The person who influenced my life the most is my mother. Margaret Ann (Tinnin) Williams was born 16 March 1943 in French Camp Californian. My mother gave me my core values and beliefs. Her parents are Roy Donald Tinnin and Clara Velma (McMurray) Tinnin. Her father served in the United States Navy during World War II. Her mother worked in the Post Office Lathrop California. The values she learned from childhood are the same values she taught her children. Do not lie. Do not cheat. Do not steal. Think before you speak. Show respect for yourself and others. These are some of the values she taught me and my siblings. The values she taught us are the same values the Army has.

One of the things she always told us is to ‘think before you speak’. My mom would give us an example. She told us about a sermon the preacher gave at church. He is at the pulpit with a can of shaving cream. He takes the shaving cream and says, “You see this can of shaving cream. It is like words.” He takes the shaving cream and pushes down. The shaving cream goes into his other hand. “He says shaving cream is like words. Once you pour, the shaving cream out you cannot get it back into the can. Once you speak words, you cannot take them back. Thou you say you are sorry for what you have said. The words are still in the memory of those who heard them.” She would also tell us “If you do not have anything good to say, and then say nothing at all.” Teaching us about the power words have.

My mother taught us not to steal and have respect for other people’s property. I had not yet started school when I learned what stealing was. My mom walked to the store near our home in Lathrop Ca. My siblings and I walked with her to the store and home. When we got home, my mom noticed I had some candy. She asked where I had gotten the candy. I told her I got it from the