JUAB COUNTY HAS LOST ANOTHER VIET NAM HERO

I have always found it difficult to talk or write about our American Hero's that were called to fight for freedom in a land we couldn't even spell or pronounce at Juab High School. But history is there to learn about and learn from. For many of us, the United States Miltary "minds" of Washington D.C. didn't do what they should of done before we let 58,000 Americans die in Viet Nam, as we neglected to talk to the soldiers of France, who invaded Viet Nam in a previous war and didn't get the facts of that war they fought with the Viet Cong "fight til you are killed". Glen Williams was born in Levan, then called Mills his hometown, and found a bed at his father's-Charlie Williams who relocated in Nephi where he could work out of his Blacksmith Shop, when not driving the bus from Mills, Levan and to Nephi, then return to Mills after school. I worked with Charlie during the summers of 65 and 66, and considered him as a great friend, and also became friends with Glen's brother-Arlo, in search of an accidental shooting and burial of a member of the John C. Fremont expedition in the Juab County area. Out side of Saigon, the capitol of South Viet Nam(our "friendly" folks), the Viet Cong built the CU CHI Tunnels, which were gopher like tunnels underneath the ground, much like earthworms or gophers. Our Troops could not tell where the enemy may come up and spread their mine field around, or kidnap a friendly mother and give her a gun to kill Americans or else her kids would be slaughtered in a room under the ground. Rather than the 1st Calvary rolling into a dense forest with horse's, the Troops came by way of helicopter's being deployed in late 1965 through 1972. Glen didn't know it at the time, but he had the body that was slim enough to get in the tunnels and kill off the enemy, who were called VC or Victor Charlie, and Glen was named after his Dad, so he wasn't called Charlie. If you ever want to see the pure Hell our boys went through, see the movie "We were soldiers", where Colonel Hal Moore led the 1st Battalion in Nam. The Helicopter guys were called Sky Troopers. I have only touched on part of Viet Nam, but when my brother-Hal Jones returned from Nam, he and I went on an educational tour of schools in Salt Lake to teach what that war was all about. Brothers Weston and Gary were also in the Miltary during the Viet Nam Era. Nobody but God kept track, but total numbers of casualties of that war are guessed between one to three million and that doesn't include Cambodian's and Laotians. Hal was there as a 9th Infantry Medic, but was hit by shrapnel when another medic was killed. I went there in 1998 on a "Humanitarian" mission and to recover any remains of where some of our MIA's were buried. One of our teams did retrieve the remains of a soldier from Taylorsville, and his mother attended his proper burial and I felt saddened for what the Army kept hidden from her. Glen seldom spoke of his time "over there", and that is like most of the GI's that don't like to talk about, but it often hits them during their nightmares! Glen was hit in the head with mortar fire that split his helmet and head open, then suffered from blood disorders including Agent Orange and for Glen, it was Malaria. Purple hearts are fine and dandy but don't take care of the nightmares of the past. Please, Please, treat all Vets with care and announce your presence. Shell Shock and PTSD or now hitting Middle East Troops. Donations to American Legion is always appreciated.

FUNERAL AND LAST RITES FOR VIENNA JO DEMERS

I don't think I ever met Vienna Jo; her family or friends. But something moved me to attend her funeral at the LDS Chapel west of the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi, Utah. I was told she lived on or near 7th North and since that has been my birth and last 78 years I have always called home, I thought it was only fitting to pay my respect to another 7th North neighbor. Neither did I know most of the folks that were there. This wasn't the first time I have attended a funeral of somebody I didn't know on earth, but sure felt I knew Vienna Jo, at least somewhere in time. I found myself writing notes of what I felt when I read her poem of "Winters Whispers" on the back of the program. Her words were chilling and yet I felt the heart felt love within her soul. Although Vienna Jo may never have heard of Robert Frost, her words reminded me of "The Road Not Taken" by that American Poet. I had memorized it sixty plus years ago, and recited it to myself as I continued to re-read and feel the words of Vienna Jo and her inner soul of love. Some day their will be a time when I hope to have the Heavenly chance to meet Vienna Jo, as I felt the warmth of her heart, and the joyous occasion she has already felt for the love and life of the Savior of this world, who undoubtedly greeted her at our real home. My heart and soul weeps for all her family and friends that knew her on earth. She was and remains one of God's most choicest of all.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WE PAY PROPERTY TAX....OR SHOULD WE?

It is hard to believe, but it's time to pay property taxes again, even if you own the home. Needless and late to say and write, we have tons of it in Washington DC, where Politian's have wrongly taken our money and used it for them selves; friends or family. There may be only one person that could change this and it is President Trump. During his first run, after he won, I showed the letter and check to friends and foe, but they only booed me. Unless you are dumber than a knot on a fence post, you should now know that Trump has been doing the right things for Americans. When I said that personal observation to Nephi Council Members prior to our Hearing, I was told I wasn't thinking correctly, as that the President was "swearing" too much and not even moral. I couldn't help but respond to say he was the US President and not a Prophet or Pope. Anywho, when I got my tax notice last year I complained to the Juab County Tax man, and I could immediately hear he was a typical tax man, so I gave in, as I am no longer fit to jump through the loops. That County Tax man "Stood Fast" on the tax notice, then admitted the nearly 400 percent increase was for future development. I thought how DAM stupid, as those future land or home owners or Developers should be paying for that. We also discussed a dry land farm I owned and how we used to have it in grain before the deep wells were dug to rob or "take" from the ancient Aquifer's below the ground. He then lost his cool and said I should sell the ground to a local millionaire for ten thousand an acre. I then asked if the tax man was working a part time job as a real estate broker, and our dialogue soon ended after I commented on other folks in Nephi who may consider potential civil or criminal charges, but in contact with a friend at the Utah AG Office, I was informed the AG is not interested in that until Congress enacts into law or until a City or County gets sued. In the Juab County Tax Notice for 2026, I see more and excessive taxes I have heretofore mentioned. As I have spent a total of 46 years fighting Politician's on a Federal; State and Local level, I am too wore out from the battles I fought, so I will say the same words of the great Indian Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever". That was in 1877, when we the Pale Faces of America massacred that Tribe out of the Rocky Mountains toward Canada and stole their land. I became friends with the original painter of the portrait that is now at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. I hope local folks here and in other rural Counties will fight and encourage President Trump to legally abandon Property Taxes and put pressure on each State to do so. As I believe the Utah Governor is not interested in the people of Utah and only for himself, I will not write a letter to him, as I spent several years as a Constitution Affairs writer for four different Governors, and don't believe anybody will do anything about Taxes until we have another Trump type person as our Utah Leader. If I can figure out how to attach it, I will add a computer print of Chief Joseph and of a typical tax notice of the past. I gave many of the large prints to kids that toured our local DUP Museum in the past, and still have the negative for more printing, but will send it to what is left of the Nez Perce. Rather than pay property taxes on a 17 acre dry land farm on the south side of Nephi, I will send letters to such as a religious group; Miltary official's; Animal Groups for Pet Cemeteries or other Tax Except folks, as paying a few dollars a year to thousands could even make folks from the Boston Tea Party arise to revolt, but I no longer have the fight to give into the Scandal's, both locally; Utah and DC. As I am a local, with Nephi ancestor's who built it, but not with present Elected and Selected Rural Leaders! If things don't improved, Trump could make our Governor a Newsome and take away Grants, which is not freebies as Nephites keep saying. The Feds earn zero dollars. Grant money comes from taxes, so where is the hard working dollar of us Seniors really going!