Seems like a strange combination, doesn't it? Let me explain. This past June, at the Cloverdale Traditional Nationals, I humped all over camp and the dealer booths talking to folks and asking them to sign a "mole skin" book to my nephew Jordan who is currently serving in Afganastan. The boy had been coming to Cloverdale with me since he was 9 or 10 but missed last year because he was in basic and this year's event as he was deployed in May to Kandihar. The response was overwelming. We had perhaps 150 messages, signatures and thank you's and even a few young ladies who left more "personal" messages. To all who signed the book, THANK YOU! From myself, my wife and all our Family. To all who raised a glass to Jord and all our troops at the "Saturday Night Meat Fest" especially Danni and Blacky Schwarz and the Otto boys, who host this annual feed, thank you from the very bottom of our souls. You folks are, and always have been very special to me and define what "friend" means.
During my camp vists several people offered books, DVDs etc. Gary Davis gave me a bow building DVD, which has been watched SEVERAL times. Dennis Jackson, of Georgetown Illinois and one of the Otto camp regulars, very graciously gave me a signed copy of Barry Wensel's book "Once Upon a Tine". To all and in particular Dennis, Thank You.
At 05:00 this morning I recieved a phone call from Jordan. He had completed his daily "Tower Duty", which as he put it is "like sitting in a Texas tree box in 140 degree heat..." He called because he had just finished the Wensel book. For a kid who I couldn't get to pick up a magazine let alone a book this was exciting in it self. He was completely enamored with the book and Uncle Barry's tales. He was so excited, he wants me to pack up his Merriah take down and send it to him. He wants to plan an elk hunt in Colorado when he returns to Ft Carson and of course invited his favorite uncle... maybe he'll let me go too.
The point to all of this? Jordan's last words to me where "send more books"! So I ask another favor of the Traditional Community. If you have any extra copies of Archery related books or Hunting magazines, Traditional Bowhunter, Primitive archer etc. please send them to our troops. If you would like to send some direct to Jordan and his squad please PM or e-mail me and I'll send you his APO. I'm sure we are not the only Trad Gang members who have a loved one overseas defending our way of life, Seek them out and send reading material to those serving.
Thank you for your time, your generosity and your support for our Troops
John McCreary aka: The Rugman
PS: to Terry Greene, I hope this sort of a topic is ok even if it hedges the rules just a bit. Also about 7-8 years ago I posted a pic of Jordan when was 12 with his first trad kill. Would that pic still be buried in the archives somewhere? Thank you, J-Mac
Topic: Thoughts on Afganastan, Cloverdale and Barry Wensel (Read 361 times)
