05-22-2019, 09:38 AM | #1 |
Jan
Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010
Location: Springfield, TN
Posts: 16,225
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We have lost a great hero
Hi guys. I have been MIA for a while here. I need to tell a story. We just lost my husband's hero father after a long battle with Agent Orange induced leukemia. What a great man & hero we have all lost. He was a highly decorated retired Command Sgt Major, special forces army survivor. He would say he cheated death more times than he could count & was not kidding. He was slashed in the face with a bayonet severing his nose, was the only survivor of his unit carrying a wounded comrade out but he did not survive, was a POW & escaped jumping into an icy river while being transported to another place, just to name a few. He was also a very talented musician & artist. He served in The Korean war before he was old enough & won several of his medals then including bronze stars, purple hearts & a silver star. Then it was discovered he lied about his age & he was sent home. He then went on tour as guitar player for Bob Wills. He did not like life on the road touring & as soon as he was old enough, rejoined the army. He eventually also served in Vietnam, chased Che Guevara around South America & went on many highly classified missions that remain classified to this day. He had to jump out (parachute) out of a crashing plane, did tons of parachute jumps, once without his parachute opening. He saved a baby (in Vietnam) that was thrown into a well along with many others that did not survive & left it wrapped in his jacket at an orphanage. Years later the grown woman that was that baby tracked him down to thank him. These are just a few of the stories he could tell. He refused pain meds to the end afraid he would have flashbacks & talk about classified things. After retiring from the Army he had several jobs including teaching homeless people construction trades while housing them, teaching courses on post, selling investments & in the end building cedar Adirondack chairs, porch swings, benches, etc. & toys like dump & logging trucks, baby beds, etc. & cute woodpecker door knockers. He suffered much, loved lots & was good to everyone. He was a hard ass, bad ass & was tough on his soldiers, kids, grandkids, neighbors & everyone he loved but was still loved. He made us all strong. I loved him & will miss him. Just needed to share.
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Last edited by RubyCamaro; 05-23-2019 at 09:02 AM. |
05-22-2019, 09:44 AM | #2 |
'It's an experiment'
Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014
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Wow Jan, condolences...
-Don
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05-22-2019, 10:09 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2013 Triple Black ZL1 Vert M6 ECF Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Trenton, Michigan
Posts: 7,047
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Rest in Peace Sargent.
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05-22-2019, 10:11 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2011 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Torrance
Posts: 14,403
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Thanks for telling his story. May he finally rest in peace.
"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom." Abraham Lincoln |
05-22-2019, 03:05 PM | #5 |
Native Floridian
Drives: 2014 - ZL1 / 2003 - Corvette Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: FLORIDA
Posts: 2,648
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Extremely sorry for your loss. Thoughts & Prayers are with you and your family!
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05-22-2019, 07:04 PM | #6 |
Drives: IOM 2013 2SS/RS, Greenie, 06 FXSTBi Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Turd Town, WI
Posts: 1,583
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Great share! RIP
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05-22-2019, 09:14 PM | #7 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Petersham MA
Posts: 4,701
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Totally agree! Thanks for sharing Jan. That man lived more in 10 or 15 years than the rest of us will ever experience in our whole lifetime. Sounds like an incredible man and an honest to goodness hero.
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05-22-2019, 09:47 PM | #8 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Indiana
Posts: 544
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sorry for your loss, sounds like he was an amazing man.
Thank You For Your Service Command Sgt Major Sir.
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05-22-2019, 09:47 PM | #9 |
GM Transmission Tech
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Condolences to you and your family. My father passed a few years ago because of Agent Orange as well, skin cancer that spread. He fought it for years but finally succumbed. :(
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05-22-2019, 10:59 PM | #10 |
Drives: Never just fly under the radar Join Date: Jul 2015
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Sounds like he was an amazing man may he rest in peace!
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05-23-2019, 10:37 AM | #11 |
Drives: too many Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: oh va pa ma tx
Posts: 3,046
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True American hero! Rest in peace
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05-23-2019, 01:39 PM | #12 |
Drives: 2014 2-SSRS Slushbox Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Posts: 339
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My sincere condolences on your loss. What a great man.
Apologies for this rant, but... We as a nation have treated those great Americans that served in Nam horribly and with utter disrespect. Sgt. Major lived a heroic life..sorta James Bondish, chasing Che, etc. He faced the enemy...fought the enemy and prevailed. Sadly, he succumbed to AO, “made in USA” The government will never admit “guilt” regarding Agent Orange exposure. That is shameful. |
05-23-2019, 01:58 PM | #13 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Black & Silver Join Date: Aug 2010
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My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this difficult time. Thanks for sharing such a personal piece of your family's history. Truly a great man and a historic hero.
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05-23-2019, 07:40 PM | #14 | |
Jan
Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010
Location: Springfield, TN
Posts: 16,225
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Thanks everyone. Good to know there are still some out there who respect our heros. Freedon is not free.
Quote:
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