Hey Dad!
I was walking down your memory lane today. You have some beautiful memories hiding somewhere in that mind of yours. I hope that when you look at these photos, you remember and feel what it was like to be that young twenty something year old in the army with that young hot thang waiting at home for you! I hope you can one day tell me the story behind all of your pictures!
Look at mom! So young and beautiful!
I can see why you fell for her.
I wished I could have known you two as a couple back then.
The wedding!
So much I don't know....where'd you get married?
Where'd mom buy that dress??? I love it!
Who was your best man? I thought you had to have a shaved hair in the military.
What was going through your minds at this moment?
Looks like you made mom's day!
Who are all of those people in the room?
Was Grandma & Grandpa Ragan there? What about Grandma & Grandpa Merrill?
Any other siblings there besides Aunt Deb?
Look at that! Love it!
I love this picture of mom. Don't you?
Look it's me! What do you remember of me as a baby?
Was I a good baby? Did I cry a lot? Did you hold me a ton?
Look...me and you! Who's taking that picture? Is it mom taking this picture while she rubs your stinky feet? Your lucky she did that for all of those years. John hasn't touched my feet since we got married. :)
Where is this picture taken at?
Overseas somewhere?
This was written on one of the back of your pictures.
So sweet.
I am really curious and wished I knew where these pictures were taken.
OH! And look. I found a picture of you when you were like 2! I remember taking fishing trips to the coast with you and grandpa Ragan too. Those were some of the best of my childhood memories. Do you remember this day?
Vietnam...what was that like?
Who were these guys?
What were their jobs?
Was someone on this helicopter that you knew?
Is this where you lived?
Is this your helicopter? And your pilot?
What was the name of your puppy?
Did he or she snuggle with you every night?
Look at how young and handsome you were! And still are!
Is this you? It looks like you. But I can't be certain.
What was going through your mind?
How long had you been in Vietnam at this point?
Have you been up in your helicopter yet?
Are those sand bags behind you?
Is that all you had to protect you from the enemy?
I am so proud of you dad!
Oh lookie! Another way old flashback of you and grandpa!
Look at that car! What kind is it? Oh, how I wished I couldn't had more time with him.
I think we are back in Vietnam.
Pretty neat picture!
Vietnam again, I think.
Your words:
"Replacement of my old UH1D with the new UH1H Model!"
Were you so happy to have a new helicopter?
How was it different from your old one?
You words:
"Going on a search and destroy mission, waiting for our air cover to take off (Cobra Gunship)."
What exactly does that mean? Was there a possibility you could have been seriously hurt this day?
I like to see pictures of you in your camp with things I can relate to. Like your puppy again.
Did he or she have a name? Or did you just call him/her "Dog"?
Your new helicopter and door gunner.
What did you do on this helicopter?
What was your gunners name?
Your monkey and dog....sounds so funny. I wished I had a pet monkey!
Highway 1 outside your base camp in Phuoc Vinh.
Did you travel this road often?
Your roommate! Do you remember him?
He was roommate, so you must have spent much of your time with him.
I would love to meet him and hear some stories!
Look at that. Above, was your life then. This is your life now.
How does that make you feel?
I know I am proud to be your daughter.
Thank you dad for everything you've given me.
I love you and mom with all of my heart!
xoxoxo,
Tonya
