Fruita Recaps

Fruita Recaps
Field of Dreams Dedication
Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial
Fruita, Colorado, 4 July 2003

For those who weren't there, this collection of personal notes from those who were - email and internal forum posts are still coming in 10+ days after the event - may help to describe what a tremendous occasion it was. As Mayberry put it, the new Memorial in Fruita ensures that the Legend of the Phoenix will live on. (Also per Ken's note below - for others who were there and have photos or videos you'd like to place on our website, please contact Ken or me and we'll get it done. Current photos are linked on our home page.)

[Butrym/31, 7/6/03] What a great trip!! Truly great to see all the guys again!

[Mayberry/50, 7/6/03] At 2am Sun Sue & I rolled into the driveway. We left Fruita at 10:45am Sat, screwed around at Rifle, ate late lunch at a Brewpub (excellent Peaks Porter) in Frisco and spent a whole half hour with our daughter Shelli in Denver, all in all an excellent day. What a great reunion! Someone needs to put their prowess with the english language to good use & write a report for the Phoenix list & VHPA newsletter. Dean-Ted-Don-Skip-anybody do I have a volunteer? (Ted's note - are we compiling that right here?) Does anyone have Jim Doody's snail mail address? I'd like to send him a thank you card. Excuse me, I hear my recliner calling my name, it missed me.

[Grau/60, 7/6/03] Well, I'd say there could be but one nominee after Fruita. The last time an oration of that perfection was delivered under such exacting circumstances it began with the words "Fourscore and seven years ago" or something, didn't it? Butch summed it up nicely right at its conclusion with a simple review: "I think Ted just done us real proud." Thanks again 65. -60
This generous note from Dean is embarrassing to include here, but what really matters is that it creates an opportunity to convey for those who weren't there how the only reason this was necessary was because of the tragic and untimely loss of Phil Rutledge, Phoenix 38, and to note that its impact did indeed seem to touch the large crowd assembled that morning. Phil prompted this mission, and he has now contributed eternally to the legend of the Phoenix, of which he was such a proud member. As Dean put it, Phil may have been among the last to leave Evans, but he was also among the "last of the Old Phoenix" in attitude and spirit and we will all miss him. -65

[Scrugham/23, 7/6/03] I had a great time, loved every minute of it, and would go anywhere, anytime to experience that again. We won't always have a Jim Doody, but, then again, that was a once in a lifetime experience; however, we have each other and that's all it takes. Godspeed, brothers, till we meet again........ 23

[Scarbrough/54, 7/6/03] Here are two of many good pictures taken by my friend Randy Cass, who by the way graduated from high school with Jim Doody. I was good to see all of you, some again and some for the first time. The memorial and memorial dedication were first rate. I was so proud to be there and stand with all of you. Life seems to be a little more cheerful today. until next time. Robert, formerly Phoenix 54. PS: Jim Doody, thanks. You are first class.

[Olson/65, 7/8/03] We just rolled in, walked into the office about 1530 Tuesday afternoon. Sure was good to see you all, and I'm still in awe of the event itself. I'll have to get busy now with posting photos, recaps, etc. Asih and I stopped at Phil Rutledge's house today, while passing through Bakersfield, and spent some time with his wife and son, told them all about the trip and delivered their Phoenix shirts, Phil's Fort Campbell "Pathway of Legends" Brick Certificate (thanks to Butch), and other stuff we picked up for them. They're doing OK, as well as can be expected.

[Davis/56, 7/9/03] It sure was great seeing you [all] again. However, you guys have to start taking better care of yourselves-----you've all gotten so old. I wonder how come I haven't aged over the years????????? Seriously, it was a great time. Take care, see you at the next reunion. Don

[Olson/65, 7/9/03, to Jim Doody] Hey Jim - Asih and I just got home, after Fruita we went on to Colorado Springs through Gunnison and then back via Taos and old Santa Fe. It was a wonderful trip, needless to say keynoted hugely by what you did in Fruita. Awesome job, tremendously well done indeed. I'm sure none of us had a clue how much you had managed to organize until we got there and it all began to sink in. I hope the donations jug at the barbecue was sufficient to help cover what we cost you, please holler otherwise and we'll be sure to make the pot right. Two followup questions for you - 1) what do we need to do to reserve a Phoenix Panel on your Wall? We all want to help support the monument and decided this would be one way to do it. Also 2), are you possibly organizing a video tape of the dedication ceremony and program? If so, I suspect that every Phoenix would gladly donate in exchange for a video, and possibly everyone who was there on that beautiful Friday morning, could be a decent fund raiser? Would the news crews who were there have full-coverage tapes, are you already checking that out or could you do so? Thanks again to you and Melanie, none of us will ever forget it. Cheers, Ted, Phoenix 65

[Olson/65, 7/9/03] Following is a "there we were" story, which means a whole bunch of us will swear it is no shit. The Master of Ceremonies at Fruita summed things up succinctly in his closing remarks (paraphrased here from memory), "I'm sorry the program has run a little long folks, but it's been more than just another Fourth of July hasn't it? You don't often experience an event of a lifetime..." For the many Phoenix who were there (including of course our old Redskin pal and honorary Phoenix Skip Butler) those words need nothing more - the Phoenix legend is now firmly embedded in concrete and marble and steel for all of posterity. For those who missed it just standby, there will no doubt be many reports and photos here and on our website to commemorate the event. A few thousand from all corners of the country gathered in the park that morning, they began pouring in hours beforehand in cars, motorhomes, and droves of Harleys. Lawn chairs soon covered the grounds, as tunes from Woodstock drifted over the PA system. The setting was beautiful. Over it all stood a gorgeous Huey with a mythical bird on its nose, a big blue circle on the tailboom, and tail number 307. The names Stewart, Doody, Bobo, and Robertson are stenciled on the cockpit doors. Despite markings that are so meaningful to all of us, to the crowd it would have been just another Vietnam Huey in a memorial that has expanded to encompass a broad cross-section of veterans. The entire planned program was focused on patriotic themes and many appropriate and well deserved thank-you's for support of the five year project. But the crowd would not otherwise have known or understood the significance of that bird, or why a special up-front seating area had been cordoned off for the Phoenix - all looking sharp in matching "casual uniform" Phoenix polo shirts* - if not for Phil Rutledge, whose untimely recent death prompted the insertion of a last-minute eulogy at the very beginning of the program. This program adjustment in turn modified the overall tone of the event and connected it directly and forevermore to the Phoenix. Everyone then knew who we were, why we were there, why we were honored with dignitary seating, and why that Huey is marked the way it is and will be forevermore. Jim Doody was overcome with emotion during his turn at the podium. However, his original dream of a memorial to big brother Tom had become something much larger, and even Jimbo was constrained from focusing too much personal attention on an event that had grown to include a much broader range of veterans. Simply put, Phil's tragic loss created an opportunity to identify and memorialize the Phoenix as a whole that would not have otherwise happened. There is often a greater purpose in the scope of time and events than any of us can know or imagine. Dean Grau prompted me to do the eulogy, and it was difficult to draft and deliver in a way that would hopefully complement rather than distract from the central binding theme of the larger occasion. But now we will all remember Phil in the same thoughts that include those we lost in RVN, for his loss has helped to further cement the story of the Phoenix into history - especially for the many who came to Fruita on 4 July 2003, they won't forget it. Phil was one of the last of the Phoenix in Vietnam, but as Dean put it so well at dinner in Fruita he was perhaps the "last of the Old Phoenix" in exemplary attitude and spirit. From the ashes rise the legend... *Many thanks to Dick and Pam Oder for organizing the polo shirt project, prompted by Don Davis. Asih and I delivered shirts for Phoenix 38 and 38A, which Phil had ordered, to his wife Diane on our return from Fruita. **And oh yes - the Phoenix reunion was fantastic, the biggest turnout since Lincoln in 1984. Even as I write this I'm still drinking beer we all hauled home with us in parcels, there was simply too much to throw down before we all had to leave. Maybe we're not as young as we used to be, although all seem to think we still are... :)

[Leonard, 7/10/03] I printed [Ted's] letter and will have it framed with "the" picture of the memorial. Jim "Airborne" Leonard

[Doan/64, 7/10/03] Ken sent me a copy of the post you sent out when you got home, are you going to send it to the guys in Iraq, I think they would appreciate it and maybe some of the pictures that were taken should be sent over, boost them a little bit by showing how the Phoenix are as one, just a thought. 64

[Smith/Redskin 16, 7/10/03] Hope Skip [Butler] held his own amongst you guys. We held our own at VHPA, Orlando, our thoughts with you out west. Hope to meet a lot of you in Reno, as of yet, have not received an after action report from Ricky here in East Tennessee......Steve Smith, Redskin 16, 69-70

[Oder/CE 065, 7/10/03] Gentlemen, At the risk of sounding corny, I'd like to say that it was an absolute honor to spend time with you guys in Fruita. I've done a lot of exciting things in my time, spent the last 20+ years running into burning structures, refineries, and chemical plants with some truly outstanding people, but I still look at my crash-shortened tour with the Phoenix as a special time in my life. I played a fairly insignificant role in the history of the Phoenix, but I hear what some of you guys accomplished at such great risk and I am just in awe. I'm proud to say that, at least for a short time, I was a Phoenix, and I'm glad to be able to say that for 3 days in a small Colorado town I was privileged to be back "among heroes", as someone once said. Ted, you did us proud. Darrell, I owe you one now that I know you were the pilot on that mission! Our thanks for making a first-time attendee and his wife feel so welcome. When's the next one? Just name the time and place! Take care. Dick & Pam

[Mayberry/50, 7/11/03] 1st) Thanks to Dick Oder for the shirts. They were perfect for the occasion. We definitely stood out as a group. 2nd) If any of you have pics you'd like published on the Phoenix site either send them to Ted Olson or me. I will post them for you. 3rd) This was a super reunion. So many of you have not seen each other for 33 yrs. Having so many crewchiefs was especially satisfying. The effort to get to Fruita was definitely worth it. Every one of you deserve a pat on the back. 4th) I know I speak for my wife when I say she really had a good time. She made some new friends and was very pleased she went. Please give your wife a special hug and a thank you for being with you in Fruita. Whether we like it or not we are a family. We are first generation. We are the last generation. I am satisfied even after we are gone the legend will live on. The memorial in Fruita will assure that.

[Mayberry/50, 7/13/03] Guys, for you that missed the mini in Fruita, you missed a "Once in a Lifetime event"! It was fantastic. We were treated like royalty. Jim Doody treated all of us to dinner & a Comanchero bought us drinks. Jim also had a hospitality room over looking the Memorial & the tub was full of beer. We had front row reserved seats at the memorial dedication & treated to a catered BBQ following the ceremony. Two people need to be singled out for kudos, Ted Olson & Dick Oder. Ted Olson delivered a special eulogy to Phil Rutledge that tied all Phoenix casualties, all VN casualties and post VN deaths together in a way that was appropriate for the occasion. Ted had a seemingly impossible task but pulled if off flawlessly. As “Father Time” Doan said after the speech, "I think Ted just done us real proud". Dick Oder had custom polo shirts for us that were absolutely perfect. They tied us together so all who saw us knew we were the Phoenix. I’ve been to all the Phoenix reunions, starting in Lincoln NE in 84 but none compare to Fruita. All in all it was a very special occasion and impossible to detail everything that occurred. The Phoenix will be forever memorialized in Fruita CO.

[Jim Doody, 7/14/03] Good morning Phoenix! I'm back from vacation. Dropped the last of the family off at DIA yesterday. Sorry I could not spend more time with you. I hope all enjoyed the time spent in Fruita, CO. Please forward my thanks to all the Phoenix for sharing the dedication ceremony with us. I do hope you all will want to be part of the memorial wall. Stay in touch and God Bless! Jim Doody