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    • Home
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    • 2024
    • AND NOW IT BEGINS...
    • The Battlefield
    • LOOMING ON THE HORIZON
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    • The Second Lady
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    • IS PATRIOTISM DEAD?
    • Memorial Day 2024
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    • THERE ARE COWARDS...
    • FATHER & DAUGHTER...
    • ABBEY GATE
    • MEAN TWEETS, WORLD PEACE
    • MILITARY INSULTS...
    • DIPHTHONGS AND PRINCETON
    • Thank you, Israel...
    • He did it!
    • THANKSGIVING 2024
    • THE NEW PARADIGM
    • 2025 - ARE YOU READY?
    • A New Golden Age
    • Christmas every day...
    • MANIFEST DESTINY 2.0
    • EASTER 2025
    • EASTER 2025 - THE RESET
    • Easter - The Resurrection
    • THE MUSTANG WILL LIVE ...
    • Secdef - RIF for REMF's
  • Home
  • About us...
  • CONTACT
  • Dr. Daw's Bio
  • Military and clinical
  • Tactical
  • ANNOUNCEMENT
  • OBSERVATIONS
  • REFLECTIONS
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  • REFLECTIONS III
  • 2024
  • AND NOW IT BEGINS...
  • The Battlefield
  • LOOMING ON THE HORIZON
  • THE LEAST QUALIFIED
  • Easter 2024
  • The Second Lady
  • LAWFARE
  • Talladega
  • IS PATRIOTISM DEAD?
  • Memorial Day 2024
  • The Presidential Debate
  • The Fallen Five
  • FRANCE-TIP OF THE SPEAR
  • THERE ARE COWARDS...
  • FATHER & DAUGHTER...
  • ABBEY GATE
  • MEAN TWEETS, WORLD PEACE
  • MILITARY INSULTS...
  • DIPHTHONGS AND PRINCETON
  • Thank you, Israel...
  • He did it!
  • THANKSGIVING 2024
  • THE NEW PARADIGM
  • 2025 - ARE YOU READY?
  • A New Golden Age
  • Christmas every day...
  • MANIFEST DESTINY 2.0
  • EASTER 2025
  • EASTER 2025 - THE RESET
  • Easter - The Resurrection
  • THE MUSTANG WILL LIVE ...
  • Secdef - RIF for REMF's

We sure miss that smile, Miss Lucy

10 Dec 23 - It has been two years since the family lost Miss Lucy (Lucy Lollis Daw). I will never forget her stunning smile when she visited my office; I teased her that I wanted to use that smile for advertising.  As my father's wife, she provided him with the companionship he deserved; that Carolina Girl  endeared herself to anyone who met her.  Her integration into our family was seamless; my father made a great decision to ask her to marry him.  Her infectious laughter and ebullience was matched only by her love for her family in South Carolina, especially her daughter.  Despite the loss of two sons, Miss Lucy's faith in God was unshaken; she knew she would see them again.  


I looked forward to Miss Lucy's visits to my office; I took those opportunities to get her feedback on the rapidly increasing challenges presented by the China Virus. Several patients had contracted the virus and health officials were scrambling to update their ever-changing guidelines.  I valued Miss Lucy's observations as she shared so many of the traits my mother had.  They both listened carefully to concerns I had with the same motherly countenance.  I always felt better after these conversations with this delightful lady. She was empathetic to my concerns for my children and their safety, with mandatory shutdowns looming and so forth; more significantly, she would give me assurances my father was doing well. 


Most importantly, Miss Lucy loved my father as much as anyone in the family. I could see in my father's eyes his love for her, also.  God bless you, Miss Lucy; we will always miss you.    



https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/23358258/frances-lucille-lucy-daw



14 December 2023 - In the wee hours of this fantastic day in 1999, my second son Dylan entered the world, providing  Lisa and myself the best Christmas present one could ever want.  I had company that evening of 13 December while my incredible wife was in labor.  My beautiful daughter, Kara, was as excited as I was with the impending arrival of her little brother. I cautioned her that her mother will experience a lot of discomfort and downright pain with Dylan's arrival; that was God's way of establishing an unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.  Kara's resilient mother had already demonstrated her remarkable stoicism when she gave me a daughter; I wanted Kara to share this moment with me. 


Kara and I both felt God was providing this blessing as, only six weeks previously, our precious Little Nana had ascended to Heaven.  Kara was a bright, loving and caring four year old.  Her few years at Hixson First Baptist Church's Child Development Center had reinforced her love of Jesus and God; she was absolutely certain my mother was looking down from Heaven.  Although saddened with the loss of her Little Nana so recently, the birth of her little brother was tempering that sadness, as she felt my mother's presence.  



We were having this discussion in the hallway outside the room while the nurse was attending to Lisa.  Kara's expressive eyes conveyed a sense of relief that, not only was her mother in good hands, but Little Nana was supervising.  When the nurse left the room, she indicated Lisa had something important to tell me.  I whisked Kara up in my arms and quickly entered the room where we found my beautiful wife with a beaming smile.  "I can smell your mother's perfume...".  I cannot remember which fragrance that was (my sisters know); an absolutely glowing Lisa was adamant that my mother was there. Kara, amused at her mother's excitement, was unsurprised; why wouldn't her sweet smell be there?  Little Nana was, after all, supervising.


As the evening had already passed Kara's bedtime, I asked her if she wanted to go to Walmart to buy a movie to watch before the baby came.  I will never forget watching "The Iron Giant" at midnight with my little girl in my lap.  Shortly after the video ended, Dylan arrived.  God had blessed Lisa with another child, despite the cystic fibrosis.  Thank you, God.


Dylan was a happy baby, delaying his first steps, like his father and big sister, until he was fourteen months old.  I remember my mother admonishing me to stop carrying Kara all the time; I was hindering those first steps.  I would reply that I guarantee she would walk into Kindergarten just fine.  I miss that big smile of my mother; it would have been a welcome admonishment for my carrying Dylan the same way. The tragic loss of Dylan's grandmother just before his birth would be followed by another, even more profound, tragedy four years later.


Another shout-out to Hixson First Baptist Church and Miss Flo who took Dylan under her wing when his mother died; their efforts in Dylan's healing will always be remembered.  As I was now the sole parent of two while maintaining a thriving dental practice, the mutual loving of Kara and Dylan by their extended families provided me much comfort.  As I reflect on the challenges no four year old should have, I quickly realized this young boy had a remarkable intellect.  His big brother has a near genius IQ and Kara demonstrated a great mind as well. 

Big Ridge Elementary provided great support for Kara when her mother passed; Dylan's teachers were equally supportive of him.  Remembering the excitement of Kara's first day at Kindergarten with her proud mother and father, Dylan's first day found just the boys at this significant event.  Nevertheless, I was happy as Dylan seemed content and his teacher was very nice. 


Dylan's first grade brought back proud memories of my firstborn; he acquired reading skills similar to Kris'. Kris could read at a high level at four years old and could spell anything. Dylan clearly exhibited a similar God given ability to see and remember virtually any word he encountered in his reading. His teacher, Mrs. Lyons, indicated to me at our parent - teacher conferences her recognition of Dylan's abilities.  Those abilities were verified with his first grade STAR reading report.  

That's my boy!

Thanks, Mrs. Lyons, for your efforts.

As a second grader and a finalist in the Big Ridge Elementary School Spelling Bee, these skills were further confirmed.   Despite a silent prayer to his mother, I was a bit apprehensive as Dylan stood on the stage on the final round of the Spelling Bee at Big Ridge. His second grade teacher was in the row immediately behind me. I was so proud of my eight year old young man, standing tall without a hint of nervousness, unlike his father.  I don't know who was more excited when Dylan was announced the winner - his teacher or me.  She stood up, applauding, sporting a huge smile; she was very proud of Dylan, as was I.

 Again, I played the Banty Rooster for the following days. Always remembering my beloved wife's last request:  "Love them for the both of us...", I thanked her for her help with her little boy.  The rather nice trophy that accompanied his vanquishing of the competitors on that Big Ridge Elementary School stage, with hundreds watching, assumes a prominent place on the fireplace mantle. 



2024 : Buckle up!

2 Jan 2024 - While still celebrating Josh Heipel's outstanding five star freshman QB,   
Nico Iamaleava's performance, the dwindling football season is providing some precious relief from the Sword of Damocles hanging over us with the perilous global situation.  Only this time, the Damocles' sword is threatening those who are not in power.  The steadily growing power of the courts over decades has now provided lawfare unseen in this nation.  600,000 Maine voters have been disenfranchised by an unelected idiot, a direct attack on our democracy by the America hating Marxist left; this hopefully will be corrected by a thoughtful present given to us by "those old white guys", our forefathers.  It is called the Constitution of the United States.  Despite incredibly stupid leftists on the bench (See our great senator Marsha Blackburn's incredulous look when Ketanji Brown Jackson could not define a woman.), the few sane members who still believe a baby should not be slaughtered at birth and men should not be in women's sports will prevail.

Such is not the same in Israel; lawfare in the only Middle East democracy and our strongest ally may produce results that are cataclysmic.  Our 3 branches of governance provides to some degree checks and balances; the last few decades, however, have seen substantial erosion of those balances. Demoncratic "judges" interpret "law" to suit their own policital desires.  When I see the hippy inquisitor of President Trump, Arthur Engoron, with that goofy smile and fawning for the media in New York City, I don't feel anger.  Conversely, I thank God for revealing these amoral folks for who they are.  He is answering my prayers for a humiliation of the Demoncrats and give us a president who, with all his warts, is a man of God.

Israel, on the other hand, has only the Knesset (parliament) to battle the lawyers who hold the power to stop Netanyahu's every move to prevent in Israel what has happened to the United States.  Ever growing threats from within - Arabs sympathetic to Islam - have already skewed elections such that Prime Minister Netanyahu's, (whom Obama hates with a fury - he made sure no Kosher food was in the White House and whom Biden accuses of "indiscriminate bombing of civilians"), very survival as a political force is threatened.

Let us not forget what these animals did while they slaughtered over twelve hundred innocents:  allies of the Demoncrats cut off babies' heads, sometimes half way, exposing their brains.  They burned babies alive in ovens while their mother watched and was then raped and killed and raped again.  These monsters ("victims of colonialists are justified in removing those shackles...", according to the Demoncrats) practice necrophilia and torture that would make the Nazis proud. The Palestinians are complicit; they elected Hamas and teach their children to hate Jews within months after birth.  The United States still provides the largest amount of support for the United Nations (I refer to them as the United Notions); funding these outrageous programs contributes to the global efforts to destroy western civilization. Expressing minimal faux outrage with Hamas, the UN viciously attacks Israel and, by the way, the United States.  They should be kicked off of the most expensive real estate in the world and put their HQ in, I don't know, say Haiti.  We should form our own strategic organization that doesn't hate the very people who feed them - the US taxpayer.  The Demoncrats are in lock step with the forces of evil.  Their leader, Robinette Biden is grinning like the Joker with his implants; note the poor retention of a full maxillary arch prosthesis. He should have had better hygiene. (Robinette?  Who would do that to their son?)


https://nypost.com/2019/09/13/joe-biden-struggles-to-keep-his-teeth-in-his-mouth-during-democratic-debate/


 Everything is fake with him.  His hair plugs have long since disappeared as well as his memory, except for the repeated lies he weaves when he goes off the teleprompter.

THEY ARE COMING BY THE MILLIONS!

Biden and Mayorkas (Cuban revolutionary): "The border is secure."


While scolding Israel, who is fighting a most serious threat to their very existence (let's not forget they are God's chosen people...), Biden has refused to protect our military forces abroad as well as our nation's own border sovereignty. (Future Demoncrats after amnesty and given the right to vote.  President Eisenhower rounded up these trespassers and deported them. What a novel idea.)  When the Biden's pentagon spokesperson (another DEI appointee - has she ever deployed or even performed one pushup?) diminishes the seriousness of injuries to our military and civilian personnel, due to Iran's deliberate attacks on US forces, providing acronyms to the press such as referring to traumatic brain injuries as "TBI" shows her (and her boss') blatant disregard for our military.


Pray for Israel and our country.


HALL OF SHAME

STOLEN VALOR

STOLEN VALOR

A  particularly  egregious  example and a product of DEI in the military:  Perry McNeill wearing unauthorized Pathfinder badge and Ranger tab. 


 I was so proud of my father's rise to the highest non-commissioned officer grade. 


 In those days, unfavorable personnel actions directed against a sergeant major by his chain of command, including the post's commanding general, required an act of congress to proceed.  Reaching Command Sergeant Major status, as my father did, finds your name posted on the military installation's various entrances to the post, also bearing the name of the post's commander. 


  A special place in Hell for you, McNeill.

STOLEN VALOR

STOLEN VALOR

Richard Blumenthal, Demoncrat from CT, falsely claimed he served in Vietnam. 


 He later clarified: "I served DURING Vietnam...". 


 This lefty, enjoying protection with his private security, wants to deprive Americans from protecting themselves.


  Worth 100 millions dollars (how does a state attorney general acquire such wealth?)... 


Maybe he took a Master Class from Hillary or Joe...


 He can afford his own protection, but the taxpayers, who consider him vile, must foot the bill.


I have never trusted anyone who has that perpetual 'squint' - as if he is plotting something.


By the way, his 'service' was in a reserve outfit in Connecticut.


Wow!


In six years, he rose to the rank of Sergeant...


God does, indeed, have a special place in Hell for Jewbags...

STOLEN VALOR

East Greenwich woman sentenced to 70 months for stolen valor

Senator Mark Kirk shows there are RINO's just as evil as the Demoncrats.


The following are the 10 instances in which Kirk allegedly lied about his service :


  • Naval Intelligence Officer of the Year Award
  • Taking fire while flying over Iraq
  • Serving combat duty in Kosovo
  • Being shot at in Afghanistan
  • Being “deployed” to Afghanistan
  • Taking part in Operation Desert Storm
  • Participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • Claimed to be the only member of Congress who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • Claimed to command the Pentagon’s war room
  • Claimed he had not violated Pentagon policy about campaigning while on duty.


East Greenwich woman sentenced to 70 months for stolen valor

East Greenwich woman sentenced to 70 months for stolen valor

East Greenwich woman sentenced to 70 months for stolen valor

https://www.abc6.com/east-greenwich-woman-sentenced-to-70-months-for-stolen-valor/

Here is Lurch, yet another Purple Heart scammer:

East Greenwich woman sentenced to 70 months for stolen valor

Here is Lurch, yet another Purple Heart scammer:

Or is that Rachel Maddow?


No, it's another horseface...


That nameplate should read "Dishonorable...".


 John Kerry is an abominable fool, preaching "climate change" while he gallivants on jets globally.  With that face, he is fortunate to have found a rich widow; she should have her eyesight evaluated.


  I haven't bought Heinz products since their union. 


This entitled brat, a Yale grad, wouldn't you know, injured himself in "an abbreviated tour" of four months in Vietnam. 


 I wish my father had benefitted from those "abbreviated tours" during the Vietnam conflict. 


 As a Lieutenant in the Navy, Lurch knew his political aspirations would benefit from combat duty, but he didn't want to offend his hippy anti-war lefties.  


Hence, only four months in Vietnam, not the usual twelve.  



M203 mounted on the M4 carbine

 Further, this idiot may have done well on a ship, but he had no business being on a Patrol Craft Fast, also known as Swift Boat.  


The Navy operated shallow water (brown water operations) missions to interdict Viet Cong supply lines and ammunition transportation.  One evening, their vessel came under enemy fire and Lurch panicked.


  Although this was routine  (that's one of the reasons they are "swift"), he wasn't an infantry officer who never panics.  Further, he had no experience with the M203A grenade launcher affixed to his M16A1 .  (Pictured is the M4 carbine.)


 My first time with the M16A1 rifle version of this 40mm grenade launcher was at Fort Reilly in 1975 as part of the LDAC.  


Nice weapon; it opens doors easily.  My favorite weapon, however, that summer at the home of the First Infantry Division was the  M61A1 Vulcan. 


 Technically a cannon due to its 20mm round, the Vulcan can provide 2000 rounds per minute on its lowest setting and up to 6000 rounds per minute on its highest. Only a cadet, however, I was limited to about a thousand rounds sent downrange a mile or so , adding more damage to those abandoned refrigerators.  


The exhilaration provided by those few seconds, commanding that much kinetic energy, more than made up for the grueling four hours in the sawdust pit earlier in the day.  Hand-to-hand combat under that hot Kansas sun provided necessary training for infantry forces, but, admittedly, only the first hour or so was fun. 


The Navy's version is the Phalanx CIWS (SEE-wiz), providing incredible close-in weapon system protection against incoming threats.


In 1984, while I was deployed on the DMZ, US soldiers discovered a newly constructed North Korean tunnel.  Although a relatively common occurrence, this tunnel was huge, capable of small vehicle traffic or a launching point for a battalion of NKPA soldiers.


 With the fact that the NKPA had five million soldiers against ten thousand Second Infantry soldiers, it was decided that a small detachment could effectively defend this tunnel, while more permanent remedies were planned, utilizing the Vulcan. 


 As with all our conflicts, the United States military had Geneva Convention restraints, with the enemy never being constrained by such.  One must wonder how many of those, who effectively tied the hands of the soldiers risking their lives in defense of their country, had any combat experience. 


 I can remember as a young cadet at UTC, incredulous, after one of the rules I learned was not to shoot at enemy medical supplies being dropped intermingled with paratroopers.  Perfect targets, descending enemy airborne infantry provide an effective measure to quickly remove them from the battlefield.  If a medical supply drop is hampered by kinetic energy meant for the paratrooper in the drop, there is a violation.


Further, who had the power to decide how the enemy is removed from the battlefield?  Civilian politicians, in their feckless efforts to make themselves feel good by making something humane which inherently is not, forget the universal rule:  The Enemy didn't sign this wonderful pie-in-the-sky agreement. 


 Consequently, untold numbers of casualties are taken by The Good Guys, while our enemies laugh.


  These never-having-served politicians' verdict:  The Vulcan is such a perfect killing machine that it must not be used on the enemy. (?)(!)  Consequently, US Forces were not allowed to man the Vulcan, as the Geneva Convention ruled it was not to be used as an antipersonnel weapon. Unincumbered by these arbitrary and capricious rules, ROK soldiers (KATUSA) were there to take care of business.  The tunnel was destroyed, but the Vulcan was there, just in case. 


   Maybe one should be placed at our southern border.


 Just saying.                                                         


   

 
Now Lurch, in his panic, grabbed a weapon, the M16 / grenade launcher M203A and proceeded to engage the enemy who were hidden along the river's banks.


  Cowering behind the gunwale, he blindly emptied his magazine, with no effect on the enemy still firing rounds in the Swift Boat's direction. 


 Lurch then resorted to the real kinetic round and fired a grenade in the enemy's general direction.  


This Yale grad, allegedly commissioned via Marine Corps ROTC, fearing for his life and crouching as close to the deck as he could, was apparently unaware that the grenade exits UNDER the M16's barrel.  Consequently, the 40mm round bounced off the gunwale, sending a few paint chips flying.  Lucky that's all that happened. 


 Army reports at that time detailed how Lurch ran to his commander, showing him the scraped skin for which no treatment was required.  When his commander informed him there was no way he would recommend Lurch Kerry for a Purple Heart, he stormed out of his office.


  I hope someone showed this traitor real Purple Heart recipients, missing limbs, eyes and different body parts.


Lieutenant Lurch Kerry bellyached to his daddy; he was eventually awarded THREE Purple Hearts!  Further, how did he receive a Bronze and Silver Star?  Wow!  And in only four months.


  What a disgrace; he has no pride.  Final vengeance will be had by You Know Who.


In a similar vein, how did Beau Biden, a JAG officer, receive a Bronze Star?


  May God bless him, but JAG officers are enemies of the soldier.  Obama sent more than 200 to the Middle East to ensure US soldiers didn't violate the enemy's rights.  


As an example, there were numerous unfavorable personnel actions taken against soldiers who killed enemy snipers who discarded their weapon as they exited their sniper's roost.  


Fighter-bombers would fly sorties and return to base, their bomb racks full, as Obama and the incessant State Department interferences with military operations precluded bombing ISIS convoys, as the drivers were not considered combatants. 


 The Demoncrats relish the destruction of the once-feared US military.


By the way, this vermin, wallowing in the filth of leftist ideals (or maybe he thought Jane Fonda was hot in Barbarella...), made a public display of his tossing of these precious medals into the Potomac.  An encapsulation of the incredible disdain the Demoncrats have for the military.


  https://nypost.com/2004/04/26/tale-of-tape-shows-kerry-did-toss-medals/


 

Now, back to football:

 One of God's warriors, Derrick Henry (I love his eye black) is seemingly on the down side of his career; I hope it's a function of the O line.  As the typical NFL player is a greedy, unpatriotic, previously arrested by the police person whom I would not want my sons to emulate, the Titans' Will Levis and Derrick Henry are welcome departures.  In Teboesque fashion, they reflect their love for our Creator on the field. Particularly, our Kentucky QB, with a 2nd Chronicles  tatoo on his bicep, sends a great message about strength and resilience.  We won't see him until next year, unfortunately, due to injury.

The NFL has totally committed themselves to the forces of BLM and others who kneel when the National Anthem is played (more and more infrequently heard); words like "Justice" and "No Hate" are prominently displayed on their helmets.  I remember a number of years ago, a long time patient informed me that the NFL was going to stop showing the flag.  I assured him that wouldn't happen; he was absolutely right.  Why don't they, with their sanctimonious finger wagging, go all in and support DEI?  What - no equity in professional sports?  Money talks and BS walks.


The future looks bright!

My firstborn and I love UT football so much that issues like transfer portal and NIL contracts don't dissuade us from enjoying collegiate football.   Last year's victory over Alabama, resulting in the goalpost swimming with the fishes, evoked my pleasure centers.    Further, Kris and I both appreciate great stories surrounding some of these collegiate players.

Another example of God's grace, Hendon Hooker, was afraid his career was over when he contracted the China Virus. His faith in God and incredible family brought him from Virginia Tech to UT.  What a stud.


https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/article/hendon-hooker-tennessee-vols-qb-health-scare-at-virginia-tech-ga-183840798/


While there are a number of Christian athletes in the football (and other sports as well) world, two NFL quarterbacks are particularly inspiring.


First, as hard as it is to suppress my disgust with this once-great American city (I can still visualize that gorgeous sunny day in the summer of 1965 - my beautiful mother, her blonde hair constrained with her scarf, sporting sunglasses and a gorgeous smile as we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge following a several days journey across the Pacific after my father's tour in Hawaii...), San Francisco has a really good football team - and quarterback.  Brock Purdy makes no apologies for being a man of faith. He has said, "Every time I play — no matter what happens — I want others to see God through my actions. Every time I step on the field I want to bring Him glory. Even when we lose, I point to God and thank Him for the opportunity. Everything happens for a reason; it's all a lesson from the Lord. It's a game, it's not my life."


Brock's surname also reminds me of an excellent company commander with whom I was assigned at Yongsan Garrison; he was also one of my roommates in my BOQ.  Captain Ron Purdy replaced the Military Intelligence (an oxymoron?) officer who rotated back to the States.  This was a four man JUSMAG BOQ - 2 Army captains, an Air Force captain (weather guy) and a Lieutenant Commander Naval officer.  Only Ron and I enjoyed playing Frisbee golf; we tossed them together a number of times and, like conventional golf, used that interaction for military discussions, e.g., the current threat environment and ever growing challenges as a company commander with so many distractions there in Itaewon.  It seems he was issuing Article 15's on a constant basis; the threat of court-martial was not dissuading young soldiers from ruining their Army careers.

Ron and I became good friends in Yongsan. I will never forget one Sunday in my room, while I was studying requirements for my Tennessee Dental License, Ron, with tears streaming down his face, asked me if I wanted a Dolly Parton cassette his wife had sent him.  As she was too lazy to write a heartfelt "Dear John" letter, she simply sent the cassette featuring "I Will Always Love You". A brief note indicated that it expressed her feelings exactly.  Apparently, she worked as a fitness instructor and fell for the owner...   Crushing.  

Prodded by his roommates, Ron did involve himself with a strong Mormon enclave in Seoul.  He welcomed their love and support in the face of this devastating event in the young captain's life.  Surprisingly, and yet another manifestation of God's grace, a few weeks later Ron announced with a big grin, that he was about go on a date.  What are the odds of finding a great Mormon girl, far removed from Utah, in the middle of a city of seven million?  This nice lady was a widow; her husband was killed in a mountain climbing accident in the Swiss Alps.  Both of these God loving souls, damaged by emotional trauma, were rescued from that pit of grief.  The constantly furrowed brow of my friend had disappeared; life was better again.  

CPT Purdy was also a stud, leading company runs up Namsan Hill.  This 2K run is not a standard PT run, but Ron's leadership ability made his whole company want to attempt the run.  Many couldn't complete the run with their initial attempts on this weekly event, but later did.  Again, Captain Ron Purdy was a great company commander. I had never seen Ron happier. Events only a month later would change everything.

Ron's girlfriend expressed concern to Ron that he was, on occasion, seemingly in another world, almost trance like.  Ron remembered these rare occurrences as a sort of a deja vu experience, seeing a memory yet unable to retrieve it from his brain.  And the frequency was increasing; further evaluation was now dictated.


Although the 121st Evac Hospital handled Eighth Army medical needs, they lacked diagnostic capabilities that were offered at Seoul National University Hospital.  Extensive MRI and neurologic evaluations were performed, but no pathosis was detected.  Empirically, Tegritol was prescribed with the idea these may be mini seizures Ron was experiencing.  There were no further incidents, so Tegritol was thankfully controlling things. 

In contrast to today's Army, the strict medical and physical requirements in 1986 forced the Army to medically discharge this highly accomplished Army captain. But that wasn't the worst of it.  His older brother had recently been diagnosed with Huntington's chorea, a neurodegenerative disease, incurable, with likely genetic ramifications.  Again, the vision of Ron, sitting on the chair in the common area of our BOQ after a phone call with his mother, will forever be burned in my mind.  A sort of a stunned look and blurry eyes, his mother had just informed him of his brother's suicide by driving his car off a cliff.  He wanted to be spared the inevitable agony of a progressing Huntington's chorea.  


Ron was convinced his symptoms were early manifestations of his brother's Huntington's.  He shipped out two days later; I hope and pray he is OK. 

Copyright © 2025 DENNIS KEITH DAW, DDS - All Rights Reserved.

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