to Sweden, then Finland. Fred tells, “I arrived in
Sweden on April 16th as I planned my travels by
the seasons. When you go south overseas, our
winters are their summers. Same tip applies to
planning sailing trips. You don’t want to be in a
boat during typhoon season!”
From Finland, Fred traveled to Estonia and
back to Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. To
Olsen Norway, to Burgen, Norway. Continuing
to England, Scotland, then Paris. Onto
Luxembourg. Germany. After Vienna then
Austria, Fred visited Prague and Czechoslovakia.
Back to Germany. Then to Paris again before
D-Day. Onto London, then to Dulles. Fred’s list
slows as I catch up on the places visited. He
laughs, “I’ve lived all over the world; I know
where everything is. However, I have to be
careful while traveling with sustaining injuries.”
A highlight of his trip came when Fred took
a high-speed train ride to visit the grave of an
American pilot named Robert Hoyle Upchurch,
II Lieutenant from North Carolina. A Flying Tiger
pilot from Highfalls /Carthage area, Upchurch
was killed by the Japanese in WWII. (An airplane
at the Pik-n-Pig bears his remembrance.) Fred
exclaims, “Upchurch died when he was 24 years
old. He wasn’t flying for America; he was flying
as a volunteer for China.”
Another local named James Robert
McConnell, from Carthage, volunteered to
fly for the French in WWI with the Lafayette
Escadrilles. Killed by the Germans, his memorial
rests in France. With a dedication also in front of
the Pik-n-Pig, McConnell is a local hero.
Fred exclaims, “Here are two locals guys
from Moore County who were heroes to the
international people; they gave their lives
as volunteers. What a remarkable story!” In
comparing McConnell’s’ memorial in France
to Upchurch’s memorial in China, Fred notes,
“McConnell’s monument is very big, but other
guys are also associated with the monument.”
Another favorite was seeing the Bridge
over the River Kwai in Thailand. Fred explains,
“There is a huge grave site honoring all of the
English, Australian and New Zealanders who
were held prisoner by the Japanese. In WWII, the
Japanese forced the people into slave labor for
constructing the railroad.”
Journeying to Scotland to visit the Blackwatch
Museum honoring the Blackwatch soldiers,
Fred’s last memory of note was to find the
resting place of his favorite hero General George
S. Patton in Luxembourg. Beginning with his
favorite place of New Zealand and concluding
with his favorite hero in Patton, the trip Around
the World became the trip of a lifetime for sure!
Fred exclaims, “Oh yeah! I’m not done! My
sister and I are meeting in Japan to ride the
rails with trains reaching speeds of 250 mph!
Then I am taking a train trip through Mexico,
called the Copper Canyon, which travels
through Columbia, Argentina and Chile. With
so many neat rail systems all over the world
from Rhodesia, current day Zimbabwe in South
Africa, to India, train a great way to travel. I go
out West a lot, and since everything is set up
for RV’s, that’s my next avenue for fishing and
sightseeing. I plan to drive the RV up through
Canada and live in Alaska for 3 months and
return in the fall. This comes after a trip through
the Panama Canal.”
Last summer, Fred fished his way through
Wisconsin, Minnesota, to Kenora, and across
Canada to Saskatchewan, and down to Montana
through Seattle, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado.
Whether by wheels, wings, water or rail, Mr.
Fred Para travels the world. Truly the world is his
back yard! “Travel helps mold your attitude to
appreciate the good and bad,” tells Fred. “Travel
encourages you to travel more because you are
continually gaining a better perspective of life.”
In embracing the new year ahead, Fred
encourages, “My life motto remains, ‘Every day
is a free day. Don’t waste it.’ We aren’t in control
of our lives as much as we think we are. We are
alive today. Today is what counts. You can’t tell
what calamity may happen tomorrow or the
next. My life has been full of ups and downs,
but no matter what comes, I choose to live the
adventure!” So buckle up and go for it! ☐
Getting To Know Mr. Fred Para
What languages do you speak? In
addition to English, I am fluent in Mandarin,
Cantonese, Arabic and Thai.
How did you learn the languages? While
working overseas. However from a young age,
I was very receptive to linguistic abilities. Also
a book entitled The Memory Book by Harry
Lorraine teaches one how to remember and
categorize things.
Favorite culture? No favorites. But I am
drawn to Asia over most places. The people are
hard working and know how to get things done.
Favorite food? American food is so boring! I
enjoy Middle Eastern, Indian and Chinese food.
The only places I eat around here are Red Bowl
and Grape Leaf Bistro, featuring Lebanese food.
Favorite dish at Red Bowl? Singapore
Chow Mei Fun.
Favorite memory from your trip around
the world? Because I am ex-military, I have a
reverence for veterans and believe in patriotism.
I loved experiencing the 75th anniversary of
D-Day, McConnell’s memorial in France and
Upchurch’s memorial in China.
How would you compare America with
the world? America is the greatest place in
the world. Period. My favorite place in the
United States is Alaska! Also North Carolina, our
community right here, is a comfortable place
with interesting people and the right pace of life.
Travel tips? You have to do what you like.
Get organized and figure out a plan before you
go. Don’t waste your time. See what you need to
see. In regards to hotels, I prefer to find a nice
hotel and venture out from there.
Packing tips? Pack minimally. Take as little
as possible but plan for all temperatures as it
gets cold in such places as China, Sweden and
Finland.
How would you finish this sentence?
Life is… Life is really what you make it. You are
responsible for you. You get in life what you put
out.
What is the most important advice?
Growing up, we all ate dinner together every
night. We were taught morals, ethics and had the
importance of common sense pounded into us.
All of us kids were successful in life.
In looking back, would you change
anything? Upon reflection, I wish I would
have gotten married at a younger age instead
of waiting so long. I gave up family life for
adventure.
In finding the importance of every day?
Today is all we have.
From your travels all over the world,
Moore County is? The place to always come
back! We live in a very peaceful place!
Bucket list? More or less I’ve already seen
everything and done everything. I’m just doing
the best I can to keep my head above water. ☐
AROUND THE WORLD con't from p. 8
AROUND THE WORLD con't. next column
AROUND THE WORLD continued
Mementos from
working with Trump.
Above: At the Bridge over the River Kwai in
Kanchaburi Thailand.
Below: Being toasted by the Communist
Province Head in Guidong China in Mao
Tse Tsung’s museum in his chair where he
used to greet leaders and visitors .
p.10 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 137