My Papa is strong and makes sure that nobody pushes me around. He is a strong advocate for my dignity. I bet you can’t guess who my papa is holding in the photo at the lower right. The Washtenaw County Probate Court awarded my pappa plenary guardianship of me. For 20 years papa had to petition the court each 5 years to renew his partial guardianship. In one of those adjudications, the judge asked to speak to me but she could not get my attention. Pappa says that when she spoke to me that he tried to get me to look at her without success. I think that I was pre-occupied.
I have included some photos of my papa in his armed service life, including significant time in Southeast Asia. His 601st Photo group, operating throughout Southeast Asia, was awarded a citation by President Nixon for special service during the Cambodian-Laos incursion of 1970.
But look below. Can I believe my eyes? Is that my pappa riding two water buffalo Roman in the lower center? Pops was interviewed recently about his Air Force time in Thailand and in the interview, they mentioned him riding Roman.
Pappa says that his hootch on base was next to the base periphery and everyday he saw water buffalo working the fields. The base had had a sapper attack the year before pappa arrived, so the base perimeter was regularly sprayed with defoliant–Agent Orange. When pappa was diagnosed with Stage IV Prostate Cancer (metastasized to the spine) last year, he went to the VA to apply for an Agent Orange benefit. When the VA service agent took one look at his DD-214 she said, “You’re in.” The 100% VA Disabled Veteran award is no small thing. The monthly award is tax-free and roughly equivalent to working full-time. He gets a property tax abatement for his home, a permanent (free and non-renewing) license plate for his car and free hunting licenses.
But I guess that you could say that pappa was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
