John A Adams:
CLASS OF 1962
Cy-Fair High SchoolClass of 1962
Cypress, TX
John A's Story
Greetings CyFairians....geeeeze, it has been a long time hasn't it. I remember a few of you, but wish to remember more. I loss a goodly portion of my memories due to a helicopter crash in Vietnam. I joined the Army in '64, and schooled as an aircraft mechanic, and then went on to and accomplished the Warrant Officer Helicopter Flight School program. Went to Vietnam as an Officer & Pilot and flew armed 'charlie model' Huey gunships for the 173rd AHC out of Lai Khe [about 45 miles N of Saigon] 16Apr68 I was injured, and sent home. I spent just shy of one year hospitalized, paralyzed from the waist down. One of my door gunners, Bud Horton [crew chief], wrote and published a story about the crash titled 'Wingman Down'. His facts were a bit off, and for forty plus years some members of my Unit pleaded me to write my side of the story. I did so, and posted it to Facebook.
As some of you already know, I have long been up on my feet and have a cute little swagger ') to my walk from a spinal chord injury. I spent several months plus in Vietnam and three surgeries, before being shipped out to Japan. I was two weeks there in care by the Navy - swell guys, and then littered flown to California and on to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, the old wooden barracks hospital of the era. I had been there 3 or 4 months, despondent, grumpy, and laying in a bed all day and wakened nights surrounded by fifty or so other bedridden injured Vets all wanting to go home. A group of church members from a small Pentecostal Church in the Heights area of Houston - deacons and a couple of personal friends of my sister Charlene, walked up to my bedside unannounced - gathered about the bed in hand and began praying for me. After a short bit I began to cuss them. They ignored me, so I cussed louder and more fervently - they kept praying. I cussed so hard and so loud afterwards that I loss my voice, I could not even squeak. When they were thru praying 'in hands' and began to pray on their own individually....grand Pentecostal style dancing and tongues and such, I was helplessly mute. too funny. Several months later I was shipped up to Memphis Tenn to a brand spankin new VA Hospital. I was only there for a few months, and shuffled out the front door on my own two feet with a wooden cane in my left hand, as skinny as a #2 pencil. I had cussed God to no end, and He put me back on my feet any way. Amen. Every step these last fifty years plus I have been Graced by God. I am a miracle of His Mercy.
I did not marry until late in life, because of the residuals of my Service connected injuries. I did not have a common sex life, not could I have children - little to none feeling below my waist line, good deal of muscle atrophy in my legs. I posted a picture of my wife Debra and I today, along with a few others. She was a damsel in distress, and I rescued her and put her feet back to a normal life. Once settled, she wanted to leave and live with her daughter and husband in the Panhandle. We have been separated for some ten years or more. "who's counting" ') Last year I bought this new 4 BR/3B/3car garage house in Brownwood where Debra and the Brown family had moved to. I fell and broke my right hip several years ago, and that is when it hit me that I had no one to help me in such circumstance, so I settled in here to have help if I should come to need it. My girls [two Labs] Love the house to run around in, and the nice yard I have put in. Life goes on.
I was the dumbest S*** that ever walked the halls of Cy Fair. I was raised by a cold mother, and a step dad that did not acknowledge me, and was not taught anything at home. I was blindly tip toeing my way when I met you at Cy Fair. I apologize for any misdeeds. I found Life when I joined the Army, and my first real home was Lai Khe. I tho...Expand for more
ught of those that I was protecting with my gunships [fire team] in Vietnam, as 'family'. I was a Fire Team Leader and Unit instructor pilot. I was handsomely decorated, twice for Valor. I learned comradery.
I lived and worked a stock Ranch in central Tx for 8 years. I loved the life, and it was hard work. I had a female lab that I named Gracie. She actually was given to Debra but took to me and stayed at my side day and night. I must tell you ...... Towards the end, things were breaking down, Debra had become distant, and one of the two owners that I worked with died, and the other one was German and difficult for me to cope with. I had become depressed, every thing I had struggled to work for was evaporating before my eyes. I was sitting on a lawn swing in my yard, evening on the Ranch, truly as can be spoken depressed. Tears in my eyes and a .45 caliber pistol in my right hand resting on my lap. I had said my goodbyes to myself, and spoken to our LORD, these were my last moments on this Earth. Gracie was laying out in front of me in the grass, about 20 feet away, chewing up pecans that had fallen from the tree. She got up, walked straight to me and between my legs. She turned her back to me sitting, and then looked up and over her left shoulder and looked me straight into my eyes. "I heard her say" I Love you and will be your true friend always to the end. We had 13 wonderful years together. I miss her so. I did not let her suffer old age, put her down when the time had come, and it ripped out my heart. I love these two labs with me now, Iggy and Abigail, but Gracie owns my heart.
I could not get into 'school' like I watched most of you do. I sat side saddle at my desk looking out the window. Day late and incomplete. ')
I went to work in the construction grind - from shovel to truck to heavy machines to the main office to learn how the job bidding worked. I did a short stay at Sam Houston, but bailed out mid term of the first year. Could not make myself study. It is a wonder I even graduated from Cy Fair.
There were several 'ladies' that I had taken a shine to ') from my classmates and a couple others class and two back. I knew NOTHING about females, and did not have the confidence to learn, just fantasized instead of manning up. You women have 'power' LOL
Home from Vietnam and not liking being in Houston, I moved to St. Augustine, Fla where I was born. In my wee lad days, had spent part of many summers there with my grandfather [John Henry Allen]. He lived 17 miles inland at Hastings. I lived there 17 years before moving back to Texas. A healthy and enjoyable experience. I had purchased a livable Motor Coach to travel about the Country. A monkey wrench was thrown into my travel plans when I met Debra in Fredericksburg. We hooked up and moved to the Ranch. I married her a year or so later. I donated the motor home to the Salvation Army. Did so, because I had gone to Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio my sophomore year, and it was started and run for years by two brothers [both Army Colonels retired] Charles and Westley Peacock. When one brother died, the other donated the buildings and property to the Salvation Army. I followed suit. Florida was fun! I learned to maneuver both power and sail boats. fresh and salt water fishing. And, I learned about 'girls' LOL
This World is in a mess, and I do not even recognize the America I bled for in a foreign land. I wish every one of you to be well. I pray you Grace and Mercy. I found my way to Calvary in Florida, in the very early 80's, my soul is in the hand of Christ Jesus. Our souls are Eternal, there is Life after. Encourage yourselves and others to seek the narrow path to Salvation. You can bet your boots, if there is anything to fly in the Heavenly, I will be doing so! I was born to pilot.
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