Sweet & Sassy: Boyd among 196th brigade

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I mentioned recently in my column that I have been blessed with being in on some of the events that have occurred in Darke County over the last [nearly] five decades.

One of those events was the dedication of State Route 571 at the United Methodist Church in Union City for two Vietnam soldiers, SP4 Robert Fowble Jr. and PFC Jack Beam.

Probably the main reason that I enjoyed, even though it was bittersweet, it was because it was from my era. My brother-in-law, classmates and friends served over there. Some came back and some didn’t.

I thought I was honored to be asked to cover that event, but Dorothy Boyd of Greenville wished she would have known about it, or, she too, would have made her way over there.

“My son, Lenny, was sent to Vietnam with the others,” she said. “He spent two years with the same group of boys. He was hit with shrapnel through his hand and knee with the same blast that hit them [ Fowble and Beam].”

The hospital was so full, she said, Lenny had to be transferred to Tokyo to be treated by medical officials.

“He got to physically call me to let us know he was okay,” she said. “I felt so bad when I read it in the newspaper. I read through but I didn’t see Lenny’s name listed.”

Lenny died of cancer in 2005.

She has some photos that Lenny took while serving in Vietnam and some are accompanying this column.

“I kept up with all of it,” she said, sorting through newspaper clippings and photos. “Both of my boys, Marvin and Lenny, served in the military; Marvin in the Philippines on a secret mission.

Dorothy admitted, and rightfully so, that one of the hardest days for her was to have her son Lenny leave for Vietnam.

“He waved goodbye and didn’t look back,” she said. “I was happy the day he came home from Vietnam.”

Lenny was a 1963 graduate of Ansonia High School.

In addition to his mother, Lenny left behind his siblings, Marvin, Maxine Rhotehamel, Norma Erwin and Phyllis Bolin.

As for Dorothy, she will turn 103 on Jan. 11.

“I have had such good health,” she said. “I’m not lucky; I’m absolutely blessed.”

Dorothy, if I truly would have known Lenny was with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, I would have had someone get hold of you so that you could have attended as well.

•••••

Don’t forget:

• The Treaty City Senior Dance will be held Monday at the VFW Post on North Ohio Street in Greenville from 1 to 4 p.m. Music will be by Tom Everhart. Admission is $3 single $5 a couple. There will

• An upcoming event at Ansonia American Legion is the OSU vs. Michigan football game today (bring a covered dish and bar opens at 11 a.m.).

•••••

Happy birthday to:

• Nov. 29 to Carolyn Harmon.

• Nov. 30 to Theresa Brewer Wilson, Beth Oswalt Cain, Darcel Geus Brown, Tess Osborne, Bill Klipstine, Janese Riegle Spencer, Linda Lore, Dewy Ward, Mindy Steed, Caleb Thwaits and Kathy Wilker.

• Dec. 1 to Daisy Brim, Kim Dohme, Tammy Shook, Kim Stover Dohme, Karen Beam, Neil Schmidt and Karen Crowell.

• Dec. 2 to Norma Bolinger Glunt, Jeremy Litten, Noe Hernandez and Beverly Billenstein Stump.

• Dec. 3 to Evelyn Sebring and Pat McMaken.

• Dec. 4 to Jeff Stump, Nicole Woodworth, Randy Garrison, Margaret Baumgardner, Mike Dohme, LeighAnne Miller and Mike Dohme.

• Dec. 5 to Brad Birt, Jeff C. Peters, Kolin Sanders, Jim Hesson, Eddie Kress, Eric Widener and Paul Schlechty.

• Dec. 6 to Nathan Barga and Deidre Cothran Stammen.

Happy belated birthday to: Sandy Jones of Union City on Nov. 23.

Happy anniversary to Beverly and Ron Stump and Don and Carolyn Waymire, all on Nov. 30; Mike and Elaine Stump on Dec. 1; Jim and Jane Henby on Dec. 3; and Larry and Karen Duncan and Vicky and Gary Henderson (45), all on Dec. 4.

•••••

Don’t forget to pray for: Tom Brumbaugh Jr., Ron O’Dell, Pastor Don Brode, Scott Clark, Steve Schafer, Tom Hawkins, Roxanne Reichard-Grant, Chris Young, Greg Moody, Robin Grice, Connie Apple, Jodie Glick, Ron Kreitzer, Kohen Thwaits, Jerrod Pratt, Keith Starks, Scott and Judy Stahl, Dawn Oldiges, Judy York, Lowell Elsass, Linda Johnston, Stacy Dorko, Tracy Bailey, Shannon Peters Hall, Jack Riegle, Bruce Knick, Aiden Turner, Brody Wilson, Terri Martin, Marie Rieman, Carol Bollheimer, Roger McEowen, Lara Brunner, Al Bliss, Tim King, Gary Poor, Clinton Linebaugh, Layna Best, Jean Eastridge, Justin Ungericht, Alishia Clark Funk, Glenna Curry, Mike Bale, Phyllis Gibbons, Rosemary Wetzel, Angie Young Noggler, Kenny Borger, Mary Marshall, Jenson Fullerton, Gary Reier, Carmen Sanders, Michael Allen Clark, Elmer Long, Anthony Joyner, Shirley Mead, Harry Moody, Jim Moody, Linda Subler, Shelly Hoffman, Betty Grimes, Kathy Magoto, Dean Brewer, Lisa Hall, Tammy Shapiro, Ken Martin, David Magoto, Phil Clark, Sonny Hunt, Don and Nina McDaniel, D’Arleen Waymire, Pappy Harshman, Delores Duncan, John Klipstine, Elsie Svajda, Dave Sherman, Sue Chitty.

Also, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Robert Codling, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr., Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Amspaugh, Tina Kiser Deaton, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Stephen “Brownie” Brown, Nate Epperson, Brad Pipenger, Faye Schlecty, Sheila Reed, Bill Beasley, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Joe Martin, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch and Bill Schuette.

And, pray for all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases, and may God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation, as well as rescue, fire and law enforcement personnel who put their lives on the line to protect us.

•••••

Jamie and I sincerely extend our condolences to the families of: Viola Wogoman, Jan Boyer, Charles Adams, Mary Jane Crumrine and Bob Rhoades.

•••••

Think about it:

“The world may not be perfect, but that’s no excuse for us trying to make it worse.” — Unknown

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_lennyboydWEB.jpg

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_lennyfourguysWEB.jpg

According to notes on one of the backs of Lenny Boyd’s photos in Vietnam, were the words “Tom Lawler and Rob Fowble” in September 1966. Fowble is one of the soldiers for whom State Route 571 was dedicated to recently. The other honoree was Jack Beam.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_lennyfowblebighamPRINT.jpgAccording to notes on one of the backs of Lenny Boyd’s photos in Vietnam, were the words “Tom Lawler and Rob Fowble” in September 1966. Fowble is one of the soldiers for whom State Route 571 was dedicated to recently. The other honoree was Jack Beam.

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By Linda Moody

Sweet & Sassy

Linda Moody is a staff writer for The Daily Advocate. Her column appears every Saturday. She can be reached at [email protected].

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