Rachel M. Vest:  

Hi to all my fellow classmates!!!! I guess this change may seem odd or peculiar to some of you and you probably never realised I felt like more than a Girl but a FEMALE. Its true, I suppressed my femininity and tried to hide my Pro-Female ideas and views but some slipped through. I have always been a supporter of Female equality and social issues concerning the status of Women, in America and the World. Not much has changed in my being, I still am the same person I was back then; opinionated, confident, eager to learn and caring about others. No much into cliques and I never was, look at the social outcasts as victims of arrogant and too often egotistical people. What I have learned in life, the US Army, Vietnam and during my travels through life is, you don't change people but let them progress at their own rate to what they are or want to be. I am still a Teacher type and I have very strong feeling, emotions and beliefs about Our Country, the Constitution and Our fellow Citizens of the United States of Ameica. I do not call myself a "Patriot" but I would defend the Constitution to my death, still. Many of those who served in Vietnam; the Males, have expressed "IYou are still in the Brotherhood." and I understand with appreciate that feeling and respect. I am a Woman now but always a Soldier. My training, in my youth served me well, in Vietnam. I was wounded three times but I had my job to do, as a Squad Sergeant. We were young Males; 18 to 22, and had no advance training as Infantry, in 1973. I was the best equipped and trained with my Scouting experiences, my USMC Devil Pup training, my Leadership roles in high school and my knowledge and understanding of politics, history, religion and human understanding. I learned the lessons of my Mother's teaching and until her death, on May 14, 2007, we remained very close. When I made this change, she accepted me as her Daughter and still her Oldest child. It was very hard to watch he pass from this Life... I am certain many of you have had that sobbering and sad experience. It hurts so deep and you never really get over losing the parent you are closest to. My father and I were not close, as I could not be the Boy or Son he wanted of me. I know how it must have looked to all of you but he and I were light years away from each other. The big split came at 16 years old after I returned from Devil Pup training, in the summer of 1968. I was different then, in that I was far more confident, capable and ready to accept my obligation of service to my Country. I lost my fear of Dying, in Vietnam, and I accept death with no regrets. He challenged me with that, "I'm the man of this house and until you kick my ass, I am the boss!", my Mother began to cry because she saw I was not going to backdown, from him. She called to me to keep my cool and I listened. I looked him in the eye and said, "Your a Man? Then I will never be like you... you kind of Man is a dinosaur and a joke. You told me all your ideas about Women and their stupidity but you just an Old world cartoon character. Keep you Castle, I don't need it!!!! Good-bye, Mother." I left 877 Darrell street for two weeks, at the end of August, my Mother told him, "Leonard Leroy Vest, you drove that kid out of his home. You can't treat him like that, he is different now and not afraid of you, anymore. Find him and bring him home, of I'll get a divorce. Yes, he is MY Kid and I have raised him, encouraged him while you drank you beer and carosed around, behind my back. Get that kid back, Leonard!" I came home after two weeks. In May of 1969, I became an Eagle Scout. My fellow Speech students elected me President of Speech Club abd I chose Amy Austin as Vice-President. Most of you never knew she was Vice-President of speech club. I have great respect for her, then and now. I admired her for her Womanhood but then there were many of the Girls in Our Class I admired and viewed as my Sisters; a fellow Girl. I just kept it to myself and I never cared for the Anti-Homosexual language I heard in the halls of EHS. Yes, I knew Tim Constance was Gay and it did not matter, to me. Tim was his own person and I thought highly of him but never developed a friendship with him. Recently, Tim and I have begun to get to know each other. Of course, it is Girl to Guy but I enjo talking to him. I hope we continue our developing friendship. There are many of the guys who are Gay and don't come around because of the Homophobia, in Our Nation. I remain watchful of most Males, because of Transphobia but I do not fear them because I am very capable of taking care of myself... the US Army taught me to kill and Combat proved to me, I can do it very easily but I walk away from conflict, anymore. I may be a Girl but a Soldier never forgets how to fight. For those interested, I am; Five foot seven, Blonde hair, Blue eyes, and told I have Sexy legs, a Cute butt, a nice body and I don't look my age. Many men tell me I look, in my late thirties or early forties. I do have perfect Child-baring hips and I can tell you, I have thought many times wishing I could bare children, throughout my lifetime. I understood, at 15 years old, that the Sex Change was possible but my family would never agree or help me get the Sex Change. I am a 40 B right now and weigh 150 pound, on average, I do wear high heels, love dresses and skirts, I wear sweaters, blouses and I am not much of a Tee-shirt Girl. I wear nylons and yes, I wear Lacy panties. I am very proud of my Womanhood and my life is 24/7 a Woman. I do cook and do Women's work, I would like to marry a Man my age or older, be his wife and enjoy life with him, together. My career goals still exist, I am a Screenwriter and Film Director but until my Sex Change is done, I remain disadvantaged by Gender Dysphoria and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Oesteo-parosis, a female kidney desieses and three other ailments. My health began to decline, after I returned from Military service, in about 1979. Ny Right leg is in constant pain and I take medication for it, anxiety is a real problem and I never had a problem with any form of Anxiety, in high school or in service. I was rock soliod, in combat and quick witted. The US Army offered me Officer's Cadidate School (OCS) but I refused it. I was drafted and inducted on November 8, 1972, in Oakland, California. My Lottery number was number 53 and my Local Board was LBM134, Santa Ana, California. My Selective service number was 04-134-52-???? and I spent 2 years, 3 da...Expand for more