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Living Legend
Joined
Feb 19, 2007
Messages
2,901
Location
Banner, WA
Ride
2009 Rocket Touring
Well I thought to put this in the Bearclaw Corner because bikes and bikers are involved.

Saturday, August 29th was the 96th birthday of my good friend and neighbor Chuck McGuire. He lives with Wanda, his loving companion and caregive r on a beautiful wooded 5 acre parcel behind our place. Chuck is a WW II Battle of the Bulge Infantry Combat Engineer and the only one of his unit that lived after being hit by German artillery. A birthday party was organized for him at our Port Orchard VFW post but Chuck had no idea what we were really up to.

As a back story, Chuck is a wheelchair now after about 4 days of hospitalization from a fall and about three weeks in what he described as a "hell hole" nursing home where they stuck him in a dementia ward and left him. He would call Wanda and me late at night to please come and get him. Wanda and a old friend of over 35 years, John, finally drove over to the hell hole and rescued him.

Chuck is so gratified to be home now and is well taken care of by Wanda, John and his VFW comrades. He's been a member for about 70 years. He's told me many times how horrible the nursing home was and he just wanted to come home to be in his own home and bed. The home, which he started building in 1953 and added on over the years is collection of the coolest antique stuff, including things of his grandmother's, the one who raised him in eastern Idaho. He's even got two old bullwhips that he used for driving cattle back in the 30s and then after the war.

What Chuck did not know is that our Riders Group was going to escort the local Access Bus to the post. About 12 of us staged at the fire station just down the street from his house. The driver Susi, was in on it and after picking Chuck up, drove where we were staged. We split our group with about half in front of the bus and the rest in the rear. We got waves and horns all the way to the Post, to include from local Sheriff squad cars. When we got he and Wanda to the post, Chuck was in very high spirits, being overwhelmed by the realization that he had so many friends who cared for him at his late stage of life. His wife and most family and friends have since passed on.

It wasn't over though. Sheriff's Deputies had staged around the corner from the Post, which had been arranged by our Service Officer, veteran and former policeman. One of our Riders Group members wheeled Chuck out to a second floor landing and the squad cars drove by with lights and sirens, wishing him a happy birthday. One car played "Happy Birthday to Chuck". Chuck was waiving smiling, having a wonderful time.

He spent the afternoon being greeted by old friends and afterward told me it was the best day of his life.
Chuck & 1936 Harley.jpg

Chuck in 1946 or 47 when he and his cousin Herb rode his 1936 Harley Knucklhead from Birch Creek, ID to the Shelton Ranch near Leadore to take a 1000 head of cattle over the pass to the railhead in Wyoming. He said it was so bitterly cold that he walked most of the 100 mile trail.

thumbnail_IMG_7989.jpg

And at the party. Wanda and Chuck met when they used to play music with the Old Time Fiddlers after Chuck's wife died in about 2002. Wanda is totally devoted to Chuck and without her, he'd be in a nursing home because he needs constant attention until he can get stronger. Chuck stood on his own for the first time last Monday. My wife and I visit about every other day. Karin makes him custard, which he loves. Wanda is in her 80s and a hard boiled old Missouri gal who I describe as an Angel with Rough Edges.
 
Well I thought to put this in the Bearclaw Corner because bikes and bikers are involved.

Saturday, August 29th was the 96th birthday of my good friend and neighbor Chuck McGuire. He lives with Wanda, his loving companion and caregive r on a beautiful wooded 5 acre parcel behind our place. Chuck is a WW II Battle of the Bulge Infantry Combat Engineer and the only one of his unit that lived after being hit by German artillery. A birthday party was organized for him at our Port Orchard VFW post but Chuck had no idea what we were really up to.

As a back story, Chuck is a wheelchair now after about 4 days of hospitalization from a fall and about three weeks in what he described as a "hell hole" nursing home where they stuck him in a dementia ward and left him. He would call Wanda and me late at night to please come and get him. Wanda and a old friend of over 35 years, John, finally drove over to the hell hole and rescued him.

Chuck is so gratified to be home now and is well taken care of by Wanda, John and his VFW comrades. He's been a member for about 70 years. He's told me many times how horrible the nursing home was and he just wanted to come home to be in his own home and bed. The home, which he started building in 1953 and added on over the years is collection of the coolest antique stuff, including things of his grandmother's, the one who raised him in eastern Idaho. He's even got two old bullwhips that he used for driving cattle back in the 30s and then after the war.

What Chuck did not know is that our Riders Group was going to escort the local Access Bus to the post. About 12 of us staged at the fire station just down the street from his house. The driver Susi, was in on it and after picking Chuck up, drove where we were staged. We split our group with about half in front of the bus and the rest in the rear. We got waves and horns all the way to the Post, to include from local Sheriff squad cars. When we got he and Wanda to the post, Chuck was in very high spirits, being overwhelmed by the realization that he had so many friends who cared for him at his late stage of life. His wife and most family and friends have since passed on.

It wasn't over though. Sheriff's Deputies had staged around the corner from the Post, which had been arranged by our Service Officer, veteran and former policeman. One of our Riders Group members wheeled Chuck out to a second floor landing and the squad cars drove by with lights and sirens, wishing him a happy birthday. One car played "Happy Birthday to Chuck". Chuck was waiving smiling, having a wonderful time.

He spent the afternoon being greeted by old friends and afterward told me it was the best day of his life.
Chuck & 1936 Harley.jpg

Chuck in 1946 or 47 when he and his cousin Herb rode his 1936 Harley Knucklhead from Birch Creek, ID to the Shelton Ranch near Leadore to take a 1000 head of cattle over the pass to the railhead in Wyoming. He said it was so bitterly cold that he walked most of the 100 mile trail.

thumbnail_IMG_7989.jpg

And at the party. Wanda and Chuck met when they used to play music with the Old Time Fiddlers after Chuck's wife died in about 2002. Wanda is totally devoted to Chuck and without her, he'd be in a nursing home because he needs constant attention until he can get stronger. Chuck stood on his own for the first time last Monday. My wife and I visit about every other day. Karin makes him custard, which he loves. Wanda is in her 80s and a hard boiled old Missouri gal who I describe as an Angel with Rough Edges.
Thank you and other caring people to allow him to have his dignity and able to live his life. Hard to think of someone who has given so much to start the downward road. Here's hoping he can turn that around. Thanks to both of you for your service.
 
way to many of these heroes who gave up their life are being forgotten or being put behind it is a shame I was always told;if you cant stand behind our troops feel free to stand in front
 
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