Home ownership is a cornerstone of a strong community.

A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
JUNE 2016
S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E D A I LY A M E R I C A N R E P U B L I C
JUNE 2016
a CELEBRATION
of
C E L E B R AT I N G
W I T H
Y O U
T H E
F R E E D O M
O F
O U R
C O U N T R Y
Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc. “Home ownership is a cornerstone of a strong community.”
www.poplarbluffrealtyinc.com
1800 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
573.785.7600
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
2
Commitment
a fierce
fighter
AG A I N S T
a celebration of
freedom
DEXTER STATESMAN photo/Jonathon Dawe
Joyce Lynxwiler proudly displays the honors her late husband, William “Bud” Lynxwiler earned during his
time in the U.S. Army.
J
By JONATHON DAWE
oyce Lynxwiler looks
around her home, and everywhere her gaze travels
something that was made
by her late husband can
be seen. Bookshelves, tables, her
china hutch, picture frames – all
reminders of what was a therapeutic activity for William “Bud”
Lynxwiler.
Bud was a veteran of the
Vietnam war; and though he was
physically injured in battle, Joyce
remembers the struggle he fought
long after coming home.
“He fought that blasted war
every day for the rest of his life,”
she says.
Bud, like millions of other
veterans, struggled with Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
following his experience in
Vietnam. He enlisted in the U.S.
Army and shipped overseas right
after the Tet Offensive in 1968.
What he experienced is shrouded
in mystery, as he wouldn’t share
that part of his life. But what he
did experience changed his life
forever.
“I was 17 years old when we
got married – after he came home
from the war,” Joyce recalls.
“He was different when he came
home. I didn’t know at the time
why that was.”
As with most newlyweds,
Joyce and Bud celebrated their
nuptials and intended to start a
family. The Army moved Bud to
California, Oklahoma, and then to
Germany. It was during this time
that they lost their first child, a
son named Coy, who died within
days of being born.
“He blamed himself,” Joyce
nods. “He was convinced it was
because of being exposed to
Agent Orange in Vietnam.”
What little ability Bud had
used to cope with life fell apart
at that point. Within a matter of
months he was in the Walter Reed
Veterans Hospital in Washington
D.C., following a failed suicide
attempt.
“I was 19 years old at the
time,” Joyce explains. “I didn’t
know anyone at all. Here I was
pretty much straight out of a
middle class family in Pontiac,
Mich., and my husband was
hospitalized. He was broken down
mentally, and he would yell at me
and tell me to go away and never
come back.”
Day in and day out, in a large
city full of strangers, Joyce would
walk the two blocks from her
sleeping room to the hospital –
only to be told by her husband to
go away.
“That was an incredibly difficult time,” she acknowledges.
“The only thing that got me
through was my love for him.”
Determined to make her marriage work, Joyce went to see
Bud every day. She resolved to be
strong and to help her mate.
It was the beginning of a long
and often difficult journey.
“Bud was given a medical
discharge, and we lived in Texas
for a little while,” Joyce recalls.
“He was hospitalized again while
we were there. It was around that
time I felt like I needed to be
with my family. I didn’t tell them
what we were dealing with, but I
wanted to be with them.”
Her parents had decided to retire in Dexter, however, so Joyce
and Bud found themselves living
in yet another new area.
“We had our ups and downs,”
she says as she gazes at the photos
lining her shelves. “What helped
him the most was the birth of our
daughter, Pam. He seemed to try
harder for her than he would for
anyone else.”
His PTSD kept Bud from being
a social person. Large crowds and
rowdy environments were not an
option for him.
“We went for a while there
when we didn’t go anywhere or
do anything,” she explains. “We
had friends who would come by
and visit sometimes. But, Bud
wouldn’t leave. The only thing
that worked for him at the time
was working in his wood shop.
That was his escape. He could
work in there and get away from
his battle, if only for just a little
while.”
Encouraged by the birth of his
daughter, and following Joyce’s
See FIERCE on page 4
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
3
daily american republic
On
Onthis
this
anniversary
On this
anniversaryofof
anniversary
of birth,
our
ournation’s
nation’s
birth,we
we
our salute
nation’s
birth,who
we have
salutethose
those
who
haveworked
worked
salute
those
who
have
worked
and
fought
for
our
and fought for ourfreedom.
freedom.
and fought for our freedom.
Thank
Thankyou!
you!
Thank you!
IRST
IRST
IDWEST
IDWEST
BANK
BANK
www.1midwest.com
www.1midwest.com
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
PO
P LP A
R RB LB U
F FF F
PO
LA
LU
Kroger
Kroger
333333
S Westwood
N Westwood
S Westwood 2770
2770
N Westwood
785-6288
785-0044
785-6288
785-0044
Mon-Sat 10:00-7:00
Mon-Sat 10:00-7:00
Mon-Sat 10:00-7:00
Mon-Sat 10:00-7:00
Extended
Hours
Hours
Extended
Hours Extended
Extended
Hours
Main
MainBank
Bank
704704
N Westwood
N Westwood
RR
EG
IO
NN
AA
LL
EG
IO
East
EastSide
Side
204204
EastEast
PinePine
785-8461
785-8461 686-1472
686-1472
Lobby: Mon-Th 9:00-3:00
Lobby & Drive Thru:
Lobby: Mon-Th 9:00-3:00
Lobby & Drive Thru:
Fri 9:00-5:00
Mon-Th 9:00-3:00
Fri 9:00-5:00
Mon-Th 9:00-3:00
Drive Thru: Mon-Th 7:30-3:00
Fri 9:00-6:00
Drive Thru: Mon-Th 7:30-3:00
Fri 9:00-6:00
Fri 7:30-6:00
Puxico
Puxico
Columbia
Columbia
222-3503
222-3503
Lobby: Mon-Th 9:00-3:00
2 Locations:
2 Locations:
141141
Richardson
Richardson
Lobby: Mon-Th 9:00-3:00
Fri 9:00-4:00; Sat 9:00-12:00
Fri 9:00-4:00; Sat 9:00-12:00
Drive Thru: Mon-Th 7:30-3:00
Drive Thru: Mon-Th 7:30-3:00
Sat 8:30-12:00
NOW
NOW
10 East SouthHampton
10 East SouthHampton
And a NEW Location at
And a NEW Location at
Stadium & Rock Quarry Road
Stadium & Rock Quarry Road
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
4
a celebration of
FIERCE from page 2
urging, Bud found a good counselor who helped him cope with
his struggles.
“She was really good. She let
him know that she was concerned
about me as much as she was concerned about him,” Joyce nods.
“She was the one that talked him
into going to the coffee shop and
trying out bowling.”
The coffee shop – The Hickory
House Motel Restaurant – eventually became his favorite location.
And bowling soon became a near
obsession.
“Once he felt like he was ok
with something, he went at it,”
Joyce laughs. “It was almost
like those were the only things
he could do, so he was going to
give it all he had. He was like that
about everything.”
As their daughter grew, Bud
lamented his inability to handle
crowds. His PTSD kept him from
attending her softball games, track
meets, and band concerts.
“It wasn’t because he didn’t
try,” Joyce explains. “He did try.
He managed to force himself to attend Pam’s Honors banquet during
her senior year. He knew it was a
big deal. But he paid the price for
it for a couple of days after. He
was jumpy and edgy. He never
had a peaceful 24-hour period.”
Joyce goes on to explain how
even good days could turn into
terrible nights.
“I can’t even begin to describe
how terrible his nightmares
were,” she notes. “He would
wake up screaming and in a panic.
Some nights, he would fight in his
sleep.”
The U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs estimates that
PTSD afflicts almost 31 percent
of Vietnam veterans, as many as
10 percent of Gulf War (Desert
Storm) veterans, and 11 percent
of veterans of the war in Afghanistan.
“I know there are so many
veterans who have come home
and are fighting a battle we know
nothing about,” Joyce says. “It
breaks my heart to think of how
many of them aren’t getting the
help they need.”
Throughout her experience,
Joyce said it was a combination
of love and commitment that kept
her marriage going.
“Bud was the love of my life;
and my upbringing taught me that
when you commit to someone,
you commit all the way,” she
explains. “I can’t imagine leaving
someone because they struggle
with PTSD. You wouldn’t leave
someone if they broke their back
or broke their leg.”
Joyce hesitates when asked
what advice she might impart.
“I wouldn’t know what to say,”
she remarks. “Different people
handle things differently. Some
people just can’t take the stress.”
But for Joyce, it all boiled
down to one thing.
“Love. I loved that man more
than anything,” she explains. “It’s
been seven years since he died;
and if the good Lord saw fit to
bring him back, I would carry on
freedom
just like I did before.”
As the nation observes the sacrifices made by so many men and
women on this Independence Day,
Joyce says she hopes people will
also remember those who struggle
silently among us.
“It’s a war that a lot of them
can never get away from,” she
says solemnly. “We need to
remember that so many of our
soldiers gave their lives – even
though they’re still alive.”
According to the PTSD Foundation of America, an estimated
40 percent of veterans with PTSD
will not seek any kind of help.
“If someone is struggling with
this, they really should seek help,”
Joyce explains. “If not for yourself, do it for the ones you love.
Things can get better.”
Where to get HELP for
Veterans:
After a trauma or life-threatening event, it
is common to have reactions such as upsetting memories of the event, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping. If these reactions do
not go away or if they get worse, you may
have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The Department of Veteran’s Affairs provides
local resources to those suffering from PTSD.
1-800-273-8255
Phone: 573-686-4151 Or 573-686-4151
38104
— Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) Outpatient
Phone: 901-523-8990 Or 901-523-8990
273-8255, press 1 (text 838255) or ConfiKevin Wagner, MSW, LCSW: (573) 778PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) Outpatient
dential Veterans Chat with a counselor
4631
Lisa Gilliam: (901) 523-8990 X 5753
PTSD Domiciliary (PTSD Dom) IntenAll VA Medical Centers provide PTSD
Marion VA Medical Center
sive/Inpatient
care, as well as many VA clinics. Contact
2401 West Main Street, Marion, IL 62959
PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Proinformation for three area VA locations ofPhone: 618-997-5311 Or 618-997-5311
gram (PRRP) Intensive/Inpatient
fering assistance follows:
PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) Outpatient
Claudia
M.
McCausland,
PhD:
Are you are in crisis? You have options:
Steren Hurst: (618) 997-5311 X 54301
(901) 523-8990 X 5313
— Call 911
John J. Pershing VA Medical Center
Women’s Stress Disorder Treatment
— Go to the nearest Emergency Room
1500 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff,
Memphis VA Medical Center
Team (WSDTT) Outpatient
— Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline MO 63901
1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN
(901) 523-8990
ER COUNTY
BUTL
1359 N. Westwood Blvd.
Located in Mansion Mall
573-686-2870
www.fcins.net
Thank You Veterans For Your
Many Sacrifices!
a l th
ON
He
GREATEST
!
WHEN SECONDS COUNT!
r
You
“OUR FAMILY PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY,
OUR SOLDIERS PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY.”
VETERANS
you are the
, You
r Life
3178 S. Westwood
Poplar Bluff, MO
OU R
S
MI
SI
In an emergency, our dispatchers
can be reached directly at
573.785.9999
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
5
daily american republic
aat home
difference
AND abroad
Local
S
SOLDIER making
By ALEX WEST
trength does not require a flashy display. Strength is
standing silently beside someone in need. Strength is
quietly passing on valuable knowledge without regard
for recognition. Strength is making a solid effort to
make a difference even when no one is watching.
The strength of Sgt. 1st Class
Brandon Gulley, originally of
Poplar Bluff, stationed at Fort
Cambell, Ky., has been on display throughout his career in the
United States Army.
“I have been in the military
since November 1999,” said
Sgt. 1st Class
Brandon
Gulley
Gulley. “I went active duty September 2002. I have four deployments totaling 48 months: three
to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.”
Gulley’s brothers and father
were the main influence for his
decision to join the military.
They, along with most men on
his maternal and paternal side of
the family, have chosen to serve
or have served at some point in
their lives.
“The service has benefitted
my life tremendously,” he said.
Continued on next page
WWW.SHOOTERSHACK.COM
K
C
A
H
S
88
2
7
6
8
6
.
573
ood Blvd
estw
200 S. W Bluff, MO
Poplar
AY THRU SATUR
D
N
O
DA
WE BUY, SELL AND
M
Y9
N
TRADE ALL TYPES OF GUNS
E
:00
OP
A.M
We are a CLASS 3
.-6:
00 P.
ARMS DEALER
We custom
M.
Authorized
Stocking
Specializing in tactical weapons & accessories.
build
Dealer for These Brands
AR15
RIFLES
for the sport
shooter,
tactical or
hunter.
AR15 RIFLES
SHOTGUNS
& RIFLES For the Hunter
ACCESSORIES
& AMMO
HANDGUNS
For Concealed Carry
Area’s Only
Glock Law
Enforcement
Dealer
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
6
a celebration of
Photos provided
Above: Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Gully with Helen Cooke at PFC Cecil Harris’ burial services.
Top middle: Gulley in Afghanistan. Top right: Gulley is a member of the Combat Veterans
Motorcycle Association.
WOOLARD’S
Two Brother’s Towing
- Lockouts - Jump Starts
- Flat Tires
- Accident Recovery
3178 S. Westwood
Poplar Bluff, MO
Call
Ke ith!
573-778-8548
“I have gotten to meet incredible people, travel all over the world and make a difference
both here at home and abroad in people’s
lives.”
One of the most incredible people touching his life was one he never actually got to
meet. Gulley played an integral role in the
widely publicized discovery and return home
of a World War II serviceman’s remains.
Private 1st Class Cecil Harris was an Infantryman killed in the Battle of the Bulge on
Jan. 2, 1944. Members of his unit were unable
to find him following the battle, and he was
declared Missing in Action and eventually
declared dead. Seventy years later, hikers in
Northeastern France came across his remains.
Gulley was assigned Casualty Assistance Officer for his now 91-year-old widow, Helen
Cooke.
“Even though (Pfc. Harris) had been declared deceased and Mrs. Cooke had received
all of her monetary benefits back in the 1940s,
one benefit still remained: her husband’s burial,” said Gulley. “So, I guided her through the
process and over the course of six months
helped bring her husband home and lay him
to rest in Arlington, Section 55.”
Gulley became close to the family and was
even given the honor of leading the pallbearers at Mrs. Cooke’s funeral.
“For 70 years, she never really knew what
happened to her husband. I was able to give
her closure, and sadly, tell her the story of his
last moments,” he said. “It was emotional
but it was one of those moments where you
knew that this is what serving was all about. I
felt connected to a brother and fellow Soldier
who fell decades before I was born.”
Another notable experience as a member
of the Army came in 2013 from Gulley’s time
in Kunar, Afghanistan, where he served as
a Combat Advisor. At the time, men in that
position were being attacked and killed in
what was known as “Green on Blue” attacks.
Gulley was the non-commissioned officer in
charge of a team that worked for nine months
training Afghans to defend themselves and
take responsibility for their own country.
The team executed 85 combat missions
and fought in the initial seven days of Operation Strong Eagle V.
freedom
“It felt satisfying to directly impact the
number one mission in the country at that
time and the most dangerous,” said Gulley.
“When we left, it was with both optimism
and worry. Nine months isn’t a lot of time to
properly train hundreds of police officers that
were scattered across two districts of Kunar
Province. “
Educating and leading Soldiers is a task
he takes on closer to home today as Senior
Field Artillery Targeting Non-Commissioned
Officer at Fort Campbell where he teaches the
Battle Staff NCO Course and is assigned to
the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Gulley is married to Toni, and he has three
children: Rachel, 11, Aaliyah, 9, and Kieran,
8. He is a member of the Combat Veterans
Motorcycle Association, Chapter 18-2 out of
Clarksville, Tenn. His chapter recently helped
pay for an Army veteran’s PTSD service
dog’s hip replacement, a procedure that saved
the life of the dog.
Service medals include The Bronze Star
Medal, Army Commendation Medal with
four oak leaf clusters (OLC), Army Achievement Medal with four OLC, Good Conduct
Medal, National Defense Service Medal,
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one
campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with
three campaign stars, Global War on Terror
Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror
Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer
Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 6, NATO Medal,
Combat Action Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air
Assault Badge, and an inductee of both the
Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the
Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
While the medals and honors serve to
highlight some of the aspects of Gulley’s career including his leadership and strength, he
hopes to leave those who may not have experiences with servicemen and women a message and not a reminder of what he has done.
“What I hope civilians understand about
us who choose to serve is that while we appreciate all the thank yous and buying us
coffee, the ultimate thank you is not taking
anything for granted and living as freely and
as positively as possible,” he said.
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
PBRMC
FULL PAGE
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
8
a celebration of
freedom
Photos provided
Above left: David Reynolds in Vietnam. Above middle: Elizabeth and David Reynolds after David returned from Vietnam. Above right: Elizabeth during her service in the Army. She later
joined the Missouri Army National Guard.
Vietnam veterans
thankful for the
W
By ALEX WEST
hen a major
event changes
the shape of
the nation, the
cloud of dust
from it does not settle all at once.
Veterans of the Vietnam War have
felt the debris from their time
of service falling around them
for nearly 50 years. Skies have
cleared significantly for Ellsinore,
Mo., couple David and Elizabeth
Reynolds but the landscape of
the Army veterans’ lives has been
changed dramatically by Vietnam.
In 1968, small-town boy
David Reynolds and a few of his
friends decided one day to talk to
a recruiter. That very evening, he
was on a plane flying through the
worst storm of his life headed to
basic training.
Across the country in California, Elizabeth Medrano was
signing her papers to join the U.S.
Women’s Army Corps and boarding another plane.
“It ended up we joined (the
Army) on the exact same day,”
said David.
“And, he was flying in the
thunderstorm and so was I,” said
Elizabeth.
Following basic training, they
both were sent to Fort McClellan, Ala. David was walking the
base with his cousin Marvin, who
was also a new recruit. Elizabeth
was headed to the library with a
couple of friends when they saw
the young men obviously talking
about them.
“We were crossing the parade
field when we spotted three girls
walking,” said David. “One was
the pretty one and the other two
FLIP of a coin
weren’t quite so pretty, so we
stopped and flipped a coin to see
who could talk to her.”
David won.
“I couldn’t tell what they were
doing with their hands. I didn’t
know for years that they had
flipped a coin over me,” said Elizabeth. “I told the girls that day,
‘Whatever they say to us, just tell
them no.’ I didn’t want anything to
do with dating on the base.”
Her resolve did not last long
when David’s attentions were
obviously reserved for her. The
young couple went to see “Gone
with the Wind,” and dated for a
few weeks. However, it wasn’t
long before David was sent to
Bien Hoa in Vietnam.
From June 1969 to June 1970,
David served in the First Battalion, 12th U.S. Calvary Unit
spending virtually his full year in
the jungle. Elizabeth was stationed
in Presidio, Calif. The pair tried to
keep in touch via mail, but delivery was spotty.
Letters were often three months
old before the other would get
them, and once, the helicopter
carrying mail crashed on the line.
The gap in mail caused them both
to think the relationship was over.
“I wasn’t surprised when I
stopped getting letters from her.
I thought, ‘I’m going to be here
a year, and she’s home in the
States,’” said David.
Elizabeth thought David had
moved on. What had seemed like
fate for the pair appeared to be at
an end.
For David, the loss of Elizabeth’s letters was a blow, but not
one he had time to dwell on. After
arriving in Vietnam and a short
period of training, the fresh-faced
recruit was placed on a point position in the jungle.
‘”Get out there, Reynolds.
You’re gonna walk point,’ I was
told,” David said. “I told them,
‘You don’t understand. This is my
first day out here.’ They said, ‘I
know. New guys have got to walk
point.’”
David made the trip to Vietnam
on his 19th birthday. He walked
point for three months. Then, he
carried an M-79 grenade launcher
for one month.
“Then, they came around asking for someone to volunteer for
sniper school, so I volunteered for
sniper school,” he said.
Following sniper training, David was sent on a secret mission to
Cambodia with a Recon Platoon.
He had 45 days left in Vietnam
Continued on next page
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
9
daily american republic
at this point. During the mission, a fellow
soldier came down with malaria, and David
and his team were sent to find a clearing
where a helicopter could lift him out of the
jungle.
“I carried four hand grenades, two
smoke grenades, claymore mine, 100
rounds of M-60 ammo, 200 rounds of
ammo for my sniper rifle, one night vision
scope, 13 quarts of water, my three day
supply c-rations and my bedroll, a total
of around 80 lbs,” said David about his
experiences. “So, I get upset sometimes
when guys pretend to be war heroes when
they’ve not been through that.”
After cutting their way to the clearing,
David and another soldier were sent to
investigate a trail where they thought the
enemy may have been approaching. The
two saw members of the NVA.
“I told that guy to empty his magazine
and take off running. He emptied and
took off, and I was shooting mine. I had
magazines taped back to back and I’d flip
them over and put in the next one. I ended
up shooting seven magazine before I got up
to run,” he said.
David’s unit got pinned down throughout the night. Another unit coming to provide aid also got pinned down by a large
force losing their point man and medic.
“I was by this log, and they were shooting back at us,” said David. “The dirt under
my butt felt funny so I reached down, and I
realized it was the bullets coming up under
that log kicking up the dirt under my butt.
So, I laid parallel to the log, and I’d stick a
magazine in my M-16 and lay it up on that
log and shoot.”
In the morning, the unit was able to
climb out and examine the area. After waiting through night wondering why mortar
rounds had not ended the stand off, David
had his answer. The original group of NVA
soldiers David had laid fire on had been
carrying the mortars and had not made it to
the larger group. David earned the Award
of The Bronze Star Medal for Heroism for
his actions.
“Vietnam was a horrible place. Not only
combat, but temperatures of 115 degrees,
you’d stay wet for three months. My first
trip, my pants had absolutely rotted off,”
said David.
He was more than ready to head home.
Elizabeth’s sweet-smelling letters and
the exotically beautiful California girl were
still on David’s mind. When he was able to
fly into California, he had a plan. He called
Elizabeth’s barracks and asked her to come
pick him up from the airport.
“He calls me up out of the blue,” said
Elizabeth. “I just happened to be in the
barracks. He wanted to meet up with me,
he had about a four hour layover before his
flight to St. Louis but after all this time I
wasn’t going to put too much into finding
a car and definitely wasn’t going to pay for
a cab or chance missing him by taking the
bus. One of my friends let me borrow her
little Spitfire and then there I was in San
Francisco driving down the highway like a
maniac so I could meet him at the airport.”
The couple later got married in Colorado where David was stationed after he
returned. They lived on less than $350 a
month while there and had rent and a car
payment taking up half their income.
“It was tight,” Elizabeth remembers. “I
woke up one morning through the winter
and there was frost on the inside of the
window, it was so cold in our apartment.”
After David served his term, the couple
returned to Ellsinore. Jobs in the area were
scarce. Especially for Vietnam veterans.
Veterans were not celebrated. They were
often vilified, especially ones like David
who had been in the midst of combat.
The couple quickly had four children,
Robert, Lee, Bonnie and Jeremy, and times
were hard. Times were made harder by the
fact David was “different.”
“I couldn’t feel anything the same when
Photos provided
The Reynolds’ now.
I got back,” he remembers. “I wasn’t a
good man. I wasn’t good to Elizabeth.”
The new mom felt like an outsider in the
small town where she was the only person
See REYNOLDS on page 10
Heating • Cooling • Sales & Service
Residential &
Commercial
Maintenance
Installation and repair services on all major brands
of HVAC Equipment.
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
10
a celebration of
Grill away, but
J
uly is National Grilling Month
and with that label the U.S. Department of Agriculture hopes
all you apron wearing burger
flippers are practicing safe grill
practices. The following guidelines are
designed to keep you and your family
safe (and full) when grilling.
It is important to follow food safety
guidelines to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing
foodborne illness. Use these simple
guidelines for grilling food safely.
• When shopping, buy cold food
like meat and poultry last, right before
checkout. Separate raw meat and poultry from other food in your shopping
cart. To guard against cross-contamination — which can happen when raw
meat or poultry juices drip on other
food — put packages of raw meat and
poultry into plastic bags.
• Plan to drive directly home from
the grocery store. You may want to take
a cooler with ice for perishables. Always refrigerate perishable food within
2 hours. Refrigerate within 1 hour
when the temperature is above 90 °F.
• At home, place meat and poultry
in the refrigerator immediately. Freeze
poultry and ground meat that won’t be
used in 1 or 2 days; freeze other meat
within 4 to 5 days.
Completely thaw meat and poultry
before grilling so it cooks more evenly.
Use the refrigerator for slow, safe
thawing or thaw sealed packages in
cold water. For quicker thawing, you
can microwave defrost if the food will
be placed immediately on the grill.
• A marinade is a savory, acidic
sauce in which a food is soaked to
enrich its flavor or to tenderize it.
Marinate food in the refrigerator, not
on the counter. Poultry and cubed meat
or stew meat can be marinated up to 2
days. Beef, veal, pork, and lamb roasts,
chops, and steaks may be marinated
up to 5 days. If some of the marinade
is to be used as a sauce on the cooked
food, reserve a portion of the marinade
before putting raw meat and poultry
grill safely
in it. However, if the marinade used
on raw meat or poultry is to be reused,
make sure to let it come to a boil first
to destroy any harmful bacteria.
• When carrying food to another
location, keep it cold to minimize bacterial growth. Use an insulated cooler
with sufficient ice or ice packs to keep
the food at 40 °F or below. Pack food
right from the refrigerator into the cooler immediately before leaving home.
• Keep meat and poultry refrigerated until ready to use. Only take out the
meat and poultry that will immediately
be placed on the grill. When using a
cooler, keep it out of the direct sun by
placing it in the shade or shelter. Avoid
opening the lid too often, which lets
cold air out and warm air in. Pack beverages in one cooler and perishables in
a separate cooler.
• Be sure there are plenty of clean
utensils and platters. To prevent
foodborne illness, don’t use the same
platter and utensils for raw and cooked
meat and poultry. Harmful bacteria
present in raw meat and poultry and
their juices can contaminate safely
cooked food.
• If you’re eating away from home,
find out if there’s a source of clean water. If not, bring water for preparation
and cleaning. Or pack clean cloths, and
moist towelettes for cleaning surfaces
and hands.
• Precooking food partially in the
microwave, oven, or stove is a good
way of reducing grilling time. Just
make sure that the food goes immediately on the preheated grill to complete
cooking.
SAFE MINIMUM INTERNAL
TEMPERATURES
• Whole poultry: 165 °F
• Poultry breasts: 165 °F
• Ground poultry: 165 °F
• Ground meats: 160 °F
• Beef, pork, lamb, and veal (steaks,
roasts and chops): 145 °F and allow
to rest at least 3 minutes.
Cook food to a safe minimum
internal temperature to destroy harmful
bacteria. Meat and poultry cooked on
a grill often browns very fast on the
outside. Use a food thermometer to be
sure the food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature.
Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and
veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a
minimum internal temperature of 145
°F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the
heat source. For safety and quality,
allow meat to rest for at least three
minutes before carving or consuming.
For reasons of personal preference,
consumers may choose to cook meat to
higher temperatures.
Cook all raw ground beef, pork,
lamb, and veal to an internal temperature of 160 °F as measured with a food
thermometer.
Cook all poultry to a safe minimum
internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer.
NEVER partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later.
When reheating fully cooked meats
like hot dogs, grill to 165 °F or until
steaming hot.
After cooking meat and poultry on
the grill, keep it hot until served — at
140 °F or warmer.
• Keep cooked meats hot by setting
them to the side of the grill rack, not
directly over the coals where they
could overcook. At home, the cooked
meat can be kept hot in an oven set at
approximately 200 °F, in a chafing dish
or slow cooker, or on a warming tray.
• When taking food off the grill,
use a clean platter. Don’t put cooked
food on the same platter that held raw
meat or poultry. Any harmful bacteria
present in the raw meat juices could
contaminate safely cooked food.
In hot weather (above 90 °F), food
should never sit out for more than 1
hour.
• Refrigerate any leftovers promptly in shallow containers. Discard any
food left out more than 2 hours (1 hour
if temperatures are above 90 °F).
freedom
REYNOLDS from page 9
of Hispanic descent. She knew what happened
to the men returning from the war and had
seen it firsthand with soldiers coming back to
Presidio. Even though the war was done, she
was going to have to fight for her family.
For nearly 10 years, David struggled. He
found a job logging in the area, but pay was
spotty and at one point the couple had to
consider moving to California to be closer to
Elizabeth’s family.
“We were getting credit at the grocery
store to get us through the winter, but it
finally was to the point where we weren’t
able to catch back up,” said Elizabeth. “We
even opted for a home birth for our daughter
because we couldn’t afford the medical bills.”
And, physically, David felt wrong. He
would hyperventilate for no reason. His heart
would palpitate, and he would sweat. He
wanted to go nowhere and wanted Elizabeth
around all the time.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a battle
with depression had extended the war, and the
thunderstorm the couple flew through to begin
their service still had some showers to bring.
“I don’t think people really understood
PTSD back then,” said David.
“The doctors weren’t sharing anything
with me, either,” said Elizabeth. “I didn’t
know anything about medication or counseling so I felt helpless.”
Through as much support as Elizabeth
was able to provide and finally understanding
what was wrong with him, David was able to
pull himself through the dark times.
He bought a sawmill with his brother and
was able to make some good property investments. It took years of financial struggles, but
the Reynolds were finally coming out on top.
“I know what hard times means,” said
David. “That’s not me bragging, but believe
me, I know.”
Today, the couple have celebrated 45 years
of marriage: good years and bad. They have
a beautiful home and family, and Reynolds
Lumber provides jobs and an economic boost
to the area. But, the pain of Vietnam still
lingers.
“I have some thoughts on Vietnam,” said
David. “Fifty-nine thousand boys killed. No
matter what you thought of the war, we didn’t
ask to go over there.”
A 2008 National Defense Authorization Act was authorized by the Secretary of
Defense to conduct a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War
and thank and honor veterans, highlight their
service and pay tribute to contributions
made by the people of the United States
during the War.
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
11
daily american republic
Celebrating the
The patriotism of Southeast Missouri’s
communities shines with the quality of
events planned to celebrate Independence Day. A few local events are listed
here. Please check with area Chambers of Commerce and city Facebook
pages for more information on upcoming
events.
★ Poplar Bluff 4th of July Fireworks
Begins at Dusk at Ray Clinton Park
■
Saturday, July 2, 2016
★ Second Annual Car Show
9 a.m. at Lake Wappapello Lower
Redman Creek Area.
★ Family Fun Day
Includes craft and car show, kids’ play
area, food vendors, horseshoe tournament, music
Begins at 8 a.m. at Redman Creek
Recreation Area
★ Lake Wappapello Beauty Contest
Contact Teresa Brotherton at 573-4294211 for information
5 p.m. at Redman Creek Recreation Area
★ Wappapello 4th of July Association
Fireworks Display
Redman Creek Recreation Area, can be
Poplar Bluff
Saturday, July 2, 2016
38th Annual Poplar Bluff Downtown 5K
Begins at 7 a.m. at the Butler County
Courthouse
Sunday, July 3, 2016
★ Little Mr. and Miss Firecracker Pageant
Holiday Inn, Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Email pbpageants@hotmail.com or call
573-718-8448
Monday, July 4, 2016
★ Poplar Bluff 4th of July Parade
Begins at 9 a.m., floats should arrive by 8
a.m. near Hydro Adventures
■
Wappapello
Friday, July 1, 2016
★ Movie at the Lake located at the
Spillway Recreation Area
HEARTLAND
HEARING
4804 West Blvd. Suite B
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
573-727-9166
Lisa Bishop Owner, HIS 001292
Fourth with Flair
★ Regional Healthcare Foundation 2016
4-Person Golf Scramble
1 p.m. Shotgun Start at Hidden Trails
Country Club
viewed around Lake.
Begins at Dusk
Sunday, July 3, 2016
★ Fireworks
Dusk at East City Park
Sunday, July 3, 2016
★ Ranger Willie’s Wet’N Wild Waterfest
Located at Redman Creek Beach
■
Doniphan
Saturday, July 2, 2016
★ Independence Day Celebration begins
at 4 p.m. at River Front Park
★ 2016 Miss Current River Pageant
4 p.m. at River Front Park
Entry forms at www.ripleycountymissouri.org or call 573-996-2212.
★ Fourth of July Fireworks Display
Dusk at River Front Park
■
Dexter
Friday, July 1, 2016
A Special Limited Time Offer
For Veterans Only
d
o
w
n
OFF
Low Monthly
ANY HEARING
INSTRUMENT!
Payments
expires
7-29-16
No Sales Tax
0 20
$
%
Saturday, July 9, 2016
★ Dexter, MO Grille it Up
Car Show, Helicopter Rides, DPR Bubble
Soccer Tournament, Art Contest, Tyson
Cook-Off, Craft Vendors, Dog Show,
Beauty Pageant and Dexter Talent Show
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Dexter East
Park
■
Other Area Events
★ Alley Independence Day Celebration,
July 2, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fourth
of July picnics and other celebrations
have been a tradition at Alley for over a
century. Festivities include live music.
Alley Spring is located 6 miles west of
Eminence, Mo., on State Highway 106.
For more information, contact Ranger
Josh Chilton at (573)-226-3945.
★ Fourth at the Fort will be held from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. July 4, 2016, at 920 Fort
St. in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The soldiers of
Fort D were very patriotic. At the national
holiday, they would celebrate by firing
their rifles and cannon and flying their
flags proudly.
★ Great American Fourth of July
The city of Cape Girardeau celebrates its
annual “Great American Fourth of July”
with fireworks on the Mississippi River
and a naturalization ceremony. The event
begins at 6:45 p.m. July 4 in front of the
Common Pleas Courthouse on Spanish
Street.
★ Oran 4th of July Picnic 2016
Begins July 4, 2016. For more than 100
years, Guardian Angel Parish of Oran has
celebrated Independence Day by holding
this special event.
CREATE YOUR RING
a completely customizable bridal collection
Cannot be combined with other offers.
Does not apply to previous purchases.
for your service to our country!
We Offer Firearms Training by Patriot Training, LLC
buy • sell • trade
1164 County Road 559 • Poplar Bluff, MO
Phone: 573-776-1486 • Fax: 573-776-1487
JULY CCW CLASSES
Friday, July 1st & Friday, July 15th at 5:30 p.m.
Ryan thurman • triggersllc@yahoo.com • triggersllc.net
573.785-2023
877.785.2023
333 S. WESTWOOD
SUITE 21, POPLAR BLUFF
WW
W. G
IFTC
HESTJEWELER
S.C
OM
Where Wal-Mart Supercenter is next to us!
A
A
D R DA R DA
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D R DA R DA R
A D R D R D
R
A
A
A
D
D
D
R
R
R
A
A
A
D R DA R DA R
A
D
D
D
D
38th Annual
Downtown Poplar Bluff 5K Run
This is a free run.
All proceeds raised through T-Shirt sales and Raffles will be
donated to the Poplar Bluff Animal Shelter!
Sponsored by Ozark Federal Credit Union
Art Provided by Local Artist Connie Roe
Membership Eligibility Required • Loan Terms & Conditions Based on Eligibility