A Great Man - An Amazing Life

Col. Gene T. Boyer, Ret. Has got to be one of the onyl REAL heros I have ever met in more then 15 years. According to his business cars he is the "Pilot To The Presidents", boy he ain't kidding! This guy began in Korea flying M.A.S.H. helicopters (just like in the TV Series) and got shot down in Vietnam, flew one of the first Presidential helicopter flights and continued to do so until his retirement from military service in the 70's.

I only spent a few hours with this now man in his 80's and had a hard time keeping up with him. His stories of the famous and the infamous People In The News kept me riveted. He had more stories of such people as Nixon, L.B.J., Ford, not to mention his Vietnam stories to keep you enthralled. But what really gets him going now is all the political upheaval going on in the White House and the congress these days. he has already gone up against the President and his plans to purchase a whole new fleet of Helicopters for himself. He is an outspoken advocate for the "every soldier" specifically when it is involving Veteran's Benefits. And he is one of those Veterans too. He is a victim of Agent Orange and the continuous battle with the cancers that that single product of war has left on his life.

Despite all of his battles this elder man of the military and of history seems to revel in the "fight". He has, even in his advanced years, begun to take on the Veteran's Administration which it would seem wants to take away his benefits completely. The "reassessment" as they are calling it has been handled through sub-contractors and small unknown clinics where the individuals running them are interested in seemingly one thing only and that is finding a way to deny our veterans their benefits. Gene has vowed to fight them to the bitter end.

But I am worried that in the broader scope of what the current administration is doing "to try to make all of our lives better", that they are really taking advantage of some of the very people that have already given far too much of themselves to and for this country while attempting to give it to various groups of people that would rather have a free lunch on those individuals backs. That is wrong no matter how you say it. This country, The Greatest Country in the World, needs leaders that can unequivocally SHOW their patriotism and now shun it. Children of all races in this country need to believe that the President of the United States above all stands as an example of the pride and history that this nation has, and not be shown an example that a President can refuse to hold his hand over his heart for the pledge of allegence (with or with out 'under God' in it). They need to see that we should respect our fighting men and women through a salute when they parade past us. That the singing of the national anthem, which has been an inspiration to people all over the world, MUST be sung whether you agree with any specific line in it or not. I am appalled that a person as seemingly unpatriotic and disrespectful as our current President, Barrack Obama can show my daughter that disrespecting this country's long and proud history is OK.