Trip Down Memory Lane
Sept 21, 2020 18:34:19 GMT -5
Ken O'Neill, Stump Buster, and 19 more like this
Post by sixshot on Sept 21, 2020 18:34:19 GMT -5
Some of you older forum members might remember 8-9 years ago when I was asking for the names of Wounded Warriors because I wanted to host one on a deer hunt. After looking over several different soldiers my wife & I picked a Marine sniper who had been blown up, along with several of his fellow Marines when one of them stepped on an IED. This was either in Iraq or Afghanistan, not sure now.
Anyway, the plan was for the Marine & his wife to stay here with us & do an Idaho deer hunt, the only costs being the price of an Idaho deer license. As many of you will recall within a few days of my wife & I picking this brave patriot, money & gifts started pouring in from all over the US. Forum members from here & the Ruger Forum were saying NO, he's not paying for anything, we'll pick up the tab & then things went nuts!!
When Daniel got blew up he was badly injured, he had a lot of shrapnel in his body, his Colt Commander was destroyed & probably saved his life, some of his fellow Marines were killed outright & they were in a fire fight. Julia still digs shrapnel out of him to this day.
There are guys on these forums who know important people, I'm not one of them but many got in touch with me & Colt Firearms sent me a new Colt Commander to give to Daniel upon his arrival at my home. Ruger Firearms also donated a 44 special flattop, there were cases of ammo, steel targets, bullets, powder, primers, brass, holsters, reloading dies & other accessories & over $1100 in cash! All this on top of his Idaho hunting license & tag. All of you know who you are & many have still sent gifts since then. It was an amazing display of generosity towards a true American hero & his beautiful wife, who, by the way was a college basketball player.
The reason I'm telling all this again is, last week they stopped in for a visit & it was so great to see them. Daniel is out of the Marines now, he couldn't stay in with both of his ear drums blown out from the IED explosion but they are doing great & he looks like he could step in the ring as an MMA fighter, he's in top notch shape & such a wonderful, polite young man, I cherish the time we got to share with them.
One of the wildest things about this whole story is, Julia's dad, many, many years ago bought some land, sight unseen when he was living in California. He bought it just as an investment & before he died he willed it over to Julia & it's right here in Soda Springs, about 2 blocks from one of my son's. They wanted to go see it while they were here because it was only the second time they had ever seen it. The first being the time they spent with us several years ago. Now they plan to built on it.
They now have a 7 year old son & the most beautiful little 3 year old girl you've ever set eyes on. When my wife answered the door the little girl said, wow, that's sure a beautiful dress & my wife said, your dress is beautiful too & they hugged!
When they left I had them stop by Carmelo & Wendy's Taco bus in Lava where I had already paid for their meal. Those of you who remember Wendy know they were very well taken care of. It sure made my day to see this amazing couple & this brave Marine!!
Dick
Anyway, the plan was for the Marine & his wife to stay here with us & do an Idaho deer hunt, the only costs being the price of an Idaho deer license. As many of you will recall within a few days of my wife & I picking this brave patriot, money & gifts started pouring in from all over the US. Forum members from here & the Ruger Forum were saying NO, he's not paying for anything, we'll pick up the tab & then things went nuts!!
When Daniel got blew up he was badly injured, he had a lot of shrapnel in his body, his Colt Commander was destroyed & probably saved his life, some of his fellow Marines were killed outright & they were in a fire fight. Julia still digs shrapnel out of him to this day.
There are guys on these forums who know important people, I'm not one of them but many got in touch with me & Colt Firearms sent me a new Colt Commander to give to Daniel upon his arrival at my home. Ruger Firearms also donated a 44 special flattop, there were cases of ammo, steel targets, bullets, powder, primers, brass, holsters, reloading dies & other accessories & over $1100 in cash! All this on top of his Idaho hunting license & tag. All of you know who you are & many have still sent gifts since then. It was an amazing display of generosity towards a true American hero & his beautiful wife, who, by the way was a college basketball player.
The reason I'm telling all this again is, last week they stopped in for a visit & it was so great to see them. Daniel is out of the Marines now, he couldn't stay in with both of his ear drums blown out from the IED explosion but they are doing great & he looks like he could step in the ring as an MMA fighter, he's in top notch shape & such a wonderful, polite young man, I cherish the time we got to share with them.
One of the wildest things about this whole story is, Julia's dad, many, many years ago bought some land, sight unseen when he was living in California. He bought it just as an investment & before he died he willed it over to Julia & it's right here in Soda Springs, about 2 blocks from one of my son's. They wanted to go see it while they were here because it was only the second time they had ever seen it. The first being the time they spent with us several years ago. Now they plan to built on it.
They now have a 7 year old son & the most beautiful little 3 year old girl you've ever set eyes on. When my wife answered the door the little girl said, wow, that's sure a beautiful dress & my wife said, your dress is beautiful too & they hugged!
When they left I had them stop by Carmelo & Wendy's Taco bus in Lava where I had already paid for their meal. Those of you who remember Wendy know they were very well taken care of. It sure made my day to see this amazing couple & this brave Marine!!
Dick