the U.S. I try to look from their viewpoint and understand how someone other than an American might see things. I actually don't write much (for publication) from my personal experience. I save that for humorous pieces that my brothers and I send back and forth.

SB: Are there any military exhibitions or shows in Oregon that are absolute "must sees?"

DM: The Oregon National Guard maintains a small but excellent museum at Camp Withycombe, in Clackamas, Oregon. It is nationally recognized even though it's run on a shoestring by volunteers. Their phone is 503-557-5359 (Tuesday - Saturday).

The Evergreen Aviation Museum is located in McMinnville, Oregon and is the home of the 'Spruce Goose' and a variety of military aircraft.

The Tillamook Air Museum is located in a former Naval Airship hangar in Tillamook, Oregon. The museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.