It smells like my Scout Master’s garage

If you know me or have read some of my columns on emergency preparedness you know I am always out looking for more emergency gear. Living in a town with a large Army Post you can find military gear at the local thrift stores. I find OD green wool blankets, pup tents, field type clothes and canteens. I am forever looking for canteens. If hard times come you will not always be able to find clean drinking water, so you need to be able to carry your water with you. The green plastic, one quart canteen is hard to beat. In fact it is so successful that there are numerous civilian knock-off versions of it out there. When I went to Infantry school you could not carry enough water. The heat of South Georgia could put you down in a hurry. I carried canteens in what we called Israeli style; four one quart canteens. When the re-supply truck showed up I was the first one to get to the five gallon water jugs to re-fill my canteens. Many of my fellow Infantry classmates succumbed to the heat and even had to be airlifted out of the training area--not me. I was in a thrift shop the other day and there was a WWII cartridge belt with the old style metal canteen and cup. I bought these items for three dollars and headed for the door. As I was driving home flashes of my days in the Boy Scouts started passing through my mind and it was the smell of the old canvas Army gear causing this effect. My car smelled like my Scout Master Reggie Barber’s garage did back in 1967. I was the assistant quartermaster for my old Troop 66 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. After each camping trip we had to go over to Mr. Barber’s house and take care of the gear that had been used. There was a loft in the top of his garage and it was full of the troop’s camping gear and a lot of it was WW II military canvas items that had been donated to the troop. Now-a-days all the camping equipment is made of plastic and manmade fibers. They do not have the same smells of old canvas that has been treated with water repellent chemicals like the G.I. issue items my Uncles used in Germany in 1944. My job was to make sure the canvas was clean and dry before it was stored away. This was humid Virginia and a damp tent left for a couple of months would rot beyond the point of use very quickly. There was no money to just go out and buy new items if I failed to take care of the troop’s gear. With the smell of the new found WWII treasure in my truck I had to call my old Scout Master. Mr. Barber is in his eighties and lives in Florida. He was a Navy aircrew member on PBM-5 seaplanes patrolling off the east coast, during the war, looking for German U-Boats. He flew sub patrols out of Brazil during the war prior to that country entering WWII on the Allied side. Both the US and Germany could enter Brazil. He would come back from a sub-chasing mission to find the very German sub crew he was hunting, sitting in the same Brazilian bar his aircrew was drinking in. After the war he worked for the Navy as a civilian. But it was the smell of canvas that got me to pick up the phone and call. I saw Mr. Barber in the summer of 2009 for the first time since I was in the eighth grade. He was in Denver visiting family and we had lunch. Talking with someone I had not seen in forty-one years was delightful. Of course his children that I had known were all grandparents now. Smells can bring back some of the oldest memories in the shortest of time. With a lifetime of military and police work, some smells are best not remembered, but old canvas smells are a fond memory. One old canteen reconnected me with my past and that was a good thing. I will keep looking for canteens and calling my Scout Master. Both the canteen and the man have helped me get ready for life and the hard times it can throw at you. Thank you Mr. Barber, you made us learn our field craft skills so we would remember. They have paid of well for me in life and yes I will always Be Prepared.

Major Van Harl USAF Retired

My husband Bob and I adopted our son Max in June 2006. When we brought him home from St. Petersburg, Russia, he was a 12 year old who spoke no English. In our desire to help him understand what it means to be a good citizen and a good American, we decided there was no better opportunity than Boy Scouts. Bob served Troop 335 as Chaplain and attended the weekly meetings and events with Max, so it also served as a great bonding experience for this father and son. Max is now 16, an honor student and a Life Scout working on his Eagle. He is serving as Troop Guide, helping the younger boys as they come into the Troop to learn Scouting and how to conduct themselves as young men. Unfortunately, we lost Bob to an untimely death this past Thanksgiving. Max could have given up after losing his Dad and best friend, but he has chosen to honor his Dad by completing his Eagle. I believe his actions prove we were right to guide him into Scouting. I am purchasing On My Honor for Max. Perhaps one day he will lead his own son into Scouting. I am a proud Mom!

Just finished reading On My Honor. I thought it was a well written and thought out book. I commend Gov. Perry for undertaking this project in support of Scouting. I only wish more people had the means and ability to do so. While reading the book I was brought back to my many years as a youth Cub Scout and Boy Scout. Having made Eagle Scout myself I was able to share many of the great stories and sentiments mentioned in the book. Over the years my personal views have shifted slightly in different directions but on the whole they remain consistent with the ideals of Scouting. I think that the big three (Atheists, Gay Rights & The ACLU) issues covered in the book, really shed some light on the importance of being informed about the world we live in and the world we hope to create for our youth. While I don't share every opinion That Gov. Perry covers, I think he did a nice job putting things into perspective, in particularly the gay rights issue. Knowing many people that are gay, I am often asked how I can support the Boy Scouts by some of them. They feel angry and insulted by the stance that Scouting takes on this issue. I now feel more confident that I can give a reasonable argument in defence of Scouting's position, one that I support. Overall it was well done. I will continue on as a current scout leader with a better understanding of what lays in wait out in the world for Scouting.

Before i Joined the Boy Scout Of America in 2000 i was heading on the wrong path in life.I was 7 years old when i started,i am 15 now and so far i think i am on the right path.My scouting career has helped me develop character,values i can use in life,and i can look at life in a different way.I have a sense of right and wrong and i help people when i can.When i started i thought you would be a little tin soldier and all that stuff.But that quickly changed when i went to camp my first year.i will never forget my first year of camp because it was so fun.I am a life scout now working on my eagle scout.And scouts has helped me understand that the eagle badge is just glue and string.it symbolizes all the great times you had and the lessons you learned.people always told me i quit when i was life and i regret it, well yeah it stinks you didnt get eagle but it doesnt matter scouts still impacted your life to make you wanna proceed.

Signed,Jeremy Blankenship
Troop 170
Wayne,Wv

I am an Eagle Scout from 1976, I was only 13 years old. I have very fond memories as a scout and all the places that I have been and all the things I have done. Probably the best thing that I have done was come back to Boy Scouts and brought my son with me. We have had a great time growing toghether as father / son and as Scoutmaster / Scout, our relationship is stronger than ever. I am the Scoutmater of Troop 1776 in Garden Grove,Ca. and proud of everyone of my scouts, this has given me the oppotunity to give back what BSA has given me and that is great moral values. The BSA movement has helped my scouts become better people and better leaders. I am aslo a part of NYLT and the oppotunities it has given these scouts is unbeleivable and above reproach. They will be better leaders and lead this counrty for years to come. I can say without a doubt that this is the best character builder that anyone will ever see. Be a part and do your best to live by the Scout Oath and Law, you will be a better person for it and I am a better leader because of what was taught to me many years ago. I have to thank all the leader that taught me and pass these experiences along to the next generation.

Gov. Perry,

My father passed your signed book onto my brother and myself, both "Fellow Eagles" this past Chirstmas. I cannot agree with you more that the BSA has provided me a firm foundation from which I have grown upon and continue to grow. My Scoutmaster of Troop 398, Lindenhurst, New York (Suffolk County Council) Charles Bosworth was responsible for the rest of my "shell-shaping" when I was a young man. Together, they helped guide me to become the man I am today.

My brother and I were the first set of brothers to come up through the ranks to Eagle in our Troop. My brother, Adam in 1990 and myself in May of 1993.

There are so many core-values that the Scouts and my father have instilled in my that the one of community service comes to the forefront. After I graduated High School in '93, I went from Long Island, NY (where I grew up) to college to Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ where upon after arriving to the dorms, I felt a loss...something was missing. I longed for a sense of community involvement. So I went out and found it in a strange town. I joined the Lawrence Township Volunteer First Aid Sqaud and that coming January, enrolled in the next EMT course. June of my freshman year, I was a certified EMT in NJ. 4 years later I became a volunteer firefighter. To this day, I still volunteer with the nation's largest all-volunteer EMS system in Virginia Beach, VA.

My desire to do more for my fellow man did not end there. 4 years ago, in 2005, I enrolled in a nursing school to persue my Registered Nurse license. I now work as an Emergency Department RN in a community hospital in Norfolk, VA.

As a young man, I understood that long road to Eagle Scout was long and hard. It was that same road of perservence that I followed when I battled cancer when I was 24 (this Thanksgiving marks my 10-year anniversary). After defeating cancer, I was faced with the long, arduous journey to becoming a Nurse. There again, I followed the Eagle in flight and am proud to be a Registered Nurse.

As I write this now, I am standing duty volunteering to protect the citizens and its visitors in the lovely city I call home, Virginia Beach, VA.
My wife and I are starting a unique journey as well at this time. We are working to become a Foster family in our city and hope to bring in our first child this coming Summer. I know I will have to call upon the lessons learned as a young man to have patience with the children that will come into our lives and hopefully begin to plant those same seeds of core-values the Scouts that have flourish within myself.

Since reading your book, I have a new viewpoint of the ACLU. I am greatful there is an organization who looks to protect the rights of the ill-fortuned. However, I was completely unaware of the attacks that was being waged against such an amazing organization like the Boy Scouts of America. As important the ACLU is, I for one agree they have gotten too big for their britches.

Thanks for writing this book. It was an amazing stroll down memory lane and made me smile while reading it. One such smile was the pictures from the 2005 National Jamboree. Though I was there as a vendor, I kept telling my wife, "this is amazing...all of these Scouts in one location". It made me pround to be an Eagle.

I plan to tell all my friends, Scouts, Scouters, and family members to read your book. More people need to hear first-hand how the lawyers are trying to chip away at an amazing organization like the BSA.

My father was a boy scout back in the thirty's in rural Alabama. Due to the economics of the day his troop did not last beyond him becoming a second class scout. I am the youngest to three brothers who all became Eagle Scouts in the troop my father served as Scoutmaster. Even though he was my Scoutmaster, he was much more to the boys of his troop. After I grew up and left home he was still Scoutmaster. There were many boys in the neighborhood that would fall back on him later in life when a rough spot in the road of life occurred. He was always there for them. As my father aged he could no longer continue as Scoutmaster but never quit as a scout. My father joined the great scoutmaster in the sky back in 1994. And there to start him on his journey was six Eagle Scouts who flew from all corners of the country to serve as his pall bearers. Today I have two sons who are also Eagle Scouts and I hope the chain will never be broken.

I was the young son of an Air Force officer stationed in West Germany in 1965, and I found myself in Scout Troop 138 of the TransAtlantic Council, Ramstein Germany. Our Troop of 35 boys often hiked between the small German villages, marching thru the villages as proud in full uniform as we could be. I think back on those days and recall the elderly German civilians watching us, and now I realize they too had seen their sons marching perhaps just one generation earlier through their towns with a different uniform, perhaps even to never return home.
As I enjoyed the Scouting experience immensely, I never completed my Eagle rank. I left scouting with only 3 more merit badges to earn my Eagle badge at the age of 16 for girls and cars which came to be when I returned stateside. I regretted that soon after my 18th birthday. So much so, that I made a "life goal" and promise to myself...should I ever have sons, I would make sure they had the opportunity to attain the rank of Eagle. For some reason, I felt by having never reached that esteemed sense of confidence and closure of a goal, I was plagued with a feeling of failure. As I finished college and entered my career in banking and finance, married and we had our first child, a boy, I remembered my promise to myself.
I could hardly wait to see my son enter into the cub scout ranks, and finally Boy Scouts. I became active again, thoroughly enjoying our experiences together, learning along the trail to Eagle. I did that three more times with each of our four sons. Along the way, I took more and more responsibility in our Troop, then our Council, eventually as a member of the Executive Committee of the Council in Southern California. More importantly, I was blessed to mentor dozens of other young men whose fathers, like mine, were more involved with their jobs than they realized and were missing the opportunity of a lifetime, to help raise a boy into a better man. Our troop now 29 years old has helped raise nearly 80 boys to Eagle. Each of my four sons now carry that sense of self confidence and appreciation for earning the highest rank in Scouting and becoming members of an elite fraternity, and dare I say, one of the last pieces of American fabric characterizing our great country. They are all excellent leaders simply because of Scouting principles. As I recall those German civilians watching us over 40 years ago, proud uniformed boys learning character values from our adult leaders, I can only encourage other fathers, men to seize the opportunity to teach their sons, and their sons' peers the values of wearing a uniform of the Boy Scout and striving to also adorn their uniform with the Eagle Medal. As Fathers, there is Honor in that effort as well. So although I missed the opportunity to earn the medal, the opportunity to serve others in earning their own has also a great reward. Don't miss that one either.

I am an Eagle Scout. I am 46 years old. It is something they teach you in Scouting: once you are an Eagle Scout you are always an Eagle. And I would not be where I am today without the experiences of Scouting.

I have not read the book yet, but I will. BSA has every right as a private organization to decide on the requirements for membership. In Scouting I learned to respect the beliefs of others, whether I agreed with them or not. I've never been overly religious, and I am a conservative. As an organization for boys and young men, it is perfectly plausible that BSA would not want gay men in leadership positions. Not that there are not gay men who would make good leaders in Scouting, it is just not something that BSA wants. If a gay man wants to be a leader of young men, join another organization - like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, or 4H, etc.

And if you think gay men in positions of authority over young men is NOT a problem, just ask the Catholic church. Aside from the whole thing about it not being compatible with the values and traditions of Scouting, I am sure BSA would certainly like to avoid the lawsuits the Catholic church has faced.

As an Eagle Scout I found myself in the company of national heroes such as John Glenn and I aspired to become a hero not for the notoriety but for the feeling. My first such feeling was when I saved my mothers life when she was choking. No one knows about this incident except her, my father and my sister who was witness. I was sixteen. I was already a confident young man and was still involved in Scouting. At that time I thought every boy knew how to survive on his own skills and become the leader of a group with a common cause. How wrong I was. And now I am nearing fifty and realize that the rules I live by other than those established by societal law and religious conviction are the rules tought to me in the Boy Scouts.

Dear Governor Perry,

Thankfully, I am able to say that I was raised with traditional values. Though I joined the Boy Scouts late at age 15, I was fortunate to have been in a troop that was very, very active. Due in no small part to the tireless efforts of the very committed leaders, many of which I am still in close contact and friendship with today, I obtained my Eagle Scout Rank in Feb of 1999. I am now 27 Years old and looking forward to this 10 year anniversary in quiet contemplation of the meaning and weight that this obligation still carries on my life. This is weighted even further by the fact that my wife and I have just welcomed our first son, Isaac, into this world. I can't express the sense of excitement and anticipation that I and my wife have knowing that I will be able to share not only my Scouting knowledge and memories with him, but also my leadership when he reaches Cub/Boy Scout age. I look forward to reading your book and delving off into the defense of these Traditional American values that the liberal media has dubbed "obsolete" and "archaic". We have permitted this "popular opinion" to permeate far too deep into our self conscience as a nation and people. We as American's should be thankful to God that there are still men in this land who, like my father and grand-father, live by and hold above all else the values and morals that have made this country the greatest beacon of hope and light in this dark world in which we live.

Caleb Davis
Eagle Scout, Class of 1999
Troop 134
Springville, Alabama

Dear Governor Perry:

Thank you for your book. I hope it receives wide circulation to those who are not, and never have been scouts, believing they will see the value of encouraging their sons, gransons, nephews, etc. to prusue such a valuable program.

I was a Cub Scout, learned a lot and enjoyed it thoroughly. However,
when I joined the Boy Scouths at the age of twelve, I lost interest in the program primarly because our Scoutmaster, a very nice man of good character, was not much of a leader. Therefore, we didn't really do much and I lost interest. To this day, I regret this.

I now have two grandsons, 11 & 14, who are quite active in scouting and both are working on their Eagle rank. It has been amazing to see the transformatio in their maturity and self confidence. Although they have parents who have stressed high moral values which have been reenforced by attendance at an academically demanding Christian school, the scouting program has reinforced those values and, more importantly, has shown them a lot of the world agrees with those principles.

Although scouting did not work for me, I have always done my best to live up to, "On My Honor, I willl do my best to do my duty to God and my
country and obey the Scout Law
to help other people at all times,
to keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight.

A Scout is
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpfull
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerfull
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
and Reverent."

To that extent, scouting was a very valuable experience for me.

Richard Howell
Houston TX

Thank you Governor for writing this book! It brought back good memories of my time in Scouting and the road to earning Eagle Scout as well as the work ahead for keeping Scouting strong for my boys as an adult leader.

My first scoutmaster was Don Hadaway, a retired Navy Commander who didn't have sons but answered the call from a flyer his daughter brought home from school one day about the need for a scoutmaster. He was tough and we learned a lot about discipline and ourselves, becoming one of the best troops in the Mt. Diablo Council (CA). Succeeding scoutmasters put their own spin on what Cmdr Hadaway started and produced a long line of scouts, many Eagles, and all good men who went on to be leaders in local government, the military, business and education.

My scouting career directly influenced my in a career in public Parks & Recreation and now as a university professor, teaching recreation and leisure studies, producing quality of life specialists that will help bring a sense of balance to the crazy 24/7 world we live in.

My two brothers and I are Eagle Scouts and all of us have continued the "service to others" commitment we learned and loved through scouting.

Thanks again for writing this book and we'll continue the fight in CA for Scouting's future.

Dr. Chris Chamberlain
Eagle Scout 1980

I started Scouting in 1955 as a Cub Scout and became an Eagle Scout at Troop 25 in Monticello, Indiana, in 1961. I have served as an Eagle Scout ever since. Your book, or our book, as it seems, is great. It fits precisely with my recollection of Scouts. The 1964 Valley Forge Jamboree was a fabulous experience for me, as well. We went to all those great American Places from New York to Washington, DC and beyond. I also can remember my first campout meal in Troop 25 and how it ended up on my sleeping bag in the tent. I still cannot eat vegetable soup. As a career US Army Officer, I found my Scouting Experiences gave me the foundation for life and prepared me to lead the Troops with confidence and compassion, as I did my Patrol and Scout Troop, during transition from Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout. Yes, my experience as PL, SPL and JASM and ASM in Troop 25 helped me as I lead my units of Soldiers in support of the Constitution of the USA. I served as SM and CC of other Troops, as my SM lived to be 100 years old and served as SM for over 50 years. Helping to win the Cold War with the 1st Armored Division in Europe was an accomplishment, but my most significant achievement came at age 14, when I became an Eagle Scout. I have been helping others with that Trail to Eagle, through the Eagle Scout Board of Review, ever since. Now retired from the US Army and serving as a consultant and a Service Disabled, Veteran Owned Small Business partner, I support the Troops first with the parts they need and manage the business after that, along with Carol, my wife of 32 years and my business partner and his wife. We are all in Washington State now and still serving. Thank you for writing this book. I believe you have exposed the opposition for what they are and the BSA will prevail, because it is the right thing to do and it is right for the USA.

The book was a great read even if one is not into scouting . I admire and respect Gov. Perry forgoing out on a limb to take the ACLU to task. They havehurt America more than most people know and it's good thatsomeone has taken a stand against them to defend a fine organization like the BSA. Good for you Gov. Perry and God bless you for taking this stand - good book!

I was a leader in scouting for several years 80's 90's and I have two Eagle Scouts. I strongly believe in this organization. A concern I had then and now is that the Scouting Organization will be made to accept leaders who are homosexual. This would be a travesty to the meaning and purpose of scouting. Do you have updated info. to this effect?

Thank you,
Becky Poteet

I look back every day on my Scouting years.
In fact it was a fellow Scout, David Sloan, who around 1954, saved me from drowning in Childs State Park, Pennsylvania. It was on a day outing that I panicked and stated to drown. David swam under me and pushed me to the surface where a few other people pulled me in.
Today most of my best friends are Scouts from my past. We still e-mail and phone each other as well as visit when possible.
I pray for the Scouting movement and as a fellow Scout mentioned to me - it is where boys go to become men and men go to become boys again.
My past as well as present life could have been much worse - I may have never been a Scout.

one of the happiest times of my boyhood was in scouts. whenever i go camping or hunting down in the thicket of southeast texas i still practice the same skills i learned in scouts and it brings back many fond memories. now, as a catholic priest, i find that much of what i try to instill in the youth of my parish are the values, religious, moral, & civic that are taught by the boy scouts. imagine my joy to be recently qappointed as chaplain of scouts for the diocese of beaumont! finally a chance to give back to the scouts in return for what they have given me.

i look forward to getting your book & thank you for pointing out to another generation the values and traditions that made previous generations strong and proud.

father r.e. oakes
beaumont, texas

i am an eagle scout, and still an asst. scoutmaster today. i spent the better part of my youth in scounting, having earned every rank a child could earn, including being in the OA, and traveling to philmont twice thus far. i am now studying to be a nurse and i have no doubt that what i have learned in scouting has brought me this far, and will continue to propel me even farther. i feel it is well overdue that someone write a book justifying the laws that govern the boy scouts. i feel that if it isn't broke it shouldn't be fixed. this said i am glad someone else agrees with the BSA criteria and admission rules.

Here is another Scouting Scholarship

Texas Christian University

TCU Eagle Scout and Gold Scout Scholarship

Amount: $2,000 per year for up to 8 undergraduate semesters. $8,000 total value.
Special Note: In recognition of having achieved the pinnacle of success within Boy Scouts (Eagle) or Girl Scouts (Gold), TCU sponsors a $2,000 award. Should the candidate receive a TCU-sponsored merit-based scholarship of greater value, the Eagle or Gold Scout award will be honorary. Applications and a copy of the Eagle or Gold certificate must be received by May 1 of the applicant's high school senior year.

More info: http://www.fam.tcu.edu/schol_other.asp

I hadn't thought about my scouting experiences in years when I got a letter from the National Eagle Scout Association the other day asking me to contribute my story to their effort to register all the Eagle Scouts in the country. The number for the search is 1-800-917-2270.

I had a difficult childhood. We moved around a lot and I had an abusive father.

But I remember fondly my experiences as both a Cub & Boy Scout and react vehemently to the attacks on the Scouts in recent years.

I've tried to live up to the ideals of scouting. Sadly, I didn't always succeed, but that's part of being human. And sometimes my own stupidity.

I was a Scout in Washington DC in the late 50s & early 60s.

I am a proud Eagle Scout just like Governor Perry and am ashamed of the groups in this country who have attacked the Boy Scouts on more then one occasion . I had the opportunity to attend the World Scout Jamboree in London, England and was amazed by the impact that scouting has on people all around the world. I have seen all 12 points of the Scout Law in action all across this great land and have never been apart of a greater organization.

No, I haven't read the book yet, but I wanted to comment on the help I received from the Boy Scouts.

In looking back from the vantage point of 83 years of age, it is clear to me how important Scouting was in my development.
I began as a Cub and advanced to the rank of Lion.
Graduating into the Scouts at 12, I became a Life Scout and then moved on into the Sea Scouts before joining the Naval Reserve in 1942. I got within two merit badges of earning the Eagle rank. My excuse then was that with after school and weekend jobs, along with scouting--where I learned much about leadership through serving as patrol leader, senior patrol leader and den chief, I just ran out of time. The money I earned in those part time jobs was very important to my family, but the time devoted to them obviously had an impact on realizing my Eagle dream. How many times have I wished that I had made the extra effort to qualify.

I am an Eagle Scout of Troop 336, Baltimore, Md. and was an aquatics summer camp counselor at Camp Rock Enon, Winchester, Va. The Scouts prepared me for Loyola High, Fordham University and the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts organizations. I not only learned how to take care of myself, I learned to take care of others. The Scout Oath and Law are the foundation of my moral and religious character and fiber. I owe a lot to the Scouts. Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout is an adage I live every day!

The Boy Scout's prepared me for my time serving in the military. I do not think there is a better organizition that give young men the morals and values that scouting gives.

On My Honor,
I will do my best,
to do my duty to God and My Country,
and obey the Scout Law
to help other people at all times,
to keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake,
and morally straight.

A Scout is
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpfull
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerfull
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
and Reverent

I'm 51 years old and I try and live these rules every day.

I am 60 years old and an Eagle Scout 1960. I am a teacher of severly handicapped children and I continue to live by the Scout Oath and Law.

When my two sons were little, I became Pack Committee Chairman for our troop here in Illinois. It was a very rewarding experience on many levels. I know that my boys Jordan and Ryan learned so much from their experiences with Scouting. It is a part of my life that I will cherish. I am proud of my time with the Boy Scouts because the tenets of Scouting helped my sons stay on the straight and narrow.

I traveled much when I was young since I was the son of an American Soldier. In fact I was born in Heidelberg, Germany. So it is no wonder that the future held for me an Army uniform and numerous moves including those with my family to Japan, Korea and Germany during my 28 years of military service. I still serve in the Army today being the only Army Medical Corps Officer to be a member of this year's National War College class in Washington, DC, but retirement has not appeared on the horizon just yet.
However, my family stopped moving in 1969 when my father headed off to Vietnam for his tour of duty to a combat zone. Before he left he wanted to ensure his family was safe, and home was where all of us felt the safest. After he moved us back to mom's hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, he left of a year in the jungles of Vietnam.
Sevierville is a wonderful East Tennessee Appalachian town and the home of Country and Western legend Dolly Parton, but moving from Baltimore to Sevierville to start the 6th grade after a dad who left for war, it was a critical time for a preteen boy. It was also the year I transferred from Cub Scouting into the Boy Scouts.
Ever since I was old enough I had been a Cub Scout and had enjoyed the Cub program in the Transatlantic Council in Germany and in Baltimore where we arrived from Germany and where I was awarded the Arrow of Light. But moving after only one year to a new town is always rough, and I tried to fit into another new school and make friends among a group of boys and girls I had briefly met when I was even younger and visiting relatives in East Tennessee. How was I going to fit into this new crowd? Though I had always been able to fit into schools sponsored by DODDS (Department of Defense Dependent Schools) overseas since all the kids came from the same turbulent military background, this was a new school where there were no other "Army Brats". I felt so alone.
But after school started, I discovered I had some things in common with some of the other boys who were tops in academics, and that was the Boys Scouts. After learning I had been a Cub Scout and was interested in changing uniforms from blue to khaki, I was quickly invited to the next meeting of Boy Scout Troop 110 sponsored by the Sevierville United Methodist Church. I cannot begin to describe how welcomed I felt upon attending that first troop meeting in 1969. I had found a second home, a second safe place while dad was off to war. I now recognize how very important this was to a young man whose father was off fighting in a very unpopular war, and even unpopular in East Tennessee.
I stayed with Troop 110 as long as I could and until I turned 18, graduated from Sevier County High School and left for college to attend Tennessee Technological University. I was the first Eagle Scout in my family, an Eagle of the class of 1973, an honor that I hold as significant as any other award I have ever received including the Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit. An Eagle Scout at 16, I was the only young man to stay with the Troop all the way through high school. I felt it was my duty to give back to the young boys in the troop the things the Troop had given to me during some very difficult years, primarily friendship, acceptance and a safe place to go from a community that had its own share of drugs and alcohol.
I remember my old Scoutmaster, James Justice, who was a high school football star and who later served in the Army after my dad encouraged him to join as a Warrant Officer and fly helicopters. Years later at my father's military funeral, it was comforting to see James there in his Army uniform giving a final salute to my dad, a Soldier who had served his nation with distinct honor.
In college, Scouting was put away for a few years, but I was to graduate from Tennessee Tech with a new bride in 1979 and enter the Army as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry after attending college on a 4-year ROTC Scholarship. Needless to say at the time my family could not afford to send me to college, so if not for ROTC I would have never gone. If not for being an Eagle Scout, I would have never gotten the scholarship. The Eagle Scout badge prepared me for life, and helped to me start along the way.
I had always wanted to go to medical school. As my mother would constantly tell her friends in Sevierville, I wanted to be a doctor ever since I could walk and talk. After three years in the Infantry I applied and was accepted into the military medical school located in Bethesda, Maryland, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Class of 1986. When I graduated, which was attended by my wife, two very young sons, mother, father, family, friends AND my old Scoutmaster, James, I could only think back to the day I received my Eagle Badge as I walked across the stage at the Kennedy Center to receive the diploma of a Medical Doctor.
Years later with 2 sons growing fast now along with a younger sister, an engineer bride who was working for the Army as a civilian and me training as a resident in general surgery, we were going in all directions as a family. I had always talked with my wife about Scouting especially my memorable trip to Philmont Scout Ranch to hike the trails when I was 14, so when the oldest son was of age she took him to his first Cub Scout meeting in a new program, Tiger Cubs. Our oldest was in first grade in San Francisco, and after their first Tiger Cub meeting they were hooked. When younger son was old enough he put on the orange and black and he too became quickly enamoured with the Scout program. Younger sister could not understand why she could not wear tiger stripes in first grade, but she quickly became a Brownie instead and was just as proud of her uniform as her brothers.
Scouting became our family activity. It was the program that brought us together each week at Den or Troop meetings, saw all of us togehter (including our daughter) on camping trips throughout the year, and resulted in both sons being awarded their Eagle Rank the night before we left for Korea where I was to command a medical battalion.
My wife and I continued to work with boys. Both of us have over 20 years of volunteer service to the BSA for which we have both been wonderfully rewarded with the Silver Beaver Award, Wood Badge "three-bead" necklaces and the Order of the Arrow's Vigil Honor. Our Eagle Scout sons are also Vigil Honor members of the Order of the Arrow in Middle Tennessee Council where we enjoyed Scouting when I was assigned to different units at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Our daughter was not to be denied, however. Though Exploring was not available where we lived and the new "Ranger" program was to come later, she did continue her participation in the Girl Scout program and earned her Silver Award to the delight of her Scouting family before she earned her driver's license. Though she did not finish the requirements for the Girl Scout Gold Award, she is the only college student I know who knows the Scout Oath of both programs.
The Scouting program now comes around to again start its life changing circle. The older Eagle Scout now flies airplanes and helicopters for the Army in Korea while the younger Eagle and West Point grad attends medical school at USUHS as his dad did 25 years before. The Silver Award daughter attends college in Tennessee where she demonstrates the ideas of Scouting in all she does even when she may not want the boys to see it.
My new bride of 28 years no longer works as an engineer, but as "the commander's wife" now works with volunteer organizations as well as with volunteer organizations within the community. Once she was hooked on volunteering, she found her niche and continues to give back to the Army community which has given her so much.
I continue to serve the nation as an Army Surgeon. After 28 years, two trips to Iraq and one to Afghanistan people wonder when I will hang up the uniform. It will be a few years more before I take off "Army Green", but when I do I will not be out of uniform for long. There are some "Boy Scout Khaki" uniforms that can fit an old, retired Soldier. Retired, I can continue my duty I learned in Sevierville in the 1970's, that of giving back to the young boys in the Troop. They are our future, and with the skills and American ideas learned as a Boy Scouts, the future looks pretty good from here.

I have a grandson who recently finished the requirements for "Eagle",which has really helped him understand life in God and country. It was not an easy program to complete, but with self-dilligance and determination he is now an Eagle Scout of America. Needless to say, Grandma and Grandpa are very proud of Brian. I have not read Rick Perry's book as yet. My parents did not provide me with the opportunity to be a scout, but I as a parent made the program available to my children (Girl Scout/Boy Scout). I will read the book, and pass it on to others.

When I was a kid growing up in North Texas the Boy Scouts helped to fill a void in my life. My father was killed when I was a child. The Boy Scouts was a place where I could get something I couldn't usually get at home, the guidance of strong father figures. Beyond the other usefull skills like knot-tying, woodsmanship and marksmanship scouting provided me with other important skills. Through the guidance of scoutmasters and older scouts I learned preparedness, integrity, endurance, and honor. As I grew older I passed these traits on to the younger boys that joined our troop. It is with good reason that I, along with many others, value being an Eagle Scout above that of getting my High School diploma. Unlike the diploma, which many people achieve without much effort my Eagle badge is something few achieve and at great effort. The Boy Scouts of America is one of our nation's greatest organizations and should be held up as a pillar of righteousness in these troubling times.

Bicentennial
July 4, 1976
Philmont Scout Ranch & Explorer Base
Cimmarron, New Mexico
Expedition No. 629 0 1976
Troop 555, now 549

I was extremely fortunate to be able to celebrate the Bicentennial of our great country’s independence while hiking on the trail in the mountains of New Mexico, at Philmont, during our eleven day trek. Spending July 4, 1976 in the same raw environment, as my gggggreat grandfather lived in on the frontier of N. Carolina from the 1750’s until his death in 1795 as a colonial frontiersman and appointed official of the frontier government, and reflecting on what our country truly represents, it’s age, what our country will be like in 2076 and how scouting fit into the overall scheme of our society was a “once in a lifetime experience” that will forever be cherished.

Being awakened in the middle of one night from the beam of my scoutmaster’s flashlight, that was illuminating the outline of a Black Bear adjacent to our tent, gave me and my friend, my scoutmaster’s son, the opportunity to test if smashing a spoon against your metal cooking plate would scare the bears away as we were instructed by our scout, Bill, during the first few days he traveled with us. It worked, along with everyone else who awakened and started making music in the mountains that night, with their spoons and metal plates, in that camp which was known as Bear Capital of Philmont.

I pray that on July 4, 2076, our Tricentennial, we still have a country where young men will experience at Philmont what I experienced at our Bicentennial in this great country, the United States of America, and the Boy Scouts of America will have continued the great tradition of being an incubator of future great leaders and entrepreneurs, and the patriotism and will of our citizenry is proud and strong.

I still to this day proudly display the portrait of our trek members, taken upon your arrival at Philmont, so I never forget what a great day July 4, 1976 meant to me in the history of my country.

My greatest regret was not staying in scouting long enough so I too could brag, as an adult, about being an Eagle Scout, but I have followed the lessons taught and cherish them and the memories of Scouting.

Scouting is to learning life’s lessons as our Constitution is to granting us our Bill of Rights.

“Scouting, it’s not just an adventure, it’s a lifetime of practicing the lessons learned.” ™

Craig B. Braly

I definietly enjoyed the scouts
i wish there wasn't the hopla
about being a good scout or a
bad scout their all good scouts!!

I joined the Boy Scouts in 1935 in Kankakee Illinois. Achieved Eagle in 1940. Was drafted to win WWII in early 1942 .. Arrived in England in Aug 1942 after having mastered Dewey Decimal system of Army Regulations. Being an Eagle Scout with above expertise became an Aid to Commanding General of IX Troop Carrier Command .. and went from Private to Master Sgt in 9 months thanks to the Leadership skills attained as an Eagle. At 85 I'm still active and excited with all our new Eagles when Parents ensure their activities. Thank you Gov. Perry

The Scouts had extreme positive affects on my brothers and my own life. I was already prepared for the military ( in which I served 22 yrs). The knowledge on first aid alone has been put to use so many times that I could not begin to count. I have used it in the military, police work, and just in everyday life. The Scouts are an American Shrine that is under attack by Leftists (who would see this country fall). Every American should rise up to defend the Scouts in a none negotiating manner. I thank God for the Scouts and the great scoutmasters that influenced my life.

Dear Gov. Perry,

Nearly 25 years ago I was photographed at an Eagle Scout recognition dinner for the Evansville, IN newspaper. The late Gov. Bob Orr was our special guest of honor with me in the photo. My days in scouting can best be explained covering a decade of memories and contianed within several albums. I would be willing to share my photo as a young Eagle with the Gov. in your book if you like. I learned what it takes to do the right thing as a citizen of the United States. The impact on my life has been wonderful.

Regards,
Robert Phillips, CPA

I entered Scouting with my son as a Tiger Cub and remained active almost all the time after joining until and after my son earned his Eagle!!! This was a wonderful time of life and many happy memories are still a part of our household conversation.
I and my son were in the Order of the Arrow; and in that I am also very proud. My son, Charley, was part of Order of the Arrow Report to the Governor of Texas when then Gov George W Bush was in office. I still have the photo and am extremely proud of that fact.
Scouting is and should always be defended for its teachings and principals and its directing of our youth.
Go get em Scouts!!!

i am a bsa eagle scout i enjoyed the scouts they helped me learn a lot of things to help me in life and everyone that knows i am a eagle scout shows me a lot of respect

With three generations of scouts in our family and now starting a fourth, it is easy to say that Scouting has been a focal point of our family. That guiding light has made it easy to say no to "golden carrots" laid before us because we know the joys of being honest and trustworthy.
During times of financial and health problems the Scouting family and their ideals, examples and faith in God always bring us back in to prosperity.
My greatest joys being a Scouter have been to use those same methods to teach a boy to conquer his fear and swim in the water for the first time, tie not just a knot but build an entire bridge, and bringing great social changes one step at time through personal daily service to others.

Boy Scouts for me was a great experience. Working through problems to earn the badges to great times camping with friends in New Mexico Mountains was way fun.

It is sad to think this institution is under fire. It sickens me. But that is where we are going as a country and seems sometimes there is nothing can stop it.

I will be purchasing this book today! My husband and I are BIG supporters of the Boy Scouts!!

I have a "scouting" story that is important to me...it is sort of silly!
I have two brothers - one is 15 years older and the other one is 14 years older. When they went to Scout ranch that it was the first time for my parents to have any time "alone"!! Thanks to the Boy Scouts I am here today!!! We always make donations to the Boy Scouts and their defense fund!! If it wasn't for the Boy Scouts...I might not be here!!!

Tina Hare
Amarillo, Texas

I am proud that I was a Boy Scout, Troop Leader , Asst. Scoutmaster and Scout Master with the 64 th. Troop, Belfast N. Ireland during the period 1940 to 1945.. My 3 sons also enjoyed Boy Scouts and my daughter the Girl Scouts In Houston during the 60's.. . The Scout Law and Promise says it all. The movement embraces many world countries and youth regardless of Race.Color or Religion..

My son is 12. He has been involved in scouting from the time he was 6. I am a single mom and through scouting he gets to experience the things men and boys do like camping, starting fires, building derby cars, canoeing, shooting bb guns in a safe environment, shooting bows and arrows...

He has learned the importance of values and honor. He is involved with a group of kids who also have good values. If all boys were involved with scouting we would not have the problems with gangs and bad kids.

Scouts are so busy camping, canoeing, hiking, rappelling and working on eagle projects that they have very little time for trouble.

My son has also gained confidence and positive self-esteem. He can get up in front of large groups and do skits or speak.

People who want to tear down scouting don't realize the good it does. Scouts do have good Christian values, but that is a good thing. Would they rather all boys run around stealing, killing, doing drugs, hurting anyone they can?

They should take a look at all the good things scouts do as service projects. Scouts and scouting make our country a better place. This country was founded on "In God we Trust" and those few who don't believe should at least admit that the values are important.

As a boy, I waws a scout. Scouting made me strong. It taught me how to live well in the out of doors but more importantly, the leaders who gave willingly of their time and money taught me much more than that. They taught me how to be a man. The things taught by Boy Scounts have made a huge difference in the lives of my two Sons who are Eagle Scouts. They are hard working family men who are not afraid to try new things. However, on a more pragmatic note, my nephew used some of the things he had learned in scouting to Save my father's life. That part of our family were at a lake having a wonderful day. Dad had one of these floater rigs that lets him sort of bob along fishing. Even my dad doesn't know that happened but somehow he wound up upside-down and he was struggling to get back right-side up. He had tried many times and was running out of strength when my nephew saw what was happening, grabbed a canoe and paddled to where Grandpa was. He was able to get him right-side up and saved him. According to my dad he did save his life as he was about to give up and die. I have great respect for scouting and for the volunteers who keep it functioning and nothing but contempt for those who would attack this organization.

My Eagle is currently graduating from The United States Naval Academy and will be starting his Naval Pilot training in Pensacola.
My eleven year old wants to be like his big brother and is currently working his way up the ranks.

One memory I have is of the many celebrations I attended for the Order of the Arrow - it always seemed so "mystical" and full of ceremony. It was also very suspenseful as you waited in line to get "tapped out" and go to the next part of the ritual - though I never achieved that recognition, it was always something I will remember about my scouting experiences!
Thank you for letting me share this story!

I was in scouting for many years. I began scouting in the second grade with the same den leader that is now the scout master of my home troop. I wouldn't have changed that for anything. There were times that life got tough and the only thing that kept it worth while wa the fact that I had friends in scouting. It taught me valuable lessons about respecting others and helping others in need. I am still part of that troop that I spoke of before, but now as a merit badge counselor and an assistant scout master. I believe that the values and views of the Boy Scouts should be left alone. You are taught too many valuable lessons to take them and have to manipulate them for some cause. I do believe that in the end scouting is more about fellowship then it is about anything else. In this program you learn many life lessons that many boys do not recieve due to lack of parental involvement.

We are three generations of eagle scouts.

My father - Eagle Scout 1934,

his son (my brother) - eagle scout 1973, Scoutmaster 1999-2001, Venture Crew Advisor 2002 - 2003, attended National Jamboree 1973, Scouting Coordinator 2001-2008,

three grandsons - (my son) -eagle scout 1988, (my brother's sons) - eagle scout 2000 and projected eagle in 2009.

The scouts have greatly helped me be a better person. When I joined, I was not out going. The scouts have taught me not only how to be friendly, but how to be noble.

Scouting has been the "Star" by which I've guided my life as a man, a soldier, and most importantly a father.

I earned my Eagle in 1979.

When I look back on my childhood and my youth, I can remember 5 men that made a difference in my life. Five men that shaped who I am and made me the man I am today. One of them was my father. The second my grandfather. The third was my coach and teacher in High School. The last two were the scoutmasters that I had over a five year period.

Many years ago, my brother and I discussed success. We decided that success in life was to be a little league coach and a scoutmaster. He is a Director at a large retail organization. I am a software engineer.

I have been a little league coach. Later this summer, I am expecting that I will become the scoutmaster of my two boy's scout troop.

A very successful life indeed.

We are a Scouting family. I am a former Cub Scout leader for both my Eagle Scouts. My husband is an assistant scout master with Troop 64 Northbrook, IL.

I am proud to know many scouts, leaders and parent dedicated to the Boy Scout of America. Govenor Perry is a great American, patriot and Eagle Scout.

We are keeping scouting alive on the North Shore of Chicago and that's Scout's Honor.

We will be honored to buy the book.

I attended the International Jamboree in 1947 in France. Scouts collected paper and scrap metal during WWII. We received an "Eisenhower" medal for this. The Sons of the American Revolution conducts a scholarship contest yearly for Eagle Scouts. Prizes are 8, 4, & 2 thousand dollars for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners. See Youth Prograns, Eagle Scout. for details

Louis M. Newton, MD - Feb 24 2008

My time in the Scouting program has been nothing but positive. I'm 18 and earned my Eagle in 2005. I've been to Philmont three times, NJLIC, NOAC, National Jamboree, and met the National Chairman and four National Chiefs of the Order of the Arrow. I have also received the Vigil Honor and Founder's Award in the Order of the Arrow. As I staff member at my Summer Camp, I've also helped many boys through the process of earning a merit badge or a rank. The thing that I am most proud of, however, is the Eagle Mentor pin that I received from my friend Chris, who is actually older than me. That pin means more to me than my own award, not because it came from my friend, but because that pin represents what my Eagle Scout rank is all about: helping others.

My passion for this program does not stem from religion, or traditional American values, though I support the inclusion of both in Scouting. It comes from the things I have learned, the experiences that I've had, the people I've met, and, most importantly, the lifelong friends that I've made.

I'm looking forward to reading this book and the story that Governor Perry has to tell.

Your Brother in Scouting,
Chris Carpenter

I am a 42 year old man. I have a successful career, a wonderful wife and two amazing children. I have many accomplishments for which I am proud. What amazes me is that of all I have accomplished in life, whenever I mention I am an Eagle Scout-people pause to discuss something I accomplished as a 14 year old boy.

My brother and I are both Eagle Scouts from the late 1970s. Our father passed away before we were five years of age and our mother raised us alone in Chattanooga, TN. We both credit our Scouting experience with so much of who we are today. We both proudly expand on our experiences to anyone who is interested. My brother is a Colonel in the U. S. Army about to deploy to Afghanistan and I am a SVP at a regional bank. I dare say where we both would be in our lives without Scouting having been a part of it. Although I haven't read your book yet, I commend you on it and your having attained Eagle Scout. We all must stand up for the great organization which has contributed so much to our nation.

i would just like to say that this is by far the best book i have ever read! i am 16 years old and i am now working on my eagle scout project (putting up a flag pole at my church) and i am also a law enforcement explorer scout thank you governor for the amazing book!

yours in scouting - Douglas Reuter

As an Eagle Scout and lifelong scouter, I am excited to see someone of Gov. Perry's stature stand up for the BSA. I have always been very proud of my Scouting heritage, and I took some lumps over the negative publicity, but I stood firm in my belief of the Scouting program. By purchasing and reading this book is merely one, small way that I can give back to the organization that gave me so much. Thank you Governor Perry and the BSA. God Bless America!

Hello,

I'm an Eagle Scout from troop 10 in Athens Ga of the years 1976 to 1982. I attended Philmont, NM, PLDT and was a summer canceler at Rainey Mountain in NE Georgia. This perpaired me for 3 years in the US Army and then coming back for Desert Storm. I also graduated from the UGA and a few years after graduation started a phone company in the Czech Republic. In 1999 in the Czech Republic I broke my C6, C7 and C8 vertebra of my spinal column. I have played Quad Rugby (or sometimes called Murder Ball). Since then I have worked and become a productive part of society. I got off Social Security within the first year. Got a good job as Product Development Manager and then I was one of the the two founder members of a new Atlanta based phone company called DOW Networks and have traveled abroad (alone) to many countries (so many that I filled up my passport 3 years early).

The Boy Scouts in my formative years is what gave me the character and fortitude to excel in times of adversity. I have been so disappointed to see in the news that the ACLU has unlimited US Govererment funds to attack a fine organization like the Boy Scouts.

I would like to buy a signed copy (by Rick Perry when the book comes out) and can afford to buy it. I have a small but growing collection of American Patriots books and would like to add this fine book to my collection.

Thank you,

James W Wilson