Douglas S. Kempf

As everyone knows, July 4 is the birthday of our great country. Well, every year around this same time, I can't help but get melancholy, because Doug's birthday was July 12. This year, he would have been 64. (KIA Vietnam, September 5, 1969). I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am to have a wonderful man in my life who loves me and who understands ... I love you, Robert.

His Name was Doug by CJ (Kempf) Heck and I knew he loved me. Bigger than life,  he was a man’s man, so at home in his skin. His legs bowed just a little giving him a sexy swagger  when he walked.  He was ornery as cat dirt  most of the time, non-filtered Camels  tucked in a pocket, or rolled in a T-shirt sleeve,  tanned arm hanging out  the side window,  cruising his titty-pink  & white‘57 Chevy with me by his side, and I knew he loved me.  He could cuss and fight with the best of them, a man’s man, but gentle with me  running his fingers through my hair  while I sat on the floor between his bowed legs watching TV and I knew he loved me. Uncle Sam needed  combat medics  in Vietnam.  Doug never thought  to question. The town sheriff was Dad and he taught him you do what’s right. His name was Doug, bigger than life, a man’s man,  easy in his skin, ornery but gentle, and I knew even my name was safe in his mouth because he loved me. Dear God,  I loved him, too ...

“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale