RFTW 28 is over and I participated, with help from friends

This year has been difficult for me.  I was legally blind in my left eye when I started last years Run For the Wall.  I failed my DOT physical in June when I returned to work after the Run.  I lost almost 2 months of time getting my left eye fixed, and then another month when I got my right eye fixed.

In January I told Papa Smurf that Merry Starkey (Piccilo) would be available to lead the Communications team, and she did an outstanding job.  In May, and it was not until the first Friday in May, I found that I had enough cash saved to at least do 2 days of the Run.  I planned to go from Goodland KS to Wentzville, MO.

The Run gets to Goodland on the Saturday a week before Memorial day and to Wentzville the Monday a week before Memorial day.  When I was getting ready to leave for Goodland the Stevens Transport Shop called me and told me that my tractor had been hit while it was parked at the Wausau WI Kenworth Dealer.   So I delayed my departure and went over to check it out.  I was told that it would not be ready till yesterday.  Then Yesterday I called to check on the Status of my truck.  Originally I was told it was ready, so I left the Run at Lewisburg and headed home.  I stopped in Hurricane WV and checked again and found out that it will not be ready until next Wednesday.  So now I decided to call everyone and make sure that the assumptions I made earlier were correct.  They were not.  But I will be getting that corrected.  So I am on my way home now, and I will be there tomorrow.

This year was a much better year than last year, I wish I could say that every truck driver we talked to was great, but that is not true, there were a few who were completely against us even being on the road.
To them I say "If you do not want these bikes on the highway, there is a simple solution.  Write Congress and tell them to bring all the missing home.  They could do it but they do not want to remember."   If we the people of Run for the Wall stop, then Congress will forget.  Even the minimal news coverage we get, and there was a lot more of it this year, is enough to get people to mention the missing to their elected leaders.

I had a good ride to Goodland, and a good ride to Lewisburg W.V. with every stop being great it is hard to pinpoint the best one.  They are all great, but as always the kids at Rainelle, WV are my reward for everything I do.

I am already planning for next year.  I may have to find a local job because if I do not I may end up divorced a second time, and no job is worth that.  So if I do change jobs, it will be understood that May is mine.

Thanks to OOIDA, and especially Reed Black, for everything they do, and Phlash Phelps of Sirius/XM 60's on 6 he really tallked us up, and that helped a lot.  We also had several local radio stations along our route actually read the web page and announce our scheduled stops which helps with trucks and cars.

The route coordinator this year said something that initially angered me, but then after thinking about it I realized that the Comm Team did an outstanding job.  he said "What you do does not effect me in any way, I do not hear you, and I do not see any trucks on the highway."  The reason for that is that we the Comm Team have communicated with those trucks and have managed for the last 3 years to keep them from even trying to pass the pack.  Passing 4 miles of motorcycles that are running from 70 o 90 mph, depending on where they are in the pack, and for some strange reason the bikes going faster are in the middle trying to catch up after someone slowed down, can take up to an hour at 65 mph.

I do not have a lot else to say, the people that do this ride are all great, and I love each and every one of them.  I do what I do not for recognition, though that would be nice to have, I do it to keep the people doing this mission safe.

Normally I post every day on the Run, I did not do that this year.  I will next year though.  But there are three stories that I will tell, they are actually one story with three seperate parts.

When I decided to go on from Wentzville, MO to D.C.  I added up all my cash and found that I might be short, but figured I would be able to pull from some saved money and replace it later.  When I got to the Hospital at Jefferson Barracks, I forgot my phone, and instead of going in to visit patients I went back to my bike to get my phone because I had told Reed that I would call him with an update.  After that call I was putting my phone away and a gentleman walked up to me and one of the Road Guards and asked if we were on this ride.  We told him we were, then he asked if we were veterans and we said yes.  He said that he was not a veteran.  Then he shook the Road Guards hand and thanked him for his service, then he shook my hand and palmed $60.00 into my hand and said make sure someone who needs gas money gets this.  Well I may have even posted that part of this story on my FB wall.  I was simply shocked, I did not want to take the money but the man insisted and walked away.  I told the Road Guard what had just happened and he said do you need it for gas, when I told him I did he said that it had gotten to the right person.   Then when I got to Hurricane WV it happened again, this time with $100.00, again I tried to refuse the money, this time I was told by the person who gave it to me "God wants you to have that money and I am not going to argue with God." So I took it.  Then again when I got to Charleston WV it happened again, this time it was $20, and again I tried to refuse, but was told not to.  Had I been praying for help, no not really, I had thought that because my truck was hit that maybe God had wanted me on the Run, but Wow, I actually have enough to get home, possibley use a motel if the weather gets bad.   Thanks you everyone who wanted me there, my only regret is that I did not make it to D.C, this year, but I made it furhter than planned on. I thank God, and all the Riders of Run for the Wall because even though short this was my best Run so Far.  Lord please let everyone get home safely.

All in all my mission is accomplished, I rode as far as I could and I kept people safe.


Bounce

Last leg of Run for the Wall 27 done. Another year in the books

This year I rode for my Dad.  He was my Step Father,  but he was my Dad.  Donald E. Smith passed away peacefully on September 19th of 2014.  He made three Runs with my Brother, my Wife and I.  He did some of all three on a motorcycle, and he participated in two Rolling Thunder Parades.

My Dad and my Brother encouraged me to participate in my first Run for the Wall in 2005.  That was also his first Run.  He loved his Run Family, and used to have my wife print out the news letters and send them to him.   He was not into computers, but he enjoyed reading about the Run.

We talked about those days several times over the years.  Sometimes I would bring it up on a phone call, sometimes he would.  He would ask how Bones, or Cheetos or Krazy was doing.  He made me call him every day when I was on the Run. 

This year I rode in his memory.  I had his Run hat with me on every leg.  I took his hat with me on my truck from September until April when I left for the Run.   I carried his picture from his first Run with me all the way across the country.  I left his Korean Veteran hat at the wall. 

He was a great Dad, and a proud patriot and veteran. 

I am in Dallas now, and I wish I had my Dad to call because I am not on the road yet. 

He would have liked Leroy Petry, and I wish that I had taken him by OOIDA when he was alive, he would have liked that place.  In truth I rode for him 5 or 6 times, because he couldn't make the trip after 2008, he said he was too old, but he always asked me to call him everyday.  He liked the food at all the stops, but he always had me eat an extra sausage at breakfast at Wentzville, MO.  He used to say those pigs were still squealing when we left L.A., and they probably were.   All the food ona the Run is great, as are the snacks, and the unexpected free gas.  

We are a big family that is the Run is a big family.  There are probably 3 to 4 thousand folks that have done the Run, and follow it every year.  We do not all get to go every year, but when we can't make it we still follow the riders, their blogs, the news reports, the face book and you tube postings.   I am glad I could make this year for my Dad , and my Brother, Shoreparty made it all the way again this year too.   He had to swich to his car after Colorado, but he still participated and fullfilled a vital part of the mission.

Everyone that participates in Run for the wall, from the Veterans that show up just to salute us out of parking lots in the morning, to the thousands of folks who stand out in rain, sleet, hail, high winds, or just down right  beuatiful weather to wave, or salute us, to the people that collect funds all year to pay for gas, or buy the food that is prepared for us, and  freely given to riders are vital to the Mission of Run for the wall.

It doesn't matter if you go one leg, or all ten days.  It doesn't matter if you only stand on an overpass, or simply post a comment on the RFTW forum.  Everyone is part of the family.  There are some riders that have done a volunteer position every year, there are other that just come out to L.A. to support us there.  There are some like my friend Krazy Karl, who emails me and calls me to remind me how important what we do is.

There is he Shadow, who is intragal to the Run.  All of these people are important because they believe like I do in the mission.  That mission has been added to but it is still the same.  We ride for those who can't.

This year I rode for my Dad, and my Brother, but I also rode for myself.  I was the lead of the communications team, and I trained two wonderful folks to keep this vital service going.

I am not saying I can't do the Run in 2016.  I want to.  My friend Curtis Hubbel once told me "Don't you quit this run, you need it as much as we need you."   I won't quit it.  But this year I have been off work almost 3 full months, and I see no way I can go all the way in 2016.   I will try to participate in some way, but I do not think it will be all the way.  Even if I just make phone calls to Reed Black at Land Line now, I will be supporting the mission.

We the riders of Run for the Wall have to keep going, until everyone comes home.  I told a truck driver on the CB radio a few years ago (I have restated this probably 200 times in the last 5 years) If having these bikes out here on the highway bothers you, if you want us to stop what we are doing you can get that done.  Simply inform you Senators or Congressmen that they have got to do their job and bring the missing and those that have not come home from all wars (Some think this run is about Vietnam, it is, but it isn't)  17,000 or more missing since WWI.   We are getting the remains back from Vietnam, and Korea, and Japan and Germany every day.  If you know some one who has a loved one who went to war, and was never returned tell them to get online.  JPAC has hundreds of remains that they want to identify, but DNA testing is relatively new.  

OK sorry this one went long.

Everyone ride safe, and remember even if you can't participate, you can support the Run in several ways.

Bounce

Home safe and dry....hoping everyone else makes it home safe too

I left Washington D.C. Sunday, and arrived home Monday night late.  I traveled with Cheetos and his wife to Effingham, Illinois, then went north to Wisconsin.

We had a good trip, and I enjoy talking with Kenneth Neufeld.  He is one of those great folks that I just cannot get enough of.  We are friends because of the run, but would be friends if we had met anywhere, because he is just good to get along with.

He is always smiling, and he rides great.  I enjoyed his company and that of his wife Carol.  
It was a long trip, but too short too.

Well there is always next year.    Anyone can ride with us go to the rftw.org web page, look around get on  the forum and ask questions, make a plan save a little cash and come along next year.  You don't have to go all the way, you can do one day, or one leg, it all costs the same $30.00.  The riding is tough, but the stops and the people at them are great.  The support is awesome.  I did not have to pay for a meal till I got to Lewisburg, WV, and I ate 3 days free in D.C. because the Arlington Assembly of God Church feeds all who camp there.  I did donate some cash to that cause, but it was way less than I would have spent in restaurants  for 3 days.

We raised over $12000.00 dollars in 8 days for the school kids at Rainele WV.  So it was a good trip.
Next year,, well I am already planning on it, so is everyone else in the core of 300 or so who keep coming back every year.

Planning to roll home today

Spent two wonderful nights campung at Arlington Assembly of God church.  These people feed us, provide showers and ask nothing in return.  Except for Rainelle and the wonderful kids there this is one of my favorite stops on the run.

This year my $30 registration fee got me 12 days of hard work, free food, water, snacks and so many hugs and thank yous I can't count them.
Several free gas stops, greetings from friends I only see once a year.  I sincerely wish I had known of this run long before 2004.  I do not know what will come, but I just put my first 5 dollar bill aside for 2016.

Thank you to all who participated this year. Write your after action reports if you want change.  Mine will be positive and will include the things we did to make entering the highway safer.

Final note our most expierenced riders were not used this year except for 2 legs.  Those were the smoothest and tightest 2 legs we had.

Mission accomplished

Run for the wall 27, 2015 is complete for me.  We start every day with a Prayer, the Pledge and a rememberance of why we ride. The last few years we do one remembrance from Vietnam (the one I had this year was of an Air Fofce Major whose remains have been found and returned. His name is on panel 16W line 63) we then do a rememberance of men and women lost in the Global war on terror.
This year as I stated in a previous post I rode in honor of my Dad, the Old Marine.  He loved this Run, this Route and this Mission.  He once said that the Vietnam Veterans got a raw deal.  My friend Eamon said that the Australian Vietnam Vets were treated badly becauseit was not considered a war.

This year I adressed a lot, and I do not know if I will do this run again. If I do my Dad will be with me.  I will have his memory forever, and I will keep missing him. We didn't always have good times and the bad times were sometimes horrible, but I think I will try to remember all the good times.

Thank you Dad for the life I do have.  I  love you and I miss you.

Made DC safely. Headed to wall to complete mission

I have a rememberance for Maj. James Eugene Dennany, USAF
MIA 11/12/69 and a picture of my dad The Old Marine with his unit flag and his friend Top from 2005 that The Old Marine had in his special display.
Donald Eugene Smith Jan 5 1935- Sep 19 2014. Rest in peace Marine you earned it. There are so many stories I could tell you  about this man and I will someday but I miss him too much now

Bounce

We Have a Recipient of the MOH riding with us, and yes Shadow he was my friend first

On Monday I rode to OOIDA with 5 bikes, Me, Msgt Ret Leroy Petry, Pokey, Piccolo, Katmandu and Boomer.

MSgt Petry is a really nice and easy going guy.  He has been asked to speak before some of the venues we stop at.  That is expected of a holder of the MOH.

Leroy could ride anywhere he wants to in the  pack, including in front with the Route Coordinator.  He insists on riding as a regular rider, and he is a good rider.  He has become a friend, and he is the second MOH that I have met and Befriended, the first being John Bacca.

Leroy did an interview with Reed Black of Land line now magazine and radio show.  That is airing on Sirius XM radio tonight with repeats until Memorial day.  I also answered a few questions.  Then Eamon Tensey, aka Boomer (which I have told is Aussie slang for a really big Kangaroo)  answered a few questions.  I never knew that the Australian Vietnam Vets were treated badly.  Eamon says they were just ignored because no one there considered Vietnam a real war there.

OOIDA treated us well and we made it to lunch on time.  After 7 days of riding this year I am sore and tired and yet I am determined.  I am taking a picture of the Old Marine to the wall.  My brother is carrying two of our Dad's hats to the wall.  The plan is to leave one hat at the Korean Memorial, and the Other at the Wall.  We will leave his RFTW hat at the Korean Memorial, and his Korean Vet Marine hat at the Vietnam Memorial.
This way the crossover between the two generations of warriors will be represented.

Clyde is running great.  Amazing what a new transmission will do for a motorcycle.


Bounce out

Goodland KS day 4 complete

We rode out of Angel Fire on time.  There was gard Ice on Clyde, but the ground was dry and there was no snow.  Several big trucks helped us out on Interstate 25.  We had a few problems in a construction v zone on Interstate 70, but no paint was traded. There was o b e Atlas Van Libes driver that won't be send Rub F I r The Wall any flowers any time soon.

Eagle  Nest treated us good, breakfast was so good people did not want to come to the riders meeting.  I think Platoon leaders should count heads, and anyone who isn't there should be made to ride ahead to the night stop.   But I am not in charge.

So far there gave been 3 accidents, all minor and all caused because the riders involved forgot what they were doing.  Yes we are o n a mission, yes we follow the bike in front of us, but no we are not in a bybble, we have to ride defensivelg and with common sense. 

Ling day, tired. More tomorrow.

Boynce standing by on the side.

Safely arrived in Angel Fire, then Eagle Nest

Not much to write about on this one.  The day is over, tomorrow is last really easy day, then we go into Indian Country.  So far we have been in friendly territory, because the real Indian Nation loves us.  The people east of Colorado are too busy reading texts on cell phones, and trying to be first in line at the funeral parlor to even start to understand our mission.   The support we get at our stops and on the over passes is great.  The people driving around us would rather run us down than respect the fact that we are on a mission to recognize the fact that there are still men and women missing in action, and that people have died, or given up limbs to protect their right to complain about us clogging their precious freeway.

My answer to those who do not want us out there in large groups on the freeway is simple.  Sit down and call you Congressman, or Senator and complain.  Tell them that we want all 72,000 missing in action and prisoners of war since WWI returned and accounted for.  Then we do not have to do this anymore.


Williams AZ, Holbrook AZ, Winslow, AZ, Gallup NM, Acoma, NM, Casa Blanca, NM, Camel Rock Casion, ^RT 66 Casino, Thunderbird Harley, Gallup, NM, the Cities of Angel Fire, and Eagle Nest NM, and tomorrow Cimmaron NM and Raton NM....are all great places, and wonderful supporters of Veterans and the reason we ride.  Go there, enjoy the businesses and the tourist attractions, and go ahead tell them I sent you.  That will not get you any thing, but if you tell the Mayor of Gallup he might give you a hug to give me. 

Nite all

This year my Run is dedicated to my Dad (Step Father)

In about 1962 when I was not yet 7 years old I met a man, I started calling him Uncle Donald.  He was nice to my Brother Bob and I.  He bought us things, and took care of us.  He introduced us to motorcycles when he bought an old Police Bike to ride to and from work with.  

He later married my Mother and moved us to Wisconsin.  There are a lot of side stories there, but in the end we moved to Wisconsin.

I did not know until almost 40 years later that he was a Marine.  My Brother knew when he was 16, and he became a Marine too.

I am not sure when I started calling this man Dad, and I do not know if it was something he asked of me, or something my Mother asked of me.  It doesn't matter.  Men can very easily become Fathers, but it takes a lot of work to be a Dad.

My Dad was proud of me.  He never actually told me this, I just know it.  More so now that I have received back letters that I wrote him while I was in the military, that he kept.   Photos that he had of me, and my Brother that he kept.

In 2004 when my Brother first told me about Run For The Wall, my Dad encouraged me to do it.  He even helped me shop for a motorcycle several times.  Then in 2005 when I rode out to Colorado to join my first Run with my Brother, my Dad and my Wife showed up in Illinois, and joined the Run too.  He did the entire route, but it took him three trips to do it.  He made it to Washington DC twice, and rode into Arlington on my Brothers bike with him, and did two Rolling Thunder parades.  All of this at the age of 70.  He died just before his 80th Birthday. 
I cannot say that I enjoyed all my time with this man.  In fact when I was a teenager I am not even sure I liked him.  But as I got older he got wiser.   When on the Run he was known as "The Old Marine", and although he was not the oldest to have participated in the Run, he did participate.  He loved his Run Family, and really enjoyed reading the news letters.
My Brother and I are carrying two of his hats to D.C., and a picture of him with another Marine in Corydin, Indiana holding his old unit flag.   The smile on both their faces says more about what they thought of the run than anything I can say here.   I will be putting a copy of this picture in this post.

Rest in Peace Dad, you served your time in hell, while in Korea, I do believe that you are with God.

I miss you a lot, this Run is for you.  I never said this enough when you were alive, Thanks, and I love you.

I did get to say it a few times.  We used to talk on the phone on Sundays, and Sundays are sometimes hard for me.