Long Time Friends Passing Over ....

My friend George passed this last week.

I have known George and been close with him for more than 50 years. A kind and gentle man, he was a WWII veteran, Infantry, and fought through The Bulge. He was a green replacement when he was sent in. He told me that the day he arrived in the Company he was assigned to, a patrol had just come in from a long engagement. A Corporal carrying a BAR sat down close to him. Worn out, exhausted, the Corporal fell asleep. George said he quietly reached over and got the BAR. The Corporal opened one eye and watched him. George took the BAR down and cleaned it with the Corporal checking him out once in awhile. When it was cleaned and reassembled he put it back where it had been set. The Corporal looked at him and said, "From now on you are with me." George said he followed that Corporal through patrols and firefights until the BAR became his and he used it for the duration.

George was a good friend and a great teacher. I miss him. But as David is recorded saying in the Good Book, "He will not return to me but I shall go unto him." ... one of these days.

And I got a phone call this morning that another good friend lost his wife yesterday. We shot together for a number of years. Built an old western town on his property and used it for Cowboy Action shoots for a long time. We all were good friends, hunted Africa together, hunted deer together, had great times.

Emilie is on the front row, far left.

I am at the age where friends start leaving quite regularly.