Newspaper Page Text
The Taylor County News, May 18, 2023, Page 6.
i JOINERS CORNER...
Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from, giving to
words evidence of the fact. —George Eliot
by Neil Joiner, joinerscorner.com
Letters From Vietnam
James Robert Taylor was killed in Vietnam on January 28, 1966. In 2020 his niece, Kim Taylor
Farris, found 33 handwritten letters he had sent home. Here are a few excerpts.
9/25/65 - “Last week I was promoted to PFC. That's $20.00 a month more. If something happens
and I am killed. I’ve got $30,000.00 insurance on myself, The government gave me $10,000 for
nothing. Or rather for coming over here.”
“The first couple days here we just pulled little details like guard and building bunkers. Then
they put us Pathfinders as door gunners for helicopters. The first mission 1 was on was to pick up
the 101st Division. About 3 companies had let the Viet Cong slaughter them. The 117th Airborne
Company had put them in and had 4 downed helicopters and all the others hit at least once. We
picked them up the day after they were put in and only got 3 helicopters hit, none downed, It's
getting dark so T’ll close for today.”
10/5/65 - “Sometimes I wish I was back so bad, just to be with Martha, but I know things will be
hotter if I wait”
10/11/65 - “I’ve just about put the Army out of my mind. I’m going to get my high school and some
other training then get out.”
10/16/65 - “What you heard on T.V. was right and members of my team were there. A couple were
shot at but weren’t hit. The Army better get on the stick with my money, I told Martha she could
buy a set of rings if she saw what she wanted.”
10/28/65 - “I guess things are getting pretty bad over here. I dunno. The people get all the news.
We get all the noise.”
11/1/65 - “The other day some Vietnamese girl tried to get me to marry her sister while we were
operating in a drop zone. The little girl’s sister was 18 years old but looked like she might have
been older,”
11/9/65 - “Got in about 16 hours door gunning in the last three days. Tell people not to send me
anything for Christmas. I won’t be able to send them anything.”
11/12/65 - “I’m starting to have my doubts about Martha. She is going out with some other guy. I
like being free and just don’t want to get married. Maybe I’m just afraid of it. I dunno.”
11/27/65 - “They’re starting to let people go on R&R to Hong Kong. Maybe I'll go soon. I hope. I
dropped Martha. I’m tired of war. Maybe HI buy a Harley when I get back."
12/4/65 - “1 won’t be home for Christmas or New Years for the first time in twenty years. Please
tell everyone that 1 miss everybody back home, and no matter where I am Christmas I’ll be think
ing of you all, as always.”
12/7/65 - “Two guys got Malaria in Pathfinders. One of them slept next to me, He sure was a good
guy”
12/10/65 - “1 gave the Bible to a fellow named Bill Scholl. He’s from Jacksonville.”
12/17/65 - Just got hack off a mission today. It was the first time 1 spent the night on the top of a
mountain. It was both cold and wet. Tomorrow starts another 30 day mission.”
12/21/65 - “My team Sergeant was seriously wounded and another Pathfinder killed that went
out with myself and another man. I’ve got a little artifact for Kim if they ever give me enough time
to mail it. By that time it will be too small for her if it isn’t already.”
12/24/65 - "I’m thinking of you and love you very much. I’ve got a thousand things to be thankful
for.”
12/31/65 - “Darwin is sitting in here writing letters too, 1 think he just wrote you all one. Right
now 7 all I'm doing is wailing for next year. It's about 10:30 p.m. Hope you all had a Happy New
Year.”
1/2/66 - “I’m going to the memorial sendees for Louis today.”
1/4/66 - “Most everyone else has gone to Pieiku, but I got to stay back, They think I’ve done too
much lately. At times it feels that way. I’m sending a couple of pictures so you can remember what
I look like.”
Li You all be good. Love, Bobby.”
Which Type Of Exercise
Is Best For Me?
By Wade Yoder
Master Trainer & Fitness Nutrition Specialist
www.wadeyoder.com
Aerobics, Strength Training, Plyometric, Bodybuilding, CrossFit, Home Exercise Routines, Func
tional Training, Sports Conditioning, HIIT (high intensity interval training), and the list goes on
and on. This list continues to grow whenever someone puts anew twist on something that is 1000s
of years old.
The best thing someone can remember is that it all boils down to constrained physical activity
that done over time builds strength, endurance, physique, metabolism, a better shape, and a body
that has cardiovascular and muscular capabilities to handle increased external forces, both ex
pected and unexpected.
Knowing the above can help make so we don’t waste time or money in our pursuit of fitness. If we
can simply find out what our individual need is, finding the right exercise program is as easy as
finding the right piece to a puzzle.
Types of exercise: There are 2 primary ones (aerobic and anaerobic), then there’s a combination of
the two aerobic and anaerobic. And if you want a combination of the two, get off the cardio equip
ment after your blood is warmed up (do strength building exercises) and simply workout at a rapid
pace working your large muscle groups. This builds strength and cardio endurance.
1. Aerobic (cardio) exercise: Is primarily done for endurance, burning body fat, and some muscle
tone. These exercises are usually ones that are easy enough to do that an individual can continue
for a longer period, triggering the burning of body fat as energy and in achieving greater cardio
vascular endurance.
2. Anaerobic exercise (muscle building): Is simply an increase in resistance, and though we cannot
last as long doing it as its aerobic exercise counterparts, these exercises lead to muscle strengthen
ing, shaping, building, and conditioning.
3. Combining the two (cardio and strength training): This is the line that I’ve been trying to blur
for a long time and is simply done by exercising more rapidly using free weights and machines or
if doing bodyweight exercises, doing them more rapidly or explosively, this gives more resistance to
the exercise causing greater muscular stimulation during an otherwise aerobic only routine. The
longer you are able to go without rest, the more your exercise is aerobic in nature; however, the
heavier or more restricted movements that decrease the time in any given set will make it more
anaerobic in nature.
Example: If you were to carry a set of 5 lb. dumbbells up and down a driveway 10 times, your
routine would be more endurance building (aerobic), as you increase your dumbbell weight, you
may he able to only do it 5 rounds, which would be a combination of strength and endurance
training, and if you increase it enough so you are able to carry the ’weight up the drive only one
lime, it will turn it into an anaerobic strength building exercise.
Finding the best program: When we’re looking to incorporate an exercise routine into our life, we
should look simply at our lifestyle specific needs. This can be applied to strengthening and condi
tioning of an athlete, wanting to become swimsuit ready, or simply a senior who is wanting to be
able to better handle his or her activities of daily living (ADLs )♦ When we know what we want to
strengthen in our life or what void we need to fill, selecting the right exercise program is no differ
ent than selecting the right supplement for a dietary deficiency
Keep it simple and simply demand more from your exercise routine than you expect to confront in
the real world, and you will discover (besides your physical appearance), that whatever your day
requires of you will no longer take such a toll on you. This applies to elite athletes and extends to
a senior simply looking to increase nr maintain mobility and independence in the activities of daily
living!
We all know what happens if we don’t put the proper mix of ingredients together that a recipe
calls for...it simply will not yield the desired outcome we were looking for.
WADE YODER STORAGE BUILDINGS etc
Fort Valley, GA
Storage
Cabins
Carports
Gazebos
Playhouses
Greenhouses
Metal Buildings
Concrete Pads
19 S. Broad St. • P.O. Box 277
Butler, GA 31006
478-862-4644
HOURS:
Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed 12-1 p.m. for lunch.
Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Locally Owned & Operated
Large Enough To Serve You...Small Enough To Know You!
4S|f
AT .1, SOUTH
INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Auto • Home • Commercial • Farm
Russell Pounds
Your local Independent Agent
Safeco 'Foremost - Travelers
Nationwide * Progressive
For all your insurance needs, call or stop by
ALL SOUTH
INSURANCE AGENCY
24 W. ft/lain Street
P.O. Box 681 • Butler, GA 31006
(478) 862-3808
“WE GOTCHA COVERED”
Affordable
Roof Roplacmonts
Affordable
Roof Repairs
Affordable
Storm Damage Repairs
Peace of mind
10 Year Warranty
Hwy. 341/96 between 5-Points Intersection and railroad tracks
110 Commercial Heights, Fort Valley, GA
www.WadeYoder.com
Call or text (478) 955-1999
CALL MIGAH JOHN SMITH FOR A FREE ESTIMATE!
478-333-4257