Dave,
Hope y'all are getting along ok. i know it's been a tough time.

Thanks for the reminder, Keith

Thank you Keith. I had a punch in the gut last Wed. Chad's widow is trying to get a posthumous VA claim. She has a WV state provided VA advocate assisting her. Kim told me they went to the VA 7 times and he was turned away claiming he was bi-polar and didn't have PTSD and the VA didn't cover that. Chad did not see or talk to any VA doctors! The advocate was stunned.
Needless to say I would not pizz on the democrat OR republican parties if they were on fire.

RIP in Gods Everlasting Presence High Brass.

Dave,

Did I ever mention to you that Chad beat about five 24 Hour Campfire members on a shooting contest (22 RF) in New Bern, NC? I was using my Marlin 39A and Chad was using a bolt action Remington of some type I believe. He was a helluva shot. Plus, he liked Savage 99s, like me.

He was a good, decent man. He called me right after a mini hurricane went through eastern NC many years back. He wanted to see if I wanted him to go check on my in-laws in Beaufort, NC. The in-laws had no power or means of communication. I was stationed in VA at the time.

No, I will not forget him.

God bless.

Dave, I think often of you and your lad. I keep you in my prayers. I just don't know how well I could have handled your load. Keep the faith, brother.

I am, unfortunately, not surprised. I didn't need to hear this, but I'm not surprised.

I've followed your posts about your son. A close friend lost his son, a Marine as well, to nearly identical circumstances. I have no real words that will help, but want you to know there are others who realize that there are too many of these young men.

My friend has been very active the last few years trying to raise money and awareness. I suppose it is one way to make sense of it all.

Damn Dave. I'm sure you're very proud of him, I know I would be. My deepest condolences to you and your family.

RIP.

By the way, I have that same exact Remington hat that he is wearing in the first pic. Killed a lot of game wearing that hat. Also missed a truckload of partridge too. He had good taste in hats.

I remember when I looked that squared away wearing Service C's.

Chad shooting that Savage 99 of his back in August 2009 at B&R Range in Havelock NC; same weekend he won the 22 shoot-off in Mike's backyard. We had a 24 Hour Campfire get together down east - those were good times with good people! Chad was a great young man who left us way too soon.

I remember he won the contest at Mike's. IIRC he used a single shot Winchester. He was always a helper to others.

I have the very scope on the M99 in the picture on a M99 300 Sav. my friend and military mentor gave me just before he passed away. Chad and I had some great times at Bob's camp. IIRC Chad bought his M99 from Mike.
Chad and I hit the B&R range several times.

AMEN!

So Sorry. Anyone that has served deserves the best our Doctors can provide. R.I.P. High Brass

I really appreciate the kind words and support I have received here at the campfire.
I apologize to any and all if my post about the VA has offended anyone. I admit I'm very bitter about it but feel the truth needs to be told.

Hard to believe that it will be a year on Saturday that I read your post telling us that Chad was gone. Prayers for peace and comfort are on the way for you and your family. God Bless you. Rest in eternal peace Chad.

Bob

I'm sorry you have to give tribute to your son Dave, I wish things could be different. Praise be to the Warriors who have gone. RIP Chad.

Your anger with the VA is not misplaced, this schit has got to stop.

Stand strong Dave.

We are grateful for the service that High Brass gave to our country. He was clearly a very special American. Continued prayers for you and your family from N.C.

Set an empty chair, and keep a full heart.

^^^^^^^^
THIS...+1

Dave, Chad's life was cut short but his memory lives on with family and friends..As you know our hookup was short but most enjoyable that afternoon as we talked guns,hunting and our military experiences.It Was quite apparent after only a few minutes Mom and Dad had done a superb job raising a fine young man...

As we said our goodbyes he squeezed my hand and paid me the best compliment any old sarge could ask for..I'll never forget that.

God bless you Dave, while he wraps your son in his loving embrace.


gone will never be a synonym for forgotten

Dave, my heart just breaks for you and your family. I have never really fully recovered from losing my dad. I can't fathom what it would be like to lose my son. My prayers go out to you sir. Rest assured that he has gone on to a far better place, and you will hunt together some day when God decides he need you worse also.

Hang tough, sir.

Your son is in God's hands. My prayers continue for you and your family.

Dave,

there are no words to begin to express what I feel for your family, your loss, mixed in with the deepest respect for your son and his service.

This entire crap with the VA Nationwide.. seems to have happened with the Afro President in office, but then what have our Republican ran Senate and Congress done about it...

That is a damned shame.....

yet on the flip side, we have a friend who was from Massachusetts, that is disabled Army, and lived out here for quite a while... when her dad got sick, she went back home to Massachusetts....

She went round and round with the VA out here for 8 years to get her benefits, 250 mile trips to Portland ( one way), and lord knows how many 200 mile trips up to the Roseburg VA in Roseburg OR...

When she returned home to New England, she went down and saw a VA REP there, to pick up the claim process again.. what she couldn't get done in Oregon in 8 years, she got taken care of in 72 hours in Massachusetts... plus the woman at the VA got her ALL the back pay, from when she first filed her claim... it added well over $100K.

It just amazes me that this can take place at one VA facility in ONE state an then so many others are Red Tape Bureaucratic Hell in others.

Your son's widow deserves ALOT more than what she's experiencing.. and your Son...may God Bless him, and I pray he's in a place where he will only know peace for the rest of eternity.

+1,000

I can't imagine the pain this has caused your family but you will remain in our prayers.

God bless ya'll, Dave. Sorry to hear of the VA obstacles. It seems to be a broken system with broken leadership.

+ all this.

I can't say it better than this Dave. I sure enjoyed corresponding with Chad over the years. He is not forgotten...

Dave,

To this day, I still find it hard to breathe. I still think of him so often, I can't even bring myself to remove his number from my phone.

In respect to the VA Claim, I am greatly saddened I couldn't do more to help her with that. I really am.I called everyone I could find, spoke to them all. I honestly feel like I let you both down.

Negative Ryan!!! You did all you could do. I did all he would allow me to do. You're his best friend. Grief is the strongest of all emotions and it will cause us to feel guilt when there is no reason for it!

We tend to be a result oriented society

And somehow we tend to lose the value of try

Recently on this board there was a discussion on the fate of some brave souls left abandoned to a horrible fate in Benghazi

Folks with knowledge of such matters debated whether those men could have been saved by deploying various resources to their aid.

All I know is nada happens for the good if we don't try

Many a child hold fond memories of a dad or mom that busted hump their entire lives by trying to provide a better life for their children only to never have the financial success they sought

I'd ask is their love less than the child for their parent than the child that was raised in privilege & comfort of the well to do of their parent?

Not ime

Can we make the grief of a parent go away when they've lost a son or daughter? No sadly we cannot, but we can comfort them somewhat by our clumsy expressions of condolences, preparing a delivered meal to them and our shared tears that they are not alone or forgotten in this moment of the greatest despair human existence has to offer.


In athletic competitions those that live in our memories are those great contests where both teams try desperately to win Only one will be victorious but how is their contest remembered if not for both of them trying with all their might and will to overcome the other? Blowouts and slaughters don't live in our memories as fondly as those contests that take us to the wire with hope & expectation.


You may have not won the battle to secure benefits for the survivor of your warrior friend Rye77 against a faceless, nameless bureaucracy this time, but by god you tried!

And for that I salute you and will tell you unequivocally you've earned my respect & I wouldn't know you if you walked up on my porch this very minute.

Outcomes are only guaranteed in one instance. If we don't try we are certain to fail.

May God bless those that try in this world. Their success in trying is never a gurarantee, but the love and respect of those they try for is.

From the bottom of mine & many others hearts here that value the sacrifices and efforts of those that try & keep our country safe through their service to our country, we deeply thank your for your efforts to secure the benefits due to this fallen warrior for his family.

God bless you son & thank you

SALUTE, may he rest in peace with out Lord & Savior.

Well done as a tribute!

And keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.

I am truly sorry for your loss. There's nothing like losing a child.

Chad bore the burden of others in so many ways. He did not realize the impact he made on so many and what a truly fine man he was in spite of his demons.

I wish I had the honor to have met Chad. From all I know he was an honorable man and a wonderful Son. I have no idea what you are going through but I know there has to be a lot of pain as well as missing him to an extent I pray I never know. I pray for you and your family. Chad is at peace now. RIP Chad.

Jim