I didn’t know Trapper John for very long, only 3 years, but he was not only a huge part of my biker family, I considered him my friend. I remember the first time I met him and Carole. It was after I had shattered my wrists and the first time I was back on my Harley; the Gulfport Blowout. We had been friends on BoN for a while but I really didn’t know who he was. I was new to the biker world since I had only been riding since the summer of 2007. Several of the BoN people were going to meet at the rally and we were keeping in touch with each other because the weather forecast didn’t look good for that weekend. The Wednesday before the blowout really kicked in, I rode down to Gulfport to help set up the PGR camp with our states caption, Ed. It was Thursday when I got a message from Trapper on BoN through my phone. He asked if I was still going to the Blowout since it looked like it was going to rain all weekend. My response to him was, “Hell yea, I am already down there. Come on down we have the party started!” Through several other messages I told him were we were camped, when he planned to be there and made plans to meet. Saturday morning here comes this guy on a bike & a woman on the back riding right up into camp. He stopped and asked where White Rose was. We exchanged hugs and greeting and he rode off. One of the ladies in the PGR asked me if I knew who he was. I said yeap, “He is Trapper John. I know him through BoN.” She laughed and told me that he had made her left breast famous back in the 70s. I got the whole story and realized that Trapper was a bit of a legend in the biker world.
Later that day we all met up again and got to talking about a guy that I had met through BoN and gone out on a date with. Trapper laughed and told me to not take it personally that the guy had decided that it would be better that we remain just friends. He said it was the guys that was missing out on something great! (I love him for his personal support.) He and Carole talked me into going to Bama Bike Fest and the Faunsdale Bike Rally later in the summer. In the picture above you will see the sing he made and hung at the Bama Bike Fest. “No Shirt, No Shoes, Good Service.” That was Trapper. I think he could talk just about any woman out of their shirt. But he was always respectful of the people he took pictures of. If they let him take a picture, but didn’t want it on the internet or in a magazine, he respected that and you would not find a picture that he took of that person anywhere.
Being a single woman I was concerned about attending the rallies by myself. Trapper and Carole told me that I was welcome to camp with them and that they would watch my back. And that they did. Trapper would tell me where it was ok for me to hang out at a rally and where it wasn’t. We would ride around the rally on our bikes and have to make numerous stops before we got back to our camp. Everyone knew Trapper and everyone loved him.
Trapper told me about the Slapout Blowout at Harleywood, which is a little north of Montgomery and told me I should go. I was a bit nervous about going to the gathering since the only people I would know there were him and Carole. He assured me that the guys in the Dixie Biker Association were good people and that I would have a blast…and I did. Other than Carole tripping and breaking her arm, it was a great weekend in the woods. He even talked me into entering the “Strut Your Stuff’ contest and his pointers are what helped me win it against a 19-year-old.
The last rally I went to with Trapper and Carole was Faunsdale last fall. The cancer was taking a toll on him but all of us there were determine to make sure he had fun. Carole, Sandra (another BoN person) and I harassed the “rally virgins” as he watched and laughed. We danced around the fire and had a night that I will never forget.
The last time I saw Trapper was this past June when I was on my way to Deal’s Gap to spend a few days of riding. I knew he was not getting better and the cancer had spread. I had planned to call him and Carole when I got to Montgomery so I could visit for a bit before riding on. Half way between my house and Montgomery I noticed that I was blowing oil from some where. I washed the bike south of Montgomery and rode up I65 to I85. I figured I would get close to where Carole lived, stop and check it out and then call and go see them. I didn’t make it. In some ways I think God had his hand in what was happening that day. Something told me to pull off and check the bike sooner than I had planned. I removed a piece of engine chrome and found that I had a split oil line. I called Carole and she didn’t answer. So I called Trapper and told him I needed help. I told him where I was and he said, “You are only a mile and a half from my house.” I knew he lived somewhere in that area but could not remember how to get to his house. He gave me directions, I put more oil in my bike and made it to his house. He took me to get a line and helped me put it on the bike. We talked, laughed and I cried. Our conversation that day told me that he was tired and that he had come to terms with what was happening in his body. When I rode away a couple of hours later, I knew that for him, he was trying to decide when enough was enough. I let him know the I would not be made at him if he stopped the chemo and meds. He was my friend and though I didn’t want to see him give up and not have him in my life anymore, I also didn’t like seeing him in pain and suffering. I told him that I loved him no matter what he decided to do.
I will always have some of the most wonderful memories of Trapper and doing the rallies together. I am going to miss my friend. And though my pillow will be stained many nights for my loss, I know I will always have those great memories to remember him by. I also know that my friend is no longer in pain and in a better place. Trapper John touched so many people both personally and through his pictures. And though I really didn’t know him long and have not seen the many, many pictures that were published in the biker rags, I knew the man and called him friend. I love you Trapper John and I am going to miss you. But I know you will always live in the hearts of all those that you have touched over the years and you will always be in mine. Rest in peace sweetheart. Enjoy the ride to heaven and give ‘em a little hell!
CJ, Marcus and I receive many emails from people wanting to promote this or that on “A Soldier’s Perspective“. A lot of them are not for the site, but this one touched my heart. CJ has it up on ASP and I am posting it here. Be sure to read the email below to the very end. There is a comment that will make you very proud to be from the U.S.
On Sunday 1st November the recording of ‘We Will Remember Them’ took place at Abbey Road Studios with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Pipes & Drums from the Scottish Regiments. Artists on the track include Michael Bolton, Robin Gibb, Paul Rodgers, Paul Carrack, Hayley Westenra, Mica Paris, Lee Mead, Liz McClarnon, Natasha Hamilton, Kenney Jones, Mark Read, Carol Decker, Sam Brown, Nell Bryden and The Carmel Thomas Youth Choir.
Jim Cregan produced, and Cliff Masterson conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, in what was a remarkable full day session at Abbey Road Studios (We were informed it was the biggest one day session in Abbey Road’s illustrious history, with 200 people taking part).
‘We Will Remember Them’ is an entirely Non Political benefit to say “Thank You” to all of our brave service men and women around the World who have served their Country for freedom and protection.
In the recent past we have all become aware of the plight our service personnel are enduring and the sad losses to so many families has become all too familiar to the general public via the media coverage. Alongside this we see tragic images of those sustaining horrendous injuries which have changed their lives forever…
The release of the track will raise funds to help & support the family’s who have lost or suffered horrendous injuries in their Military service. In addition, the Anthem will also remember all our Service Men and Women from all past conflicts around the World.
All proceeds from the Downloads / CD sales in the UK, will be paid directly to Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion.
A 30 man strong film crew filmed the recording of the track for a video which was Directed by Katya Faith (Adam Faith’s Daughter). The completed video includes appropriate Military, non war or action and archive footage.
The Video is a very emotive piece of work which will serve to support the big media campaign.
The track is now receiving a huge amount of World interest from Radio, Press and TV (SKY News, ITN, ITV, Channel 4 News, CNN etc….). With SO much bad / sad news coming in daily, the music industry wanted to record something really special for the boys & girls of the Military around the World.
We are getting some amazing support for the track at the moment (including from the Military) and the track has even been played at the funerals of the servicemen who died recently during the conflict in Afghanistan.
Here are some quotes from some of the other artists involved in the recent recording at Abbey Road Studios:
I am delighted to have the opportunity to add my support to the servicemen and women and their families who put themselves on the line for us all.Paul Carrack
I was invited to sing and participate in the recording of ‘We Will Remember Them’ whilst touring the UK recently. Supporting our troops, and showing our appreciation on their return is something that is essential to me.Micheal Bolton
I participated in the “We Will Remember Them” song because I have always felt passionate about the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in two World Wars so that countries in Europe could be free, including Germany.I feel just as strongly today for the brave soldiers who are in Iraq and Afghanistan, who, every day are putting their lives on the line so we can have peace in the world. They are the very few who are prepared to pay the ultimate price, so we should respect, support and above all, honour them, and we must not let them down.Robin Gibb
As this song remembers Soldiers from the United States too, I am writing to you in the hope that you could support this tribute, by posting the video on your excellent site / blog A Soldier’s Perspective?
It would be greatly appreciated if you guys could support this…., as we are currently trying to raise awareness of this wonderful tribute in the U.S (which is why the likes of Michael Bolton and Nell Bryden took part in the recording). The United States are far more patriotic than the UK, and it would be great to have your support with this….
I really get sick and tired of what the ACLU has and is trying to do to the honor and memory of this Nations Veterans. The following is from the web site trying to save this memorial. PLEASE, go and sign the petition and help save this and all memorials to our Fallen.
The Mojave Desert Memorial Cross has stood proudly for over 75 years, honoring our American war dead. Or it was until the ACLU stepped in and got a judge to rule the memorial to World War I veterans unconstitutional. They covered the cross with a bag, and when that didn’t work, they boarded it up in a plywood box. Now, they’re threatening to tear down this national monument because they don’t believe America should have religious imagery anywhere on public property.
If they win and succeed in tearing down this monument, what’s next? Imagine what could happen at the Arlington National Cemetery. Will they put bags over all the crosses that mark the graves of our fallen heroes? What about the 20-foot Canadian Cross of Sacrifice?
We believe America should remember and honor her veterans; and were taking our case to the U.S. Supreme Court to tell the ACLU that they can’t tear down our freedom!
The ACLU is threatening to tear down all monuments on public land that contain religious imagery. This fall, The Supreme Court will rule on whether these memorials will continue to stand for our freedoms, or if they will be removed permanently.
It is our patriotic duty to stand up and tell these left-wing organizations that we won’t have our freedoms boarded up or our values torn down. By signing our petition, you will be showing your support for our veterans. Your name will be added to a letter going to the veterans groups of America, thanking them for their service and letting them know you stand with them in the fight to protect our nations war memorials.
You can also consider supporting our fight with a generous gift that will go towards our efforts to defend our freedoms at The Supreme Court. Every dollar you send will make a difference in the way that our American veterans are remembered for generations to come!
Cpt ROWDY J. INMANN was my commander when I was in I Trp 3rd Sqd 3d ACR, before I got out Christmas buy small arms fire. He was a great commander and a great man. He loved his soldiers and was a great teacher. He taught me a lot of things I never thought I would learn in my career. He took great care of his personnel. I just found out about his death saturday, I’ve not had access to T.V. since I got out of the army. It pains me to find this out when I did, I want the family of Cpt. Inman to know that I have them in my prayers, I wish for them to know that he was a great importance and influence in my home life and career. He also helped me get to know what I needed to do when I got out of the army to get the help I need. He kept his soldiers informed, influenced them, and uplifted all of our spirits with his jokes, he took a great interest in our personal lives. We were his extended family, we were like his children. If someone pissed in our morning cheerios, he was there to get us a new bowl, and take care of the problem. He was our mentor, Cpt. Inmann is what personafies a soldier. He got out of the army, and came back in to lead Ironhawk into Iraq. He was a tough leader, not everyone liked him all the time, but at the end of the day you did. It was an honor, and previllage to be apart of his unit for as long as I was, I just wish I could’ve been in Iraq serving along side this great man. I honor him as another fallen comrad, fallen warrior, fallen brother in arms, and as a FALLEN HERO.
I also read an article saying that protestors showed their ugly faces at his funeral, and that the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) prevented them from completely staining that day of moarning, and recongization, and honoring of this fallen HERO. These protestor need to BACK OFF. You have the freedom to do what you are doing, because of men like him, me, and other vets, and you sit there discracing this country by protesting and our heros’ funerals. HOW DARE YOU. If you don’t support the war…..fine….but support us, the vets of this war, and the men and women that are there, and will be there in the future. You ppl that protest these funerals of great men and women, disgust me. Thank you to the PGR, which I am a member of now, and thank you to all those who have served before, with, and will serve after me. ANYONE WHO RAISES THEIR HAND AND SWEARS INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IS A HERO, THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED ARE TOO. PLEASE HELP ME IN HONORING CPT. ROWDY J. INMAN, AND PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY. AND IF YOU HEAR OR SEE SOMEONE DEGRADING OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE, IS, OR WILL SERVE, PLEASE PUT THEM IN THEIR PLACE.
TO THE FAMILY OF CPT ROWDY J. INMANN- YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, HE WAS MY MENTOR, FAMILY AND FRIEND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE WAS A GREAT MAN, AND A GREAT SOLDIER.
