Log Cabin in the wilderness

[doublejj]

Letters to Stacy

Letters to Stacy

I came across these letters that an infantry soldier in Vietnam wrote to his daughter in 1969. She saved them & posted them online.
I remember writing letters home just like this. I thought he did a great job of describing life as a soldier in Vietnam.

So thank you SP-4 Zimmerman, you were writing for all of us!

doublejj
P.S. I never believed the 58,000 number either. Buy the carnage I saw, there had to be more!
I'll post a couple more of his letters


"Letters to Stacy - Vietnam 1969 SP-4 Zimmerman

It will "Always" be Saigon to me!
HoChiMein City....Barf, vomit, puke. What was accomplished? More than 60,000 dead GI's. The 58,000 is a low figure....I know better. Reality was never revealed from that theater of operation... Way too embarrassing. That is why "Full Metal Jacket" ends with the actors singing The Mickey Mouse theme. We should have shot Johnson. He never pulled his head out to take a breath.

POP

-------------------------

Letter 1 - Arrival

It was the middle of the night. We landed in Bien Hoa at the military Air Base. They rolled up the stairway to the plane. We disembarked. The heat and humidity felt like a damp heavy blanket. I started to sweat right away. I looked around and saw flashes to the west but nowhere else…as Bien Hoa is close to the South China Sea. At first I thought it was lightning but there were NO clouds, just clear sky all around. Then, I knew. It came to me just where I was. It was artillery exploding all over the west horizon. A reason for concern, but not worry or panic, so I thought. We were taken in buses to the Military Post for the night. Cots, no blankets. Hotter than I have ever been. I was sweating in streams. Sleep? Get real!

Next day was more intense heat with the sun unbearable to be sure. We were led to a place to brush our teeth with fluoride. That was the last time I brushed my teeth until my departure in December 1969. This was June 1969. We were taken back to the tents which were all open except for the top to catch any breeze that there may be. There was none. In the AM were we taken back to the Military Air Base. There was no civilian air port except in Saigon for the journalists, no vacationers... he he he. We were loaded upon a C-130 Cargo Plane. We sat in harness straps made to be seats....he he he. It was like riding in one of those very fast elevators that take your breath going up and coming down. We came in for a landing at Chu Lai Military Air Base. A very fast decent to touch down but you could not call it a 'touch' down as we hit the tarmac very hard and bounced a couple of times to the right. It was good that I did not need to pee at that time. You see, the aircraft are most vulnerable when taking off and landing so they get up fast, and fall down to the runway, nerve rattling to be sure. We were taken to the tents right away so we could all take a leak and stop shaking from fright.

Chu Lai is the headquarters for the Americal Division. I was taken to an office and told that I was assigned to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB) of the Americal Division. The next day I was boarded upon a Chinook Helicopter and taken to Company C of the 196th LIB. The Chinook shook and wobbled as if it would come apart at any . There were door gunners on both sides with .50 caliber machine guns for support in case we come into enemy fire, how comforting, a rock can bring down a helicopter, gee whiz what a trip. When we landed, well the fun was soon to start...

POP"

 

[doublejj]

First day under fire

First day under fire

Letter 2 - First day under fire

Arrived at Company C location late in the morning located somewhere between Chu Lai and Da Nang. I was assigned to a squad and we were told we would move out at nightfall....gee how keen that was going to be. The mosquitos are out in force once the sun goes down, and the VC love the darkness...

So, off we went trudging through the rice paddy's, stumbling over dikes and jungle junk. After about an hour there was hollering and guys running to the right to get away from something. Lord, it was a Water Buffalo charging the point team! They shot the beast with their M-16s, but that was like a bb gun against a grizzly bear. The M-60 machine gun crew came up and shot the buffalo down for the count. Hello, good morning Larry... welcome to life in the infantry. The VC trained the buffalo to come after the American GI.

We climbed a low hill side as the sun came up. While we were setting up a perimeter around the hill, a large explosion went off at the summit. It was a booby trap. A Medivac came within minutes and took away the poor soul that stepped on it. He survived only because the helicopter got him to an aid station within five minutes. He was in seriously bad shape. He was sent back to the USA for rehabilitation. We left that location soon after continuing our hunt for Charley (the Viet Cong). We climbed up rivers, mountains and across open rice fields. We stopped for the night on a mountain top. The helicopters brought in hot chow for us. When a second helicopter came in to drop off supplies, it had just lifted off when there was a double explosion. It was a "Bouncing Betty" land mine. There is an initial explosion to bring the charge up to chest level and then there is a second explosion with much shrapnel. Twenty-two guys went down, one KIA. I watched a Medic hold this guy in his arms while he bled to death from a gash in his throat. Jesus, I had to walk away and get sick. The CO sent out a recon-patrol to see if there was any enemy activity around the base of the mountain. Lord God, there was another explosion! A trip wire. I saw the explosion with the smoke and fire. I saw the point man disappear in the smoke. He lost his leg and a hand but survived because the Medivac was there for him in minutes. Well, I told the Squad Leader I wanted to volunteer to be the Radio Telephone Operator (RTO). The RTO never walks point. Walking point, the first guy ahead of the company, is a death sentence. I saw that with my own eyes.

While we were trying to get our **** together, the Squad Leader grabs the telephone hand set from me (I was given the radio right away. It was heavy and the guy with the antenna was a target. Oh, well…) He called into the Company Commander to report enemy activity down in the valley, in the tree line. I looked, but did not see anything at first. As I focused on the tree line, I could see VC walking in the trees. They did not know we spotted them as we were pretty busy at the time. The CO called in Fire Cracker Artillery Rounds ASAP. Wow, what a sight! The sky filled up with explosions over the valley and the tree line. The artillery rounds explode in the air and shower the ground with all kinds of shrapnel. No escape. We were not attacked that night. I had grabbed my ankles and was ready to kiss myself good bye, but apparently we scared the **** out of the remaining VC and they vamoosed quick time. Because we lost so many GI's from the company, we were ordered to return to base, LZ (landing zone) Hawk.

POP

 

[doublejj]

Chapter 3 SP-4 Zimmerman 1969

Chapter 3 SP-4 Zimmerman 1969

Letter 3 - The Bronze Star

We returned to LZ Hawk for a three day stand down. Free beer and soft drinks, and all the food we could eat, 24-hrs a day. We had a band from the Philippines play current music for us all three days. I went swimming in the South China Sea. All of my bug bites, cuts and sores stinging like fire coming into contact with the sea salt water. It felt really good knowing I would not get infected by all of my minor injuries.

Off we go again, hunting Charley after our three days. We did not climb any mountains with this sector of our responsibility. We came to a village. The CO ordered a line assault. All 200 of us lined up in a vertical line of Green Guys and walked toward the village. I was not really keen with this as we were in the open, no cover, just open rice fields to the village. The VC could be behind the houses and trees ahead of us and blow us away… (Our former CO had finished his tour and returned home. We had picked up a new CO. He looked like John Wayne: tall, loaded with hard muscle, no smile, extreme hard core. He had a mean scar from his forehead, down the left side of his face that ended at his chin. Whoa, one mean-looking motor scooter... he he he.) Well, we did not receive any fire from the village. I believe the VC had seen the new boss and took off, not wanting any part of Captain J.Wayne... he he he.

We stopped on a high level section of land that had a shallow valley ahead of us. We had seen some locals, women, walk across our location. When they were across the valley, mortar rounds started falling in on our site. No cover anywhere. We just picked up and left. Nobody was hit, no injuries. It was like the CO just went, "Oh, hmm. Whatever."... he he he. He knew there was little danger. I was just glad we were moving out to the tree line across the valley. We came to a chest high river that was about 100 feet across. Everyone was across except the squad I was with (7 guys to a squad) when the VC opened up fire on both us, and the rest of the company on the other side of the river. The squad leader called in artillery and air support on my squad's location. Gee whiz, I did not feel really comfortable with that decision, but I called it in. The CO then ordered us to cross the river while the other 193 guys of the company opened up on the VC placements. There were bullets flying past us as we crossed the river, making water jump-up all around us. We went in single file rather than just make a mad dash for safety. Golly Molly, can you imagine us trying the cross the chest high river water with our weapons held above our heads... not able to fire back?

You will find this impossible to believe, but true, The Lord as my witness... None of us was hit with enemy fire. The river was shot up rather badly along with the opposite bank of the river. Please understand that the majority of the VC are young boys less than five feet tall. They were scared and exceptionally nervous. They tended not to take careful aim. They would just point their AK-47 on full automatic fire and jerk the trigger, spraying everywhere, and not all that often hitting anything, as all Americans looked to be seven feet tall... he he he. Also, they knew that once they fired on Americans, they only have maybe 10 to 15 minutes before all hell would be dropped on their heads. When we were all across the river, the CO ordered all of us to fall back as quickly as possible and to get down as flat as a cow paddy. We heard the Phantom Jets coming in. Three of them dropping 500 pound bombs on my old location, just a little over 100 feet away, on the other side of the river. I could feel and hear shrapnel flying over my prone body... gee whiz, holy cow! One of the GI's stood up and started taking pictures of the jets and the impacts... fool, idiot, knuckle head. He was hit with part of a bomb and went down hard. He survived, but the CO told the Medics to leave him. He was just a little ticked. Next were the Phantoms with the Napalm bombs. Wow! Three of those jets also, each with two bombs each. Now that is a sight to see! They looked like two small cars dropped, tumbling end over end just before impact, then red, yellow, and black horror all across the other side of the river.

Can you believe... the CO ordered my squad to go back and check for bodies and/or whatever! Holy Molly, we went back over looking all over for something but everything was toast. The point man fired at a lone VC running like a deer about a 1/4 mile ahead of us. He was hit only once that I could tell. He jerked his head back but kept going. Never so scared in his life to be sure…and probably dropped dead before going 50 feet. We chose not to stick around and left the way we came. That was the time that I was given a Bronze Star, as was all of us in our squad. My goodness gracious this was getting really scary by now. Those silly kids in black pajamas and conical were getting a little too close in my opinion!

POP

 

[doublejj]

Letter 4 - In The Middle

We took time for a cold meal then moved out for the mountains again. When we were close to the summit, we took a short break. As we searched the area and the valley for movement, well, how about this, there was a VC way down in the valley watching us. He looked like a small, tiny ant down there. We radioed the CO to let him know we had a target in the valley. We brought up our sharp shooter who used an M-14 but no scope, just a long distance peep sight. Charley did not see us taking aim on him as he stayed still, not moving. Our guy laid down and secured his rifle. He took a breath and let it out then steadied himself and squeezed the trigger very slowly. He fired. We stood there and waited. We almost thought he missed as it seemed a long time, but we jumped for joy when the little VC went down....he he he. The Sharp Shooter was given a three day stand down in Da Nang: hotel room with a cute girl and free meals....he he he.

When we reached the summit we found an encampment. It appeared that they left in a hurry, probably scared them off with the target shooting....he he he. We went back down to the valley on the other side. We humped the valley for a couple of days with no contact. We came up to some more mountains. I saw some jungle move to our right flank and told the squad leader then called in to the CO to hold up the company while we checked it out. We came to a halt. Charley knew the jig was up for him. Things did not go as planned for the VC. We started to advance on the area where I had seen the movement. Charley knew he better go or stand his ground. He started firing his machine gun. We pulled back. The lead guys jumped over the nearest rice paddy dike. It was so close that one of our guys felt a round graze his butt. The guy beside him looked for any blood or damage....he he he. All he found was a hole in the back flap of our guy's pants. I know his left cheek must have tingled for a while...

A couple guys low crawled up the trail to Charley and threw their hand grenades but missed. They asked for more fraggs. I passed my two up and one of them found its way into the hole with Charley. That was the end of Charley. We retrieved the machine gun but left Charley to fertilize the jungle. We did not know it at the time but this guy was supposed to wait for us as we came back to his location......gee whiz. We proceeded up the mountain in front of us and got about half way up when the VC opened up on us in an ambush. There were GI's in front of me and on both flanks. No way to fire back, and the jungle was so thick you could only see the hand in front of your face…Heavy Drama to be sure. One of our guys came running down the trail from the front. He yelled "Chi Com's!" which meant Chinese Communist hand grenades. Charley was throwing grenades into our position. This just was not in anyway cool for us....he he he. Anyway, as this guy brought up his right foot in his run down the trail, a grenade went off where he had stepped. Wow! He went flying head over heals into the jungle. The jungle apparently suppressed the shrapnel as our guy was not injured....another extremely close call. Whoa, we needed to get the "Hell Out of Dodge" he he he. I looked over at the guy next to me…we smiled at each other and I said, "Shit, let's boogie!" So, we started the low crawl down the trail passing guys who were so scared they could not move. They would have stayed there to their death had we not come by and told them to follow us. Lord! Pull your head out and take a breath.....he he he. We got back to the valley floor. Well, the VC we took out earlier with the machine gun was supposed to blow our **** away as we pulled back from the ambush, NO survivors...Ha Ha Ha, Nah Nah! We were just lucky ducks for sure! When all of us were off the Mountain and moving across the valley floor, the CO called in Helicopter Gun Ships to cover our retreat. Jesus, that must be awfully scary to see those helicopter coming at you with machine guns blazing and rockets impacting all around Charley Boy, especially when they knew that was not even the end of it. Next came the Phantoms with their 500 pound iron bombs, then when they dropped their load of bombs, here came the artillery rounds screaming in. At least they could see the helicopters and jets, but the artillery is invisible....can only hear it screaming and whistling in on top of your head. I am sure Charley was knocking down all the jungle in front of them like a bull elephant to get away.

We spent the night on the valley floor and went back the next day. Whoa! Lord have mercy! The mountain was denuded of jungle and only tree stumps, large holes in the ground, and a fine layer of smoke remained. We climbed the mountain. No body seemed to mind this time.....he he he. We had lost the point team. The middle and both flank guys were shot to ****. I knew at that point that I was going to be an RTO for the rest of my tour.

From the soul...
I just wanted to tell you, my little girl... I appreciate your interest in my experience in 1969. No one else on the face of this earth as shown any interest at all, even your mother did not ask about what I went through. I thank you from the bottom of my soul for caring to know about your Father when he faced death in the face…and lived to tell that story to his little girl, Stacy. I mailed a letter to you in 1969 telling you that I loved you and that I may not see you again but I would always love my little girl. Your mother returned that letter to me. She should have saved it for you to read perhaps now in 2011. I threw it away, not in anger but I was hurt and living a life of nothing but disgrace and shame.

Grateful Green Guy .... POP

 

[doublejj]

Valley of Death

Valley of Death

Letter 5 - The Valley of Death - Fear No Evil...

We were headed back to LZ Hawk for another three day stand down when the CO received a call from HQ (head quarters) and was ordered to turn back and head for another area of operations. This was a sector that was championed by the US Marine Corps... what is up, Irene?

Just before we loaded up in helicopters we are told we are to relieve a company of Marines that were almost wiped out by the VC in The Valley of Death. (There is a Vietnamese name for this valley, but I have lost my memory of that name) The Marines had gotten their *** wiped by the boys in black, so they send in the boys in Green to clean up the mess. We all filed in single line into the Marine encampment. As we walked in I saw several KIA Marines, probably over 100 laying on the ground. The Medic Choppers had yet to come pick up the dead. Well, now all of us Green Guys could see first hand what we were going to face when the sun went down. As we filed around the perimeter, I spotted our 16 year old Vietnamese interpreter filing out with what was left of the Marines. This was not a good sign. He perhaps knew more than we did at that point. I spotted a place that looked pretty good for me, but this punk 18 year old Green Boy said that he already picked this place. He was a private. I was a SP-4 and 23 years old at that time…well, let the snot have his way...he he he. As it turns out, that was not such a good spot after all. I parked it a couple of hundred feet down the line and set up for the night.

I must explain about the difference between the Marine approach to warfare and us Army Ground Pounders. All of the Marines had a strict code: charge the hill, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, up the hill and over the top, no matter what the cost. The Marines did not call in for Helicopter Gun Ships, Phantom Jets, or Artillery. They carried mortars and felt that it was all they needed because, By God, They Were Marines, ate nails for breakfast and feared nobody. Hummm, I will let you decide how bright of a code that was. Now us Green Guys, when we came under fire, even a lone Charley Chink, we stopped, pulled back and used all the force we had behind the danger line. If we came up short, we called in all of the above, and we would achieve the goal at a low cost to our Guys. In reality, the VC and NVA all respected us Green Guys. They would unload at us and then run like hell to get away from the hell that would follow. Whereas, the Marines - Charley would come for them, no mercy, overwhelm the John Wayne action figures and win the day. Oh well, we just let them have it their way.

Anyway, when night fell, we all looked like deer in headlights.....he he he. Heavy jungle, could not see spit. Then, boom, an RPG round was fired into our line by Charley. The 18 year old Green Boy was blown away and his fox hole buddy torn up bad. This was the place where I had wanted to set up.....gee whiz, Mabel, thanks for the heads up.....he he he. Then, a few minutes later Charley tried to charge into our line and was cut down by an M-60 Machine gun. He started to get ripe so someone laid a rain poncho over him and threw some jungle junk over him. Nothing smells worse than a dead Charley after 12:00 midnight....he he he. In the mean time, the CO called in for Snoopy to cover us for the rest of the night. Snoopy is a cargo plane with mini guns. He showered the outer perimeter with machine gun fire. We could not see the plane as it had no lights and it was dark as hell, no moon, but we could see a steady stream of red tracers coming down all around us. Lord, I could hear and see jungle jumping all around in front of me. Snoopy got a little too close and hit a Green Guy in the leg. He moved his line of fire a few more feet. How comforting. When Snoopy One run out of ammo, another one came in behind and would set up his gadgets for a safe line of fire. Well, this took some time so, the CO ordered all of us to "Free Fire" until Snoopy Two came on board. Boy, did we shoot the **** out of the jungle in front of us....he he he. We made it through the night, rather long and tedious to be certain. Free Fire is when everyone fires their respective weapon in front of them until told to stop. No target, just to keep Charley's head down and discourage him from advancing, giving him every opportunity to get the **** out of our face!

In the morning we moved out but had to hold up about 30 minutes later. Damned if there wasn't a VC taking pop shots at us from a tunnel. Well, the Marines would charge the ****er and kill him for sure. One against 200. Well, they would win that one.....he he he. Now, on the other hand, us Green Guys, we called in gun ships and jets and blew hell out of Charley's position. No one hurt, no harm done to us. You can bet the Marines would have lost at least two people charging that Gook. I will not speak of the Marines any longer, they lost more people than any other military force in Vietnam, but they were able to come up with a larger body count of dead Viet Cong. How nice for them. We were unable to find enough left of Charley to count so, we lose that point. I will let you reach your own conclusion on this one also. Say, was Glenn Harris a Marine by the way?

Call to duty

Johnson (idiot) activated the Kansas National Guard. All of us were sent to Fort Carson Colorado. Some of us were re-assigned to the SE Asia area of operations, a death sentence for most of us. How they decided on me is a total unknown. I was the only NG in the company of men of which I was assigned. Its so very different now as the National Guard is the major source of manpower and the units are sent over as a group. Let's see what was it that we accomplished in SE Asia? I am afraid I have forgotten?

Hey sweetie, thanks for sharing my story with others. You are the first person that has heard my story. I feel better for doing this. You can be proud and that is super important to any Father for his child. Oh, by the way I am watching a three part series of Viet Nam 64 to 75 on the History Channel. It came to me as I watched my fellow Green Guys in the middle of the ****... the name of the Valley of Death... "Ah Shau Valley". If you ever meet another Green Guy sometime he will know of the Ah Shau for certain. The Marines never took that valley. The Viets were not going to let that valley be taken, no way.

POP the green man

 

[Bobby Stainless]

What an epic thread.

Came a long way from log cabins to your Cobra.

 

[doublejj]

A Shau Valley 1969

A Shau Valley 1969

Galen Brown and Terry Wender killed on May 13, 1969 on Dong Ap Bia (Hamburger Hill) A Shau Valley
101st Airborne, 1st Platoon, 3/187th, 3rd Squad

By Val Wuthrich, Vietnam War:

"While securing a trail leading up the middle of a ridge on west side of Dong Ap Bia (Hamburger Hill), Galen Brown and Terry Wender were shot and killed by enemy fire. The day was May 13th, 1969, a day that I will never forget. Galen and Terry had only been in country a couple of months when the 3/187th started it’s assault of Dong Ap Bia. It was the third day of the operation and up to that point we had no enemy contact. Our platoon had just stopped and we had just moved off the trail when shots range out. With in seconds we were yelling for the medics. Three men were hit, Galen Brown was hit in the chest and died immediately. McCarthy was hit in the leg and up through the hip and need a medic. Terry Wender was hit in the chest and was unconcious but still alive. One medic was attending to McCarthy and our medic was at Terry’s side. He was applying field dressings to Terry’s chest wounds. I was trying to help as the medic worked frantically trying to save Terry. I could tell that Terry was slipping away and as kaous ensued around us, I sensed an abiding peace where Terry was, except for the medic who was very upset because he knew that he wasn’t going to be able to save Terry and was crying frantically. As Terry slipped away the war seemed to come crashing in on us. We consoled our medic and told him that he had done all he could do to try and save Terry. I will always remember Galen Brown and Terry Wender, and that fateful day."

 

[doublejj]

A Shau grunt

A Shau grunt

By Lt Warren Murray


The day started like any other in the A Shau...wet, cold, and no dry socks.
It was 1968, and the 1st Cav was given the mission to look for the enemy and find the base camps they had used to stage for Tet. We were told our area was virgin territory.

It sure looked it. A lot of signs of the enemy. Heavily used trails, bunkers, a lot of organization.

I grew up in the woods, a father who believed in taking his boys hunting as soon as they could walk. A father who taught his kids respect for nature and how to listen to it. This above all else is what kept me alive in vietnam.

Here I am in vietnam, leading a platoon of men in combat and not even old enough to drink. My 21st birthday would not be until August '69. In charge of leading a platoon that was never at full strength and always looking at another seasoned vet getting short.

We met with the cap at daylight to go over the days objectives and get the marching orders. Our day to be lead platoon. I have to get back to my men, pick the lead squad and point man. Everyone knows the morning routine--pick up your claymores, see if they had been turned, clear your booby traps and trips, and get ready to move. Gotta check for leaches and other crawlies and get your shit ready for humping cause it is going to be another long day.

You wonder if the rain is ever going to stop; it makes the jungle close in on you and makes it hard to hear. I have to tell the new RTO (radio operator) not to walk so fucken close to me; i ain't in love with you and don't want to kiss you and get your fucken sorry ass away before you get me killed. jeezus! fucken fngs. How long is this one going to last?

The trail is muddy, slippery; and if you aren't climbing uphill, you are sliding down. how the hell are we supposed to make three klicks? The senses are working overtime and everyone is on edge. The trail has been used recently, fresh prints, the dirt still crumbling on the edges, not washed down by the rain. Everyone is scared, no john waynes in our platoon, just a bunch of kids who want to make it home. You could smell the ambush. The problem was there were so many good places to lay it. You approch every ridge and twist and the trail expecting the enemy to open up. It makes a hour seem like a fucking year.

The first pop seemed muted and somehow not real. The rounds start to go off, and it sounds like the start of wwiii. Just like that, it's over; seemed like it lasted forever, but it was just harassment, fire a couple of rounds and di di. The adrenalin high is unreal and takes a second to get control. So typical of this war, more brushes then pitched battles. They pick the place and time, and we play hide and seek.

The bunker complex is unreal, not to mention the hootches above ground. Uniforms, rice, weapons, ammo, a field hospital. The men and I are in total awe. We had no idea the enemy had places like this in south vietnam. A little over two klicks into the day, and we had struck pay dirt. Checked the uniforms for pants but no luck, nothing my size. Sure would have been nice to have some clean new pants.

We have found evidence of pows and fresh graves near the hospital site. We get the word the engineers and grave registration are coming in and our platoon is to move on to the hill that is our objective and secure an lz before dark. Just another wet miserable day as a grunt. Another day shorter.

mtk

 

[doublejj]

What an epic thread.

Came a long way from log cabins to your Cobra.

Thanks Bobby, it feels like a long way

doublejj

 

[doublejj]

Clarence Sasser US ARMY Combat Medic

Clarence Sasser US ARMY Combat Medic

Combat Medic Clarence Sasser, US 9th Infantry 1968

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=h9ldSEsECQU

doublejj

 

[Hemphrey Bogart]

Thanks for posting up those stories, dubs. I read them a couple days ago and couldn't come up with a response. I found myself just sitting there, puffing away and thinking about what I just read.

Heavy stuff. I can see why the guys I know who were actually there don't like to talk about it.

How about we get back to the cabin stories, Dubs? Pretty please? Heh heh. You've set the stage very well for the bright side of the story now, I think. Besides, I'd like to see how that cabin turned out.

Thanks again for sharing those letters, Dubs. Excellent thread!

HB.

 

[doublejj]

Foster Parent

Foster Parent

OK bro, nobody was commenting on the cabin, they seemed to want to know about Vietnam.

The young man you see in this picture is our foster son.

During the time we were bulding the cabin, my wife & I became foster parents to a troubled teen.
He had lost both parents in a car accident. He was 14 & living with his only sister (19)

He was raised in the city (Seattle) & was running away & getting into trouble. She couldn't control him.

At first we just invited him to come & visit for the summer, but the mountains did a number on his head.

We spent all summer working on the cabin but with plenty of time for fishing & hunting & riding motorcycles.
When it was time to go back to Seattle & go to school he didn't want to go, but his sister insisted, & came & picked him up.
About 2 weeks later i get a phone call (we were still living in town at the time), "Have you seen him, he's run away agan". I no sooner put down the phone & who do I see walking up the driveway!
"Please let me stay, I'll be good I promise!"
Well, I worked thngs out with his sister, but the high school wouldn't let us enroll him without authority. So we applied, & became foster parents.

He's married now with a family of hs own. I'm so proud of him!

Being a foster parent is THE most rewarding thing I've ever done

Life has many unseen curves, It's all about how you take them

doublejj
P.S. I'm looking for another box of pictures that I think has some of the cabin 'as finished'. Right now I can only find these pics that were taken during the building. Bear with me.
Edit: I just got a call from him, "Happy Fathers day"!

 

[TheFlyinHaWyn!]

that is a beautiful story jj. you are a GOOD man!!

 

[doublejj]

Foster Grandpaw!

Foster Grandpaw!

Now I'm just gonna brag some!
This is my foster grandson, he is a very accomplished amateur Motocross racer. I'm so very proud of him!
I have a "shrine" to the lad, behind my computer. The poster & trophy are him winning the 2008 Dodge National. I was there to see it! I travel to as many of his races as I can

doublejj

 

[doublejj]

Tenn in August!

Tenn in August!

My foster son & grandson spent fathers day together at the racetrack today.

The pinnacle of amatuer motocross racing in the US each year is the "Loretta Lynn National Championship". An event sponsored by Loretta Lynn at her estate in Tennesse in August.

There is so much amateur competition that to get there, you must first qualify at one of the dozens of regional amateur races.
Only the fastest times qualify, and most don't make the cut.

Loretta Lynn Qualifiers schedule: http://www.your-adrenaline-fix.com/loretta-lynn.html

Well, our boy finished well enough this weekend to make plans for August in Tennessee! Wooohoo!!!
He's been there before, riding the mini's, but not the big bikes.
Today he qualified on both the 250 & 450! Oh Yes!


What a great fathers day!

I'll keep you guy's posted, Tennessee here we come!

doublejj

 

[Hemphrey Bogart]

What a great way to spend father's day. Man, this thread has taken so many twists and turns, just like a dirt track!

Good luck to your Grandson. Sounds like he's well on his way. I wanted to get into motocross when I was a young man, but my mom wasn't having it. My dad was ok with it, but mom had the final say and her answer was "no, no, no." Waaay too over protective...

If I ever have a kid, I'm going to let him/her do all that kind of risky-ish stuff if they really want to. I think being involved in things like motocross really helps to teach them a lot about life in general. Everyone doesn't get a trophy and if you want to win, you have to be best! I hope he does well and keeps with it. Those motocross guys get paid well and get tons of groupies! OW!

Thanks again for sharing, Dubs.


HB.

 

[doublejj]

The good things in life

The good things in life

2010 Dodge dually = $43,000
2012 Yamaha YZ450F (Race preped)= $14,000
Complete set of 'FLY' gear (incl. helmet, gloves & goggles)= $750
Garnier G12 MX boots= $600
The chance to spend New Years Eve & Day 2012 at the racetrack with family= Priceless!

doublejj

 

[dmtcorey]

vary good thread,i have enjoyed reading through it ,lots of heart in it !
i remember when i was younger i had a bike and was wanting to race but it never happened ,i did just buy 28 acers of land though and plan to build a log cabin in the near future though

 

[doublejj]

vary good thread,i have enjoyed reading through it ,lots of heart in it !
i remember when i was younger i had a bike and was wanting to race but it never happened ,i did just buy 28 acers of land though and plan to build a log cabin in the near future though

That sounds awesome dmt. If I can assist you in any way, please ask. Good luck & be careful!

doublejj
P.S. First tip: buy yourself a good pair of gloves!

 

[doublejj]

Life in the pits

Life in the pits

The glamorus life of a Motocross racer!lol!
Just a couple of pics from the pits. Home away from home, one week at a time.

doublejj