Veterans' Day weekend at an Appleseed...

   One of the best parts of being just an old man, is sharing with those that aren't. I was signed up and went to the Appleseed in Redmond to help. Saturday was a bit tough, the water was often falling the Sun was cloud covered but we soldiered on. I got to tell the Second Strike of the match and private Hosmer and Captain Davis died and Luther Blanchard would be wounded and the Revolutionary War hadn't begun yet, leave the audience hanging waiting for the third strike of the match, when it would.
    Will got his Shoot Boss hat, which talented man he is he had crafted to fit him. Looks very good on him. He had his family supporting, and they all had nice Appleseed sweatshirts for the day. Ben and Leanna had come up from Vancouver, WA. Good to work with them again. I will be going down to Douglas Ridge Rifle Club to learn some Pistol Seed training later this month. We picked up another volunteer, and a new Orange Hat was presented on Sunday.
     Our first day of the event was wet and cool, which to shooters that have to lay down in water is cold, no drying out possible. Sunday was better, the clouds would be fleeting and everything seemed to dry a bit, and we felt warm. Reviewed on Sunday was quick and complete and the shooters got to cranking out better groups and higher scores as the day went on.  By the afternoon, we were hollering out loud HUZZAHS! for all the Riflemen scores and Cleaned Redcoat targets. It did seem to rain success upon the shooters, made me think we must have had a lot of ringers or repeat Appleseeders, but it was just magic. Cleaned up and got to drive home in the daylight, the message of John Adams and those days shared with the shooters of our future.  All about Liberty, gentle readers.

Napping while waiting in barracks for Yom Kipper War 1973

   Today is Veterans Day, and I have been posting pictures of my military veteran moments on Face book.  It has been fun, will go back to normal and family and such on Friday probably. As I was scanning through my digital photo album I ran across this October 1973 photo, a candid shot from the upper bunk of the NCO's room. I don't remember who took it. We had been alerted and assembled to respond to the Yom Kipper War (which hadn't been named yet). Like most military gatherings, at a certain point it is 'hurry up and wait'. The rumor mill said one American Airborne Division was going to confront seven Soviet Airborne divisions in the Sinai or Egypt. I wonder if the coming end of the Vietnam War had much to do with the American response, remember talking to a Ft Sill Sergeant that got his self propelled gun ready to deploy and then lost it to the Israelis until it could be replaced by another six or more months later.  We never got to find out if the 82nd could handle all those Soviet paratroopers, thank God, and maybe there were better heads than mine? But reading the Wikipedia article reminds me 'they serve who only stand and watch' or sleep under a magazine waiting for glory.

   Lots of Veterans in my family and our history, I was really unhappy with our nation and the treatment after I came back from Vietnam, I was honored to serve and others had painted us black and ugly. Bad enough that our great grandchildren will never know how proud I was to serve, the country drove me to stay around for the next one because I couldn't really talk to those civilians. I remember telling a war story to a family audience at my mother's home and as I blurted out the f-word for effect my mind had flashing red alarm lights going off - right in front of my mother! I stopped using vulgarity in my conversation, until it would enhance my life. But nothing ever happened to me is always going to be my best war story. I wrote an essay title "Secret Hero" and read it at my father's memorial, but I figured everyone that risks everything for a cause is a hero, even when they don't pay the price. The hard part is coming home and being a gentle person, making a family and building a better future and at the end of a fine productive life you will be remembered for all your best. No medal nor marches needed, just surrounded by your good life and loves.

Earl's View, focus on the front sight: So a couple days before Veterans Day weekend, we r...

Earl's View, focus on the front sight: So a couple days before Veterans Day weekend, we r...:   I have an Appleseed in Redmond this coming weekend, and won't be at my church to honor the veterans, one of which I am. So I will ment...

So a couple days before Veterans Day weekend, we remember when...

  I have an Appleseed in Redmond this coming weekend, and won't be at my church to honor the veterans, one of which I am. So I will mention it at Wednesday AWANA meeting, and stress the Dangerous Old Men stories on Sunday, since they seem to have all been veterans. My wife is going with other church ladies to do their day of volunteer visit to the Soldiers Home here in Washington. Our fourth graders normally say hello on the third Sunday with a trip on the church bus. I have changed my background and my personal picture daily on Facebook. As we get closer to the event the number of posts about the dead increase although it isn't Memorial Day. But fallen comrades should always be honored and remembered more than we do normally.

   I was never as great a soldier as I could have been, but then none of them are but they are all trying. My grandfather mentioned he was in WWI, not to me ever, but he had really spent the remainder of his life being a minister and missionary and working for International Peace. My father came home and until I got back from Vietnam didn't really talk about his wartime work in the Pacific Theater. He had used his GI bill to learn how to fly, and then raised a family and flew. I often thought that America after World War II was deeply affected and moved by veterans that came back from their war determined to build a better life than that they had lived while in the service.  I do remember my father telling me that The Gallant Men and Combat on evening television were nothing like real war. I enlisted in 1967 because I wanted to be a soldier, Special Forces, having read the Green Beret and having a love of history and heroes. Luckily I didn't ever get exactly what I thought I wanted. My recruiter failed to mention that I was a year too young to enlist for Special Forces so I signed up for Airborne Infantry.

   Shipped off to the Republic of Korea, where my wonderful test scores gained me a slot in an artillery battery (needs of the service) and I talked and worked my way into the Fire Direction Center after making corporal as an assistant gunner on the howitzer.  Like I said, luckily I don't always get what I want, needs of the service, and tours in ROK x2, FRG x3, RVN, 82nd ABN x3, Drill Sergeant 3 yrs, finally retiring in Aug 1994.

Reading Kipling "the 'Eathan" which says it all.

   I was asked by a brother at church what era I was in when I served, I found the term 'era' funny, but told him Vietnam and Gulf War. His son wanted to know if we killed anyone, and did I get hurt. But you can't really tell children what they need to remember when they get older and need your advice, can you? Tell them it was important that you did the best you could while there, don't tell them how stupid and helpless you often felt. Maybe when they get older and into a service uniform and trusting you they may need your best answers - keep talking to them.

  Yes, sir! Veteran of 27 yrs, 5 mos and one day. I have been thanked for my service and I do hope all of yours has been all that the Lord would wish. Mine was.

Earl's View, focus on the front sight: The End is near, Repent...

Earl's View, focus on the front sight: The End is near, Repent...:   So the dramatic unCivil Was has begun, the drama and tension are quickly rising and it is all blamed upon Trump and the Media and the godl...

The End is near, Repent...

  So the dramatic unCivil Was has begun, the drama and tension are quickly rising and it is all blamed upon Trump and the Media and the godless Democrats. But really, it is me, my bad, my fault -- I did so many good and almost great things (only in my daydreams) that I can't get into the current culture, and feel so sad that so many are wallowing in it, like it is the only way to think and be. And it ain't!

   So I am the party of one, exerting some influence upon my lovely lady. And we vote soon, 5 Nov, and have deep questions to help answer. Like why can't they use simple English to write Bills and Referendums and Initiatives? Something simple like the lawyers don't need to be hired to read it for us folks.

    I have been thinking about my age, got good news on the liver, no problems. But on the two issues I vote about both are suffering from stupidity of the media and the politicians. So I am sad. I did sign up for two more Appleseeds, and one new pistolseed preview/presentation for instructors. In eleven years of Revolutionary War Veterans Associations and Appleseeds, it was only my Life Membership in the National Rifle Association that made me a domestic terrorist according to the stupid lady in San Francisco. I know she doesn't know me, and can't send the authorities against me, but she spreads ignorance and doom.

   My only defense is to continue to speak, teach, instruct, coach and love our LORD and Liberty, the Zombies and Walking Dead are on the way. The Media love the drama and build up to the climax so the fools get all the notice, my eleven years of working on the ranges with shooters and other instructors, without accidents, without terrorizing anyone, without mobilizing to stupid conflict and hate -- is no proof of anything. But it will be part of my life, since only the writers can change the history, and some of them have a message without facts just their feelings.

 

Earl's View, focus on the front sight: Great Appleseed weekend... had to be there...

Earl's View, focus on the front sight: Great Appleseed weekend... had to be there...:    I showed up and helped out, and the shooters were awesome. So many Riflemen made and repeated this weekend that the group will be remembe...

Great Appleseed weekend... had to be there...

   I showed up and helped out, and the shooters were awesome. So many Riflemen made and repeated this weekend that the group will be remembered. Officially, 8 new, two repeats and only a few still knocking at the door or wanting to grow a few more years. Saw so many happy people both days, one would wonder why more folks aren't taking the liberty built into our country to have safe marksmanship training and firearms safety instruction and a shared with friends and family event.

Kimber Custom (Ben) presenting me the 100 event recognition

Shoot Boss DRRC. Eagle Creek, OR

    Since I never signed up for this event as an instructor or shooter, there might be no official record. But the efforts of Andy and Ben came to fruition in that they were able to present me with a 100 event pin, a challenge coin and a nice note from Rusty, the National Coordinator.  Done in front of the new shooters was I hope motivating to them.

I have to write to link to the first AAR, HERE! Not the first one I shot at, HERE!

1st IIT at Wade's DAR. Dec 2008