2009
Run For The Wall

Roger "Ramjet" Johnston
Joel "Stormbringer" West

I will try to post photo's that Roger and I take, each evening. However I may be too tired to even turn the computer on. Especially after a few toddies and supper.

Photo Gallery

Day 1 Run for the Wall
Day 1 for us. Riders meeting in Wentzville, Missouri. Departure 07:30
Staging in Wentzville. Roger and I were assigned to Red 1 Platoon. Today we were in the front of the line. Tomorrow we will be at the end.
Wentzville, Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The town had a really nice ceremony to send us on our way.
This is without a doubt the two handsomest riders in the 700. Especially the one on the right. Editorial privileges.
Group at the Memorial Ceremony, Wentzville.
Visiting the vets at Jefferson Barracks V A Hospital. St. Louis, Missouri.
My friend Cogwheel [Left] and his friend Lee at the fuel stop in Mount Vernon.
Day 2 Run for the Wall
Picture of me at the Kentucky Veterans Medical Center. We are about 550 strong now and growing everyday.
Roger and I in front of the granite POW-MIA memorial at the Kentucky VAMC.
Roger and I at the Kentucky State Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The far left stainless steel panel is a history of the Vietnam war and chronicles each major milestone. The middle panel explains the memorial and each granite stone. The right panel gives the years and the location of the Kentucky Veterans.
Our new friends from Kansas, Denny [Hoghead] and Cheryl [Zippy]. Some very cool folks. Roger and I have decided maybe we could go and visit them on a ride.
Roger and our Red 1 Tail gunner, Couch. The tail gunner is responsible for keeping the platoon tight and up to speed. This is a scene right after they helped me pick my bike up from my brain fart. They both reminded me the rest of the trip to "Put your kickstand down, Joel."
This a completely restored UH-1B Huey. As we crossed into West Virginia, this chopper picked us up and escorted us all the way to Hurricane. This is the coolest thing we have experienced to date. To hear the "thup, thup,thup" of the wind coming off the blade tips brings back some memories. For most of the escort mission he wasn't much higher than the tree tops. It is a 1962 Bell and saw service in Nam from 69 to 73. It was then purchased by a private firm before being discovered by it's present owner who had it completely restored to it's original glory and now uses it in conjunction with the West Virginia Forestry Service in the fighting of forest fires. A fitting mission for her.
Huey cockpit. The gentleman that owns it now and flies her was in Vietnam from 71 to 73. This is not the bird he flew but one just like it.
The Governor of the state of West Virginia addresses the group on the steps of the capitol building in Charleston, WV.
RamJet and Stormbringer in front of the West Virginia Capitol Building.
This is at Rainelle, WV. Definitely one of the high lights of the trip. The kids at the grade school are taught about the major conflicts in class and the teachers always teach about Vietnam in the week the Run goes through town. Their assignment is to get autographs and information about the vets and write a short story about their experience.
More shots of Rainelle. The RFTW Association gathers donations across the country for Rainelle and presents the town with a check. This year the money will be used to update the grade school these kids attend.
Me and a young lady names Alexis. If you sat down on the ground the kids just crowded around to talk.
Roger signing this young ladies book. They also have you sign shirts and one young lady had us sign her arms.
This is James Gregory, one of the founders of the Run For The Wall addressing the group at our last mornings riders meeting.
One of the Aussies, Karl, there were three of these guys that flew from Australia, rented three bikes in California,  rode to DC, turned the bikes in and flew back to Australia. This was at our last riders meeting and they presented RFTW a certificate of appreciation. They were members of Vietnam Veterans MC and were in the Royal Australian Army in Nam.
As a FNG [First time rider] Roger, Zippy, Denny, and I were chosen to be part of 250 riders to go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington. RFTW is the only group they allow in the cemetery to park. This is Denny and Cheryl getting ready to come up the steps to the memorial.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
Inspection of the new guard at the Changing of the Guard. Very moving ceremony.
Changing of the Guard.
Denny [Hoghead] Cheryl [Zippy] Roger [RamJet] and Joel [Stormbringer] sitting in the shade after the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Cooling the jets.
Saturday morning all the RFTW riders gather on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a group shot. That's Roger making his way to the top.
At the Korean Veterans War Memorial.
At the Korean Veterans War Memorial.	`
At the Korean Veterans War Memorial.
Roger and I at the reflecting pool at the Korean War Memorial. We are winding down our last day in DC.
Again, Roger and I in front of the Illinois tower at the WW-2 Memorial.
World War 2 Memorial at the end of the National Mall in DC.
The line waiting to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "The Wall" will take your breath away, It is hard to imagine the causalities that occurred. When you see The Wall, reality hits, and you realize the magnitude of destruction and lives lost. It is a sobering reminder that no one wins in war, the precious lives lost dim the victory celebration. I can only hope that someday we, as a country and world, can learn to deal with conflict in a manner that doesn't cost the country, the loved one's, the comrades, and the warriors, sadness, grief, and death.
The apex of The Wall. This is where the RFTW Mission completed flag will be posted.
The panels leading to the apex. All the stuff below is mementoes left by friends, relatives, and comrades. There are Park Rangers available through out the Wall to help locate which panel loved ones are on, and you can get a rubbing of their name.
Unit memorials placed at the entrance to The Wall grounds.
This is the last photo I am posting. We have completed our mission and will be heading home in the morning. If I do this again, I can only hope I have a partner as tolerant as RamJet. This was a very special event for me and Roger supported me all along the path with encouragement and a box in the ears now and then, to bring me back to reality. RamJet, Thank you, beyond words, for going with me. Joel