This One's for Ray

[claimjumper steve]

A few years back an old friend, Ray, passed away. Ray lived on the backside of Graysville Mountain with his clan of bothers. He was a Vietnam veteran and a marine. He loaned me a book once and in it was a story about how he got wounded on night patrols with "Mike" Company against the Viet Cong. Ray was a kind man who used his meager pensions to feed the hungry at church, take care of his grandchildren, and do whatever he could to help people in need. But the love of his life was Tennessee Vol football. His memories went back before Johnny Majors. He regaled me with stories about General Neyland and the great wins of the past, especially the Miami game and the epoch struggles with "The Bear". Ray was never vitriolic but he would spend hours telling about each player and how they improved or how the coaching decisions affected games. Well Ray, sadly, is not with us anymore. He died years ago apparently with complications from agent orange. If Ray was alive now he would be so happy with this year's Vol's. To Ray Tennessee football was more than a game. It was a spirit that infused the plateaus, mountains, and valleys of East Tennessee. He was a season ticket holder, but when his health failed, he often gave the tickets away. So here's to you, Ray. If you could look down upon us today (and I sometimes think that he can) he would be ecstatic with what has been done this year. I doubt if many read this for there are thousands of Ray's living in East Tennessee, but here's to you my friend, an original Vol!

 

[wmcovol]

So sad so many of our brave Vietnam veterans have had to struggle with the terrible results of Agent Orange.........

 

[bigorangepoppa]

So sad so many of our brave Vietnam veterans have had to struggle with the terrible results of Agent Orange.........

What's even more sad is the way our government tried for years to deny the effects from it. Many thousands of our brave service men have died as a result of the exposure to agent orange, or are battling health issues related to contact with it. I'm not sure if it's much better today.

 

[chatt.vol]

What's even more sad is the way our government tried for years to deny the effects from it. Many thousands of our brave service men have died as a result of the exposure to agent orange, or are battling health issues related to contact with it. I'm not sure if it's much better today.

Correct and they aren't doing any better with the newer generations problems from Burn Pits. All kinds of illnesses to people that shouldn't be happening at their age. They at least acknowledge a large portion is attributed to the burn pits but will not put them on the presumptive exemption list. I was told myself that I was exposed to something that made my immune system decide to think my kidneys were a foreign body and so it attacked them. My numbers prior to deployment showed a normal kidney function. After I was down to 28% function before intervention was given and thankfully they've rebounded to 39% and holding with medication.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

Correct and they aren't doing any better with the newer generations problems from Burn Pits. All kinds of illnesses to people that shouldn't be happening at their age. They at least acknowledge a large portion is attributed to the burn pits but will not put them on the presumptive exemption list. I was told myself that I was exposed to something that made my immune system decide to think my kidneys were a foreign body and so it attacked them. My numbers prior to deployment showed a normal kidney function. After I was down to 28% function before intervention was given and thankfully they've rebounded to 39% and holding with medication.

I give you a like because of your service. Fortunately for me, Vietnam was winding down when I was 18, so I didn't have to go, but when talking with anyone who went, it's pretty much all the same response; they just don't want to talk about what they were exposed to. Those that will talk, the horrors they saw and were subjected to is the thing nightmares are made of. Glad your doing better with the kidneys.

 

[chatt.vol]

I give you a like because of your service. Fortunately for me, Vietnam was winding down when I was 18, so I didn't have to go, but when talking with anyone who went, it's pretty much all the same response; they just don't want to talk about what they were exposed to. Those that will talk, the horrors they saw and were subjected to is the thing nightmares are made of. Glad your doing better with the kidneys.

Yeah that aspect never changes. I was line medic in the infantry so some things seen are better left for memories.

 

[SmokeyLives]

Here here! To Ray, and the many kind souls of East Tennesse, and beyond!

Thanks for sharing an awesome man’s life story.