Don is celebrating Veterans Day today [11/11/09]. He mentioned his most memorable Veterans Day ever was a hunting trip on Veterans Day, November 11, 1969. In 1968 he was lucky enough to be sent to Alaska instead of Vietnam as many other doctors were. Our family at that time was Lee, age 4, and Gordon, age 2. Don was a Major in the Air Force stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base for two years in Anchorage. We lived off base in a rural rental house across from an abandoned chicken farm. We lived on Baxter Road where through our living room window we could see the Chugach Mountain Range and occasionally some moose in our back yard.
The hunting trip was while Don was on active duty. He got up early in the dark and drove to the Float Plane Airport. In winter the small plane's floats were exchanged for skis. Taking off and landing on skis is a magical feeling as the skis make very little sound. The guide was an Elmendorf doctor-pilot named Leonard Youknis. They took off in clear early light and flew 90 miles north of Anchorage to the base of Mount McKinley, now known as Denali. In those days it was legal to spot a moose, set the plane down, and shoot it on the same day, which is no longer allowed. On November 11th they spotted a medium sized moose and set the plane down quietly. Don steadied his rifle on the wing and shot the moose. They field dressed the moose keeping all the meat, the antlers and the coat. It was all tied onto the wings of the plane for the flight back to Anchorage.
In Alaska, hunting meant food. Most of the meat was roasts, chops and ribs. The rest went to a butcher for specialties. The moose sausage and jerky we had was delicious. On the first night we examined the heart and found that Don's bullet had gone right through the center of the heart. Several days later the boys saw a moose in the back yard and came screaming in yelling "Dad, your moose is getting away."
Today we celebrated Veterans Day (40 years later) by driving to nearby West Tsyon Park for a 1 1/2 mile hike. The trail was covered with leaves and had some areas that were rugged and steep like Colorado. Much easier without the high altitude! It was sunny and 61˚ and the Missouri woods were spectacular in the peaceful solitude.
Don said that considering how we have celebrated Veterans Day in the past (not at all) that today's celebration was a close second to the moose hunt.
This is a little mushroom grotto that was right by the trail. Enjoy Your VD (Veterans Day)
Jan & Don
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