Post by: pianoman9701 on December 09, 2022, 01:02:17 PM
From '63 to about 1970, he "did other stuff" for the US Government in Africa, Central and South America, and "elsewhere". He had many wounds. He was a pilot with 50K hours, 25K rotor and 25K fixed - very unusual. About 15 years ago, he was doing check flights at Ft. Rucker for pilot prospects. He was an elk guide in MT, was married a few times and has several children. He flew and guided many celebrities all over the US and Mexico, people like Billy Martin. He was a crop duster.
I met Rocky when I was selling air ambulance interiors. Rocky was hired for his fluent Spanish and South American contacts. He was about 65 at the time and living in an Airstream trailer on the Columbia River in Woodland. My then wife and I had him stay over frequently, especially in winter when it was cold and very lonely in the trailer. He regaled us of of his experiences and we looked forward to his visits. We became friends for life. I visited Rocky last month in Colorado Springs and damn glad I did. He had very advanced cancer and of course had downplayed the extent of it on the phone before my visit. He suffered greatly from the pain and resisted pain treatments. In the end, his daughter put him in hospice last Saturday where he could finally get relief from the pain and from this world, eventually. I'll miss him. He was a patriot, a Marine, father and husband, and dear and trusted friend to me.
Post by: NRA4LIFE on December 09, 2022, 01:09:08 PM
Post by: LDennis24 on December 09, 2022, 01:17:25 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 09, 2022, 01:36:57 PM
Post by: bearhunter99 on December 09, 2022, 01:56:01 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 09, 2022, 01:58:24 PM
My condolences. As time passes we lose more and more of these great men.
We sure do. I'm getting tired of losing them. Thank you. :tup:
Post by: boneaddict on December 09, 2022, 02:00:48 PM
Post by: huntnfmly on December 09, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 09, 2022, 02:07:46 PM
Sorry John, I'm glad you got to see him on your trip. The losses of 2022 have been too much
The older we get,...Thanks my friend.
Post by: Fidelk on December 09, 2022, 02:36:19 PM
Sorry John, I'm glad you got to see him on your trip. The losses of 2022 have been too much
The older we get,...Thanks my friend.
RIP. Happy for you that you have known such a man and that you had such a friend.
Post by: bearpaw on December 09, 2022, 03:38:04 PM
Post by: KFhunter on December 09, 2022, 04:30:49 PM
So I doubt they knew one another. Pops grew up very similar to Hathcock, popping squirrels in rural Arkansas as a young boy, dirt poor sharecroppers with no shoes, a hard man these generations do not understand.
RIP Rocky
Post by: KFhunter on December 09, 2022, 04:33:08 PM
maybe they did know one another :o
Post by: Russ McDonald on December 09, 2022, 04:41:02 PM
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Post by: Pinetar on December 09, 2022, 05:05:51 PM
Post by: b0bbyg on December 09, 2022, 05:24:21 PM
We lost my wifes Uncle recently who sounds like the same sort of guy, one that the world needs more of.
He was a Green Beret who snuck into the military before he was 18, loved the visits we had and could listen to his stories all day long.