Born and raised in Social Circle,Ga. As a boy growing up in a small town, when not in school or working at a part time job, I was riding a Cushman scooter, a horse, playing Baseball or just being a roughneck. my friends and I spent a lot of time in the woods, playing Army war games, and  on cold rainey days, I watched the old black and white T.V. only picked up maybe 2 channels. This was not long after WWII and the Korean War era.  My favorite was war movies, I loved the John Wayne, Dana Andrews and others, I can't call their names, their beach landings, bunker assaults, They were Real Heroes to me, one thing I have never forgotten, on a movie one day, four sailors were killed by a bomb from a Jap zero on board a ship, it showed their mother when she got the word, they were brothers. I cried that day, and thought about my Daddy, he served in the Navy in WWII, and how lucky I was to have him home. I didn't know untill after his death, I wrote the Dept. of the Navy and recieved his citations and awards for bravery under enemy fire, he never talked to me about the war.

      In later years I became a soldier in the US Army, and after about a year of training,was deployed and assigned to Co.F,75th Rangers/Airborne, Cuchii Vietnam.

      I was proud to be a soldier,I didn't regret being sent to Vietnam, as most soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines believe in their heart they are doing their part for their family,friends and country. I was no different.

      My company comander and fellow soldiers, placed my name for several citations, I was awarded the Bronze Star with V, Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross, and three Purple Hearts, not for being better than  other soldiers, but as a leader, I put my life on the line, so that my men and I could come home together, alive, and we did.

      In January 1994, I recieved a phone call from William Mrkvicka, Rochester N.Y. the first voice I had heard from Vietnam in 25 years, a soldier from our Ranger Co., informing me, I had been nominated for the Ranger Hall of Fame in Ft. Benning, you can't imagine how this made me feel, on or about May of 94, it was official, I recieved a letter to be at the induction ceremony in Ft. Benning August 25,1994.

      Today I live a pretty simple life in Loganville Ga., I have two beautifull daughters, Kimberly and Jennifer, Grand daughter Jessica, and Grand son John, and Jen, has one on the way and I love them all.

      In closing, I want to dedicate this site and my love and friendship to three close friends that are written on the front fender of my HD Roadglide and the black marble wall in Washington D.C., they died in service of their Country, SSG. Douglas Pollock, SSG. William Kelly, and PFC. Charles Macken. This is why we Ride on Memorial Day! God Bless them! and today I cried.