I try to post large milestones on this page, but for weekly news and updates, please visit my Facebook page – you DO NOT need to be a member of Facebook to visit my Author's Page. :)
A fantastic weekend at AeroFest with a few of my friends. Medal of Honor recipient “Doc” Don Ballard, and two of my Pop A Smoke family members Johnny and Frenchy LaFountaine hanging out with Gary Sinise. Thanks to the The Independence Fund and the Gary Sinise Foundation for a great event supporting our nation’s veterans! Semper Fi!
In 1998, I received an email from Corpsman Jim Fisher that changed my entire journey. With his help, I found other corpsmen that knew my dad in Vietnam. And he pointed me to the wonderful group of Pop A Smoke that opened up all sorts of doors for me. Last night, Rick and I had the great pleasure of finally meeting him and his lovely wife, Diane. A dinner date that was nearly 18 years in the making, but well worth the wait! Semper Fi Doc!!!
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December 24, 2014
A wonderful Christmas gift made in memory of my father. Handmade personally for me by Doc Phil Rice. Thank you so much!!
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February 2, 2014
Germantown High School MCJROTC opens it’s brand-new building with LtCol Dave Harrill and SgtMaj Rick Caisse in charge.
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December 14, 2012
Rick retires from the Marine Corps after a 30-year career. A very bittersweet, but proud, day.
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October 21 & 22, 2011
American Airlines flew Rick & I, my Uncle Steve & Aunt Kim, Tony & Linda Macone (uncle and aunt
of Capt. Jen Harris), and Col. Sean Killeeen to Fort Worth for the SkyBall — a charity event in which over 10,000 American Airlines employees volunteer for. Our families were flown in as part of the weekend to be presented with portraits of my father and Jen from
the American Fallen Soldiers Project. Gary Sinise narrated our story — what an honor!
October 7, 2011
We went to Arlington for the interment of Col. Eugene R. Brady and his wife, Virginia Brady — my Papa Gene and Mama Ginny. A beautiful and fitting service. They will always be in my heart.
August 2011
My husband, Rick, returned home safe and sound from Afghanistan. He spent 7 months as the SgtMaj for MALS-40 taking care of our Marines. I am very proud of him and happy to have him home! The picture on the left below is the gift his men gave him at the end of their tour.
The fairy tale wedding. Who would have thought I would end up marrying not only a Marine, but a Purple Fox as well?
Click here for more of our wedding photos.
A few months ago, I found out the startling fact that Rodney Shank (a gunner on my father's flight) actually grew up by the name of Ronnie Gordon. When I was searching for Rodney Shank's family, I ran into roadblock after roadblock, and finally 11 years later I understand why.
Although born Rodney Shank, he was adopted by the Gordon family in Maine. It was only when Ronnie joined the Marine Corps that he learned of his given name. Now, once again, due to the kindness of strangers, I've been able to contact Ronnie's loved ones and share with them the details I found out about Ronnie's life in Vietnam. Many of them have shared pictures, which I've added to my photo album. Whether you knew him as Rodney Shank or Ronnie Gordon - his story will not be forgotten.
One of my greatest honors on this last trip to Washington, DC was getting to meet Kevyn Major Howard, "Rafterman" from "Full Metal Jacket", and the founder of a great organization called Fueled By The Fallen. Fueled by the Fallen has created a moving monument, The Memorial Race Car Team, to both honor and pay tribute to the United States Service Members who lost their lives fighting for the freedom of others. The night before the National Memorial Day Parade, Kevyn called to ask for help in the parade, as he had lost some of his volunteers. It was definitely a pleasure to be involved in such a great event!
I attended the GI Film Festival – the first film festival in the nation to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the American military through the medium of film.
It was an extraordinary time and I'll be forever grateful to Brandon and Laura Millet for creating this wonderful opportunity to celebrate our heroes!
SgtMaj Rick Caisse, Captain Dale Dye, Me SgtMaj Rick Caisse, Senator Fred Thompson, Me
Me, Speaker Newt Gingrich, SgtMaj Rick Caisse SgtMaj Rick Caisse, Faizon Love, Me
Today, I received the very first pictures I've ever seen of my dad in Vietnam. Doc Paul Noblitt was extremely thoughtful and remembered from years ago that I had always wanted pictures like these. These were taken in 1968 when my dad first got to DaNang and reported to MAG-11. Two of my most treasured items!!
On February 7, 2007, the Purple Foxes were on active-duty in Iraq. I asked for a flag to be flown this day, the 38th anniversary of my father's crash. Unbelievably, the helicopter that was carrying this flag - piloted by Capt. Jennifer Harris - was shot down by insurgents. The flight was Morphine-12, and while I received the certificate of the flag being flown, the flag was lost with the crew.
After the Morphine-12 crash, I knew I would never ask the Foxes to fly another flag for my dad and his crew. Unreasonable and superstitious, I know. But that is how I felt.
Unbeknownst to me, on Memorial Day, 2008, the current C.O. of the Foxes and a crew flew another flag. They didn't tell me, knowing I would have put a stop to it. I received the flag and certificate a few weeks later, but wasn't sure how to display them.
Thinking of the missing man formation, I came up with the display shown in the attached pictures. One empty flag holder, one with the Memorial Day flag, and the 2 certificates.
Just another way I will remember two generations of heroes tied together forever.
Semper Fi,
Stephanie
Gary served as a Navy Corpsman and arrived in Vietnam on 9/10/68. He worked in the dispensary at MAG-11 in Da Nang for four months. But what he really wanted to do was fly medevac missions and had asked to be assigned with a Marine Corps helicopter unit. At the end of January, Gary was finally transferred to Marble Mountain to fly with MAG-16.
Shortly after, on 2/7/69, Gary was flying with HMM-364 (call sign Purple Fox) when the CH-46 helicopter he was on was shot down while on a medevac mission in Arizona Territory. Six of the seven aboard were killed. Read the details of the crash in the Purple Fox historical archives.
Gary went to boot camp in San Diego, Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego for Hospital Corps School and FMF School at Camp Pendleton. I still enjoy hearing from those who knew him!
I've found out many details of my father's life and have been blessed to be able to help other veterans and other families discover information about those they lost. As my story continues to grow, this website is a tribute to my father as well as to all Vietnam veterans.
