Going back wasn't easy, either . . . as it had never been the first order of business.

When I decided to go back to school to get a law degree in 1987, I happened to see a University of San Diego Law School bulletin that was offering classes in international law and taxation at Trinity College in Dublin and at King's College in London. I took the bulletin and knew it was time to search for my "roots" – so I applied on the spot – and made it happen. 

While at Trinity College, one of my professors knew I might have family in the area, and he was willing (and able) to arrange my assignments so I had time to do local research as well as my work for school.

I made my time there count.

I'm happy to have tracked down the photo above of my mother, Katie (Catherine) Coll as a child. She's the girl in the left-hand circle, then enlarged.

This is me in my "Dress Blues" graduating from Marine Corp boot camp in San Diego, CA in March 1964. According to reliable sources in Rathmullan, my father was an American marine – most likely assigned to either the American Submarine base or to the Naval intelligence bunker in Derry, Northern Ireland. 

I was proud to train and serve as one of the few.