Farmersville Convoy and Honor
Ceremony a Success

By Gary Park - Red River Valley President

Farmersville - April 7^th - THE RED RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER OF THE MVPA (Military Vehicle Preservation Assoc.) recently returned from a Saturday Military Truck convoy to Farmersville, Texas, which included an honor ceremony. According to Pres. Gary Park , nine vehicles participated with corporation from the VI Corps Historical group, a sister MVPA chapter from Dallas. The Dallas Group models their unit after 6th Corps in WWII, which included the 3^rd Division. Audie Murphy, WWII's most decorated soldier, was a member of the 3^rd Division, and Farmersville was his childhood home. Audie Murphy was the most decorated soldier of World War 2. Receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Hearts to name a few.

Both groups met in McKinney Saturday morning, then convoyed to Farmersville, about 14 miles east. We were joined by a few extra folks who heard about this event via the McKinney newspaper, which ran an article of the event upcoming. The morning was met briefly with rain, but for the most part, all stayed dry with the exception of Ernie Phillips and Jayson Davis (6^th Corps) who were riding on Ernie's open SAS Jeep. Once there, the rain let up, and all congregated at the Tony's Diner for lunch, where the popular choice was the Audie Murphy burger…A barbershop next door to Tony's was also briefly visited, as it was featured in a 1945 LIFE magazine with picture of Audie getting his haircut after returning from overseas. The group then visited the local library which houses some of Mr. Murphy’s memorabilia and pictures.

At 1400 hours, President Chuck McCarty with 6th. Corps presided over the downtown ceremony along with member Matt Larsen giving a brief history of Audie Murphy’s awards and accomplishments. Mr. Murphy is buried in Arlington Memorial Cemetery in Virginia just outside Washington DC. The second most visited grave in the cemetery second only to President John F. Kennedy’s.

A short ceremony was held at the Audie Murphy and Military Service Memorials in Downtown Farmersville. A good sized local crowd was on hand for the event. A wreath was placed at the foot of the memorial by 14-year-old group member Peter Dawson from Murphy, Texas. Chuck mentioned that last year, Peter had the honor of laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, DC. A special Fly-over by the CAF (Confederate Air Force) in (3) three A6, WW2 Trainers around 2 PM highlighted the event. The symbolic "missing man" formation was executed to symbolize the missing members of our Armed Forces.

Later, the group convoyed over to a small private cemetery South of Farmersville, where the mother of WW2 Veteran Audie Murphy’s grave is located . Josie Bell Killian MURPHY. The group cleaned the grave site and conducted a short grave side service. The day was capped off with a return convoy back to Farmersville, and onto McKinney.

Peter Dawson, John Alexander, and Jayson Davis Review various newspaper articles about Audie in the local library

Ernie Phillips and Ron Hawkins look over a display case containing some of Audie's medals and dogtags, and memorabilia.

Beetle Bailey at 50:

Still lazy, still funny, still going strong

Contributed by Gary Park

It's been 50 years since Pvt. Beetle Bailey stumbled onto the funny pages and into the hearts of generations who laughed at his amazing ability to avoid work at all costs.

The comic strip that also brought us the hot tempered Sgt. Orville P. Snorkel, the lecherous Gen. Amos T. Halftrack and the buxom Miss Buxley is celebrating it's 50^th anniversary on Labor Day; a day Beetle would surely not understand.

"Beetle Bailey"-originally called "Spider"- made its debut on Sept. 4, 1950, in just 12 newspapers, with Beetle as a college student. But the strip wasn't popular, so six months later, creator Mort Walker decided to have Beetle join the Army. The year was 1951, during the Korean War, and circulation of the strip skyrocketed.

In the early 1960's the strip raised eyebrows, because some thought it encouraged a lack of respect for officers. The controversy only drew more attention to the strip, and 100 other newspapers picked it up.

The 50th anniversary "Beetle Bailey" was on Labor Day, September , 2000, but he is still lazy, still funny and still going strong.

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Red River Valley would like to welcome NEW members Sean & Suzanne Engle of Sherman, TX. Sean was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. Welcome aboard

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The Red River Valley Newsletter is ALWAYS looking for member contributions. If you come across an event, interesting story, have a project to share, joke, etc., please submit it toi Mark Dawson, editor @ FAX 972-422-7147, e-mail "cowbeach@gte.net, or mail to 602 Horizon Drive, Murphy, TX 75094……..Thanks

Visit to Vintage Military Vehicles

Fort Collins, Colorado

By Mark Dawson

Covering Colorado has its advantages for a peddler with the Olive Drab disease, and considering a vehicle acquisition. A couple months ago while out in Colorado, I looked up John Ferrie of Vintage Military Vehicles in Fort Collins, only to find he was vacationing on an island off the coast of Brazil. Business must be good!!! Actually, found out later John married a Brazilian lady, and they have a vacation home there they escape to in the winter.

This month, I was lucky to catch John at work, after I checked into my hotel, and he said come on over…...which I did. I hadn’t expected to stay 3 hours there!!!! Let me start by saying what a hospitable guy John is, and what a playground of "stuff" he has.

Vintage Military Yard (partial view) - Mark Dawson is in the process of buying the WC-53 in foreground.

View of (50) Sherman Tanks in Brazil John came across a few years ago. These were melted down for rebar according to John….

John told what he does is both a business, and a hobby. The hobby started 30 years ago restoring Jeeps, and ten years later, developed into a business. As I explored exactly what it was he did (restore, parts sales, etc.), I found that the business is more a side of just helping other collectors or shoppers out in finding either partially complete, or some restoration projects. He does not take vehicles in and restores, nor does he sell parts. He basically sells what I would call partially finished projects to individuals wanting to complete the project (say a GPW without the engine and some parts), or a completed project if he can find one close enough to complete. In some cases, he has taken parts from 5 unrestorable Jeeps and made one good finished project out of it. John uses some local college students who seem to be well trained on welding, plasma cutting, painting, etc…..

In addition to a number of Jeeps, John also had a few interesting vehicles for sale (see photo) that included a 42' Carryall, M37's, Ambulance, Fire Trucks, 1/2 Ton, etc. Jeeps out populated the property though.

I guess what I enjoyed most was just sitting and talking to John about him, his past projects, and his service (he served in Vietnam as a platoon leader and came out of the Army as a Captain). His office was plastered with a variety of vehicles that had passed through his hands……including DDUK, M-8 Armored Cars (he turned 3 of those), Half-tracks, Jeeps, more Jeeps, Trucks, etc.

Then there was this picture. John came across (50) Sherman Tanks about 3 to 4 years ago, and wondered if there was any interest from our guys??? Too bad. John did try to get these into the country (he was successful getting the 3 M-8's in), but due to government red tape, it was not possible.……He said he could have gotten these for about $2K each!!! However, the deal did not happen and another buyer was successful in landing them……..All were melted and turned into re-bar!!!! So next time you see a construction site and lots of re-bar laying around, contemplate just how many M-4's it took to make those bundles of steel……

I told John I had an interest in the WC-53 Carryall, and have begun purchasing this vehicle (see projects section).

Again, John has a very interesting hobby and business, and was gracious to allow me so much of his time……You can find him advertising occasionally in Military Vehicle Magazine, or on his WebSite @ http://www.webaccess.net/~ferrie/.

Project Pen

• Gary Park, President
• Jerry Park, Vice President
• Ron Hawkins, Treasurer
• Donna Park, Secretary
• David Hart, Chaplain
• Charles Brown, Public Affairs & Event Coordinator
• Mark Dawson, Newsletter Editor:
• Wayne Jamison, Web Master

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