INTERESTING.....BUT SAD STATISTICS ABOUT THE VIET NAM WAR

1. This weekend in Nephi, Utah is always great, as we celebrate the Ute Stampede, a rodeo that has been a yearly celebration where families and friends get together. As two of my brothers pulled up where I had been watering our horse pasture, I  recognized the 9th Infantry patch on the hat of Hal Jones, who was a Medic on the front lines of the horrific killing spree that met the Allied forces in a swamp called Nam. I thought I would put off the rodeo celebration and gather some statistics from that war of wars. I had three brothers in the military during the Era of Viet Nam, and glad they all came home, and only Hal with sadness to be a victim of that upfront fighting. Hal was partially hit with an explosion when his medic partner was ordered to go in a Chu Chi tunnel that was a booby trap that killed his partner and partially hit Hal, who turned down a Purple Heart, as he only wanted to return home which he did and safely so. And he had a chance to travel to Washington D.C. to  see the Stats on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
2. There are 58,267 names now listed on the polished black wall, including those that were added in 2010.
3. The names are arranged in the order which they were taken from their families and within each date the names are alphabetized. 
4. The first known casualty was Richard Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, Mass. He was killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III.
5. There ae 711 West Virginians on the Wall.
6. The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered for. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National forest. and in  the patriotic camaraderie typical of  Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.
7. The Buddies of Midvale, Utah were LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, and Tommy Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived near each other, and played ball on an adjacent sandlot. They all joined the military and traveled to Viet Nam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three were killed.
8. The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968-245 deaths.
9. The most casualty deaths for a single month was May, 1968-245 Deaths.
10. For most Americans who read this will only see that the Viet Nam War created. To those who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, the survivor's and the Medics only see their faces, and hold them for that last shot of Morphine and their transition is felt. They feel the pain for ever. Remember, we too will pass, so never ever forget those who fought for our liberty. 

                          THERE ARE NO NOBLE WARS, JUST NOBLE WARRIORS.

GOD VS.THE DEVIL

                                                                              

                                                                               

A SHORT HISTORY OF NEPHI AND THE UTE STAMPEDE

Today's history lesson is a brief overview on the Utah City of Nephi, named after an individual that the LDS folks believe was directed by God to this the western part of the world. We have submitted information about Nephi's Centennial Jubilee of 1951. If you are now or may be a future leader of our area, we would encourage  all to seek out the book that I have used to explain the beginning of our County and Cities within Juab County. They didn't have hand held "Gigaphones" or "Retro Emulator's" to chat with each other and the many organizations you could join to play with the instruments' of the several marching bands or join the all female band called the "Dellu" or perhaps attend the Presbyterian Church located along Main Street on the west side at about half way between 2nd and 3th North. And since the rodeo of the Ute Stampede is around the corner, we thought about showing a page about it's beginning. I am not sure, but when it was named that, there was a big crowd of the "Ancient Ones", which we refer to as Indians, and they often came to Nephi to watch the Stampede. I don't remember Utes arriving, but several Navajos liked to be here for the good entertainment that is still here. When I was a kid, those Indians and the Cowboys would often camp out beneath the Cottonwood Trees that used to be lined up on the west side of the arena. They could wash up in the irrigation water nearby.   

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY TO EMMA OCKEY CARTER

 I am not sure why, but today's blog entry is on a beautiful gal now and back a few days ago for her June 18th birthday. I guess she was trying to get my attention, as her funeral program fell in front of me and perhaps that was her way of reminding me, as we had birthdays on the same day, but a couple years apart. If you didn't know Emma, you missed a golden chance of meeting the beauty within her and her dry wit and honest words. When I interviewed her a few years ago, I reminded her she and I were "First Cousins", she instantly gave me a verbal reprimand! She said something like "all of us are cousins, and not first or thirty first", and she knows the truth, and one can always expect Emma to let you know the truth of things. Her very best friend was her sister Dora, and another close friend was a "Cousin" named "Marian Garrett Mickelson" and my guess is that both are having a "Heavenly" good time. I became acquainted with Emma and her sister Dora as they both took great care of their mother- Pearl Jones Ockey, who I loved visiting as she would take me down to the farm where she grew up and we would pick mushrooms and wow, she would cook them up while I pulled her weeds. and cut her lawn. I was about ten years old and wrote notes of how things were in "the good ole days".We now present the beauty of Emma Ockey Carter, and she married Jack Carter as when he came home from the war, he looked so handsome in a uniform, just like her Dad-Bill Ockey when he returned from W.W. One and gave his 30-40 Craig Rifle to Paul Ockey and now with granddaughter-Debbie. Bill was tired of killing and told my father that! And Deb has that now, and proud of her Veteran Family!

 

SARAH TAYLOR ROBINSON HAD HER FUNERAL EARLIER TODAY.

Sarah was just 50 years old, but she suffered from a deadly Cancer for some time and is finally released from that burden. God, being a perfect being, sent her to earth to brighten up people's experience here. For those that knew her, she was the ideal gal that would do that, as she had a smile and a personality that could be felt by all. I first met her when I was campaigning for Nephi City Council. After knocking on her door, she readily invited me in and wanted me to meet her kids and I could feel the positive energy within. She told me she was a police officer for Nephi City, and loved her work. I was elected and soon found out that some old habits are slow to stop. After 42 years of being a law enforcement officer, I had often carried a 32 auto in my bib overalls, and watching for any cop that may need backup, as I don't believe that most residents have little understanding of what the beat was really like, even in Nephi, which used to be a small rural town, but escalated too fast. I wanted to give back to the greatest place I grew up in. I chose working for the City, and doing it was next to a full time job. I used to help the DUP at their museum, being a janitor and cleaned up the old Territorial Jail that turned into the Juab County Jail. One of the fun times was having the 4th Grade students and Scout Troops come for a demonstration of how to grind up wheat to make flour, in the same manner of what our Pioneers used to do. Then we would go through the Jail. I had obtained two wooden Batons or nightsticks used at the Utah Territorial Prison where the Sugarhouse Park is now in Salt Lake. I hung those on the Jail wall and had a pair of old handcuffs that hung nearby. I guess I didn't hang them high enough, as a couple boys got a hold of them and decided to put them on the wrists of one of their friends. When they couldn't get them off, I was notified, and it took a specialized barrel key to open and I didn't have one. So we called the Nephi Police, and wait for Sarah Robinson to drive up with her bolt cutters. She laughed and said something to the effect "Jones, why have you put the cuffs on the best kid in school"! I found out later he was and remembered that "Kids will be Kids" much like I was and still am. I kept an eye on Sarah as well as other cops, even though they have good back up with the UHP and Sheriffs office, but knew what it was like when only one cop was on duty, and little time to wait for a back up. I had always sensed what a good human being Sarah was, and regardless of the situation, she kept an upper lip and found her down time by being with her family and one could sense their love for her. Although the words of "Remember Me" are on the back page of the program, I believe that all that knew Sarah will in fact remember what a special spirit she is to all, and I believe that she is very much alive in a spirit form, and will be your angel in disguise, and like her Father In Heaven, she and He will respond to your prayers and needs. She had a church full of good people, who all can rely on, so be happy as she is no longer having the hardship of Cancer. And to the Relief Society, thanks for the great Funeral Potatoes!

"DON'T DARKEN MY DOOR"-A THREE ACT COMEDY FR0M MANY YEARS AGO

This is only test, as we lack enough cerebellum (a latin word which means "little brain") to figure out who the actors were that put on this play of long ago.We do know for sure, but this play probably occurred in the old Juab High School in the 1930's or 40's. We don't have the exact year, but Google maintains the author published the small program in a book-like container, and she became a wealthy lady writing in 1936 and it was a hit throughout America, often being acted as the Senior Play. One would have to write to the publishing company and pay a dime for each book for each of the actors, and nobody could make profit for putting on the play except for Ms. Anne Coulter Maretens. The Nephi Jones kids were very much aware that our mother was heavily involved with school, church and community activities of which plays and skits were her cup of tea. The writing the names of the character's appear to be that of Alma Jones, who would eventually get hitched to LaVon Harris, as soon as Alma returned from the US Army during the Era of W.W. Two.

The hand writing appears to be that of Alma Jones, as two of his kids recognize his signature. The second one appears to be Barbara Winters who married Ron Jones; them Glade Sanders; Ethel Lee; unknown; Ellen Garrett; Mrs. McPherson and the last name appears to be that of Mrs. Stuart, which could be Carol Stuart; wife of Russell Stuart or the one that married Kay Stuart. Have fun, and see if you; Grandkids, etc. others, and the winner gets one no-payday and have a choice of hand shearing a real Sheep.   

 

                                                                               

                                                                       

APACHE VS. APACHE-WHO WON? PERHAPS FUTURE HISTORY WILL INFORM

Today I chose to write somewhat of the Apache Indians(or Native Lamanites), then the second half of our reading is my attempt to indoctrinate the reader! That will be of the Apache Helicopter being used by our present and outstanding(my own term) professionalism and guts to protect America from the varmint's (another personal term), who now have a building in lower Nortonville, which is called the "National Guard" Readiness Center. According to Viet Nam Medic Hal Jones, he was a happy camper when they heard the Cobra's coming as they struck fear in the enemy, and the Hueys would machine gun their way in the jungle to pick up the wounded. Now back to the beginning. It seems that human beings of the earth have always been "Invaders" of other people's food, land and money. If we go back in time, our history books don't always tell the whole story, but the writings of those books differ somewhat, so that is why I like to go to the places of noted world history and come to my own conclusion. And if you count how many countries that America has invaded, you have to first determine who is calling it an invasion, as some of the "know it all" folks maintain Viet Nam was not a war, only a police action, but to the 58,000 thousand Americans that were killed in the septic jungles of Nam who knew it was a WAR. Those young guys were playing baseball one day and the next day they were hit with our own "Agent Orange" after a "Whoops, sorry guys, I didn't get the right ridge". Without looking it up, my first guess of who "Invaded" the most, I would vote for the Brits, and remember seeing a wide variety of Roman cement flower pots that were brought over to the British Isles, once the Romans did their duals with many of our old relative's. Although people from various countries maintain that Mexico have been Mexicans, it is quite different if you had the chance to talk with Geronimo, who wasn't like Chief Cochise, but a great warrior for the Apache Indian. The Paleface riding horses and pulling wagons with cannons; dynamite and food could not keep up with Geronimo and his 75 Clansmen's, holding the United States Army Cavalry at bay for a long time. If you look closely, South America; Central America and what we now call Mexico, were the people who Invaded those areas by the Spanish Conquistadors. They were being funded by the Romans. Father Meersman, who I had the pleasure of meeting when he was the Prison Chaplain at the Point of the Mountain, maintained the Catholic Church was only interested in having the Natives get to know Christ and join that church. But of all the gold that was found, it was split up with the Vatican and Spain. If you take a trek down to San Antonio, I found many "Missions" or Cathedral's that Catholics own and have weddings in, but it was built by the Mayans and other Ancient "slaves." I paid a guide to take me to a "Special Cathedral" where some of the female slaves were held if they became pregnant, but won't go into more detail at this juncture. Apache Chief Cochise wanted peace with the Pale Face, and Geronimo was a peaceful man.....until 1838! That is when Mexican troops invaded the Apache land and brutally assaulted, then killed his mother; wife and 3 children of Gokhlayeh, who then changed his name to Geronimo and raised havoc. He and his band of brothers ran into the area where the Troops were and slaughtered many Mexican troops. The Apache became infamous for striking fast and furious and took on 5,000 U.S. Troops, often laying under the dirt covered wagon trails, and after they past overhead, the Braves rose up and did their killing, one wagon at a time. The Apache Nation had Geronimo to lead his 75 warriors against the Two Infantry Generals. But Geronimo decided to surrender in 1886, as Washington D.C. promised they could go back to their own land, but a promise made isn't always carried through, as they hauled the Apache's off to Florida, but eventually he and his guerrilla bands were returned to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Residents of Nephi complained about the small planes & Helicopters flying over the homes on Nebo Heights. Now they fly loud and low and I lost the phone number to Geronimo, who died in 1909, who fell off a horse into a puddle of rain water; got pneumonia and died.