Don McLean - 1971 - American Pie [originally posted 12/20/2011]

One of my best buds, Bart, took me on as a partner in a portable sandblasting business. We called ourselves“RAYBAR”- took us a couple 12 packs to come up with the name.
 

We had rode together. He had a beautiful orange or pink (depending on the sun) Harley Dresser.
 

Bart died early on 10 Dec of liver cancer or Hep C and a fucked-up medical system killed him! He couldn't afford insurance so they sent Bart home to die. I went to see him, he was pretty much out of it. He was kept morphed up. We talked on the phone about ain’t it a bitch, give you morphine when now it's no fun. He would nod out while talking, I would wait for him, then we would start our conversation over again.

Bart will never know his first grandchild.

Here is my bitch: Way back in Vietnam, I learned about dyin'. Ain’t a fuckin' thing you can do about it. Keep your weapon clean, ya got plenty of ammo, helmet, Flak Jacket on. Head down, it still won’t matter, when Death comes, it don’t knock, it kicks in your door.
 

Witnessing Death, I learned to accept it! I couldn't do a thing about it. But letting someone die because he can’t
afford insurance? That is Fucked Up!!! I see why people are telling the rest of us how this system has gotta be
change. We the 99% do not matter!! “Nada” Nothing!! Not a fuckin' thing to that bunch that has got ahold of the
GOLD!
The 99% also know we have a bought-off do-nothing Congress. They all need to be replaced. They gave our
money to these Greedy Bankers who gave themselves Million$$$ after Congress bailed out the same bunch who
fucked poor homeowners over after saying your house is worth twice its value. Well, now it ain't! We are
foreclosing and not one of these criminals have been put in jail.
Look at all the Vets who died to protect and defend these Master Criminals!...
10 Dec. Spouse and self, headed for Danbury, Wisconsin, the home of my old Nam Vet bud and Harley-riding
friend, William (Black) Jackson. I wrote of William in an older post, 4th of July. Told a white lady who wanted to
know how he got to the great “White North”. He was a runaway slave! “Oh” she said!
The Jacksons have lived around Danbury forever! William grew up in there. He knew he was gonna get drafted,
so he joined the Army, and was sent to Vietnam. He became a RTO (Radio Telephone Operator). They are one of
the most important grunts in the Infantry! He carries the radio, a lifeline, usually a PRC 10 or 25, depending on
the year you were in! RTO's call in artillery, med evacs, gun ships, resupply C rations- water. He “Humps” (that's
carry) the radio along with the rest of his gear on his back, with a handset that the Platoon or Company