Since it is father's day...I wanted to share....the tale of two fathers
Last edited Sun Jun 21, 2026, 10:29 PM - Edit history (3)
I was born in Germany 4 months after my biological father died in a car wreck on the Autobahn.
When I was 15 months old, my mom met an American Military serviceman when she was hosting at the USO on the Rhein Main base. They married when I was 21 months old and lived in Frankfurt til he was assigned to Vietman.
We came stateside to a house he owned in Tacoma WA. Robert Daniel Collier adopted me as his own when I was four. While he was in Vietnam he was shot and was sent back stateside. One of the most interesting things about him was that he posed as a hotel clerk in East Germany during the cold war and sent back info to US military intelligence.
His wounds caused him to die of a heart attack a week before Christmas when I was 7 years old. I was so little that I have few memories of him, but the one that stands is that....when I was young, I was very hyper and couldn't settle down for the life of me, As a concession (I loved to sing) when going to bed at night, my parents let me lay in bed and sing the hymns I heard that Sunday or in the parochial school I attended. One night when I was belting out hymns, I heard him coming down the hall and I thought he was going to tell me to be quiet. Instead what he did. was open the door and tell me I had a very good voice and to keep on singing. What a boost of confidence that was for this little boy!!! My work now includes me singing all over the world and teaching hymnody. Two years ago I received a Doctorate in Sacred Music.
It was through Robert Daniel Collier that I bear his sur name and through him, I was able to test for my US citizenship.
When I was 15 and we were in the US my mom had a severe stroke. I lived on the streets for a while and then a friend of mine went to his pastor (he lived in our neighborhood at the Lutheran parsonage) and told him of my plight. The Pastor and his wife came to me and invited me to live with them and I accepted. He taught me what life was like working in the church, made me laugh and giggle with his deep sense of humor and helped reinforce the sense of justice that was just budding with in me. Taught me about hospitality and care for the widow and orphan.
Both fathers provided so much to me and I am so grateful that I could have the wisdom and love of both. And I know this happens all the time all over the world. So on this father;s Day...thank you to all who have a fathering spirit, to the step fathers, foster fathers, grand pa's, uncles, neighbors and also to moms who have to go it alone and provide a fathering spirit.
Happyy Father's Day one and all!!! Mike C
= new reply since forum marked as read
the good moments. I like folks like you.
Happy Father’s Day to you, too, gopiscrap!
Correction: I love THIS WHOLE THREAD!!!
To ALL the dads, genetic AND/OR acting, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!
