Updating Doc’s story

Doc took the family, Janice, Robbie, Leslie, and David back to Europe to retrace the journey he had in 1944-45. Doc had a very vivid memory of the war and we would come to a hill and he would say, “we lost over 50 men trying to take a machine gun nest at the top of that hill.” It was a very emotional time for Doc and today we would definitely say that Doc had PTSD. You see Doc had lied about his age and enlisted when he was 17. I tried for many years to get Doc to write down his experiences during WW-II but he was not anxious to do so. “You see David I have spent the last 60 years trying to forget what happened and I really don’t want to think about it,” Doc would always say. Finally I was able to get him set up with a computer and he wrote the following passages. It is an incomplete story and I hope to be able to expand on it more when I complete our current missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

So, here’s a link to the six chapters that Doc wrote about his time during WWII.

Tomorrow is Veteran’s day and we will be flying Doc’s flag in honor of all those who gave so much for this country.

WWII Honoree

Doc at the National WW-II Museum

Thanks to son, David, Doc Bob is now memorialized.

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Memorial Day – Memories

Doc at Battle of Bulge Memorial

Dear Bill,

Thanks so much for your call today.  After speaking to you I got out three more flags and a red, white, and blue bunting.  Memorial Day has always been a very special day in the Scott Family.  At the Aichelman farm (Doc’s uncle Frank Aichelman ran that farm before giving it model-t-truck.jpgto Doc after the War) we used to get out Doc’s father’s 1923 Model T Ford pickup and put a horse trough in the back.  The trough would be filled with ice, sodas, and beers.  Then we would chug down to the pasture and set up the baseball diamond for the annual baseball game.  It was quite an event and all the farmers from the Platte River Valley would come to participate and set up the tables and grills.  I’ll never forget the sounds of the Model T.  It would go chuga, chuga, chuga, and had the wonderful AooUga horn.  We had so much fun with that vehicle.  It was amazing where that thing would go.

Here are some audio clips for the Model T

Sound of the car running.

The horn.

There is a new book out which includes photos from the Aichelman farm. Here’s a link to Amazon.

doc-and-bill-schmidt250.jpgAttached is a photo of the time you surprised Doc at the Mission Inn.  That was so much fun.  “Bill Schmidt, what the Sam Hill are you doing here.”  We really got Doc good that time.  Unfortunately the digital image is blurry but I remember it vividly.  It was what Doc always called “A Golden Moment”.  Thanks again so much for all the help you gave Leslie and I with Doc’s transition to the Mission.  That was a challenging time.

Semper Fi,

David

Oregon Tiger Sanctuary

Dear Bill,

I was thinking of you and Regina and hope all is well and the snow is melting in Minnesota.

Leslie’s Oregon Tiger Sanctuary has a new web site.  Could you please add it to Doc Bob’s website?

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http://oregontigersanctuary.org/aboutus/aboutus.shtm

All the best,

David

B-17 Liberty Bell

Dear All,

I was at the Presbyterian church this morning and heard a B-17 flying over head.  As Doc would say it was a God thing.  I followed it to Bob Hope airport and was able to hitch a ride.  It was a Spectacular flight.

Tally-ho,
David

David Scott w. Liberty Bell

David Scott with Liberty Belle

Liberty Bell front Turret

Liberty Belle front turret

Norton bomb sight

Liberty Belle Norton bomb sight with view of Encino, California.

Fishing

Dear Bill,

Could you please also add these photos to Doc’s web site. He was supposed to go fishing with us but could not make it this time.

The fishing was amazing this year about 23 miles North and West of Westport, Washington. We were on the Caterpillar powered “Tally-ho” a wonderful 46′ vessel skippered by Bob Hellbig and his spectacular deck hand John. My arm is still sore from fighting with the monsters. We caught over 60 fish and had our limit by 1:30. I could not keep all the lines baited and in the water.

All the best,

David C. Scott

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The handsome young man with the Red Sweatshirt admiring the catch in the fishing hold is Eric Otto Scott, the great fisherman.

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Emilie Scott is the courageous young Las who braved the wind, weather, and waves to make it out to the fishing bank.  Emilie was the youngest and bravest member of the crew that day.  She had the “Lucky Fishing Pole” on the bow of the Tally-Ho.  I actually lost track of how many fish she pulled in with that rod.

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Alex Scott and the monster of the deep.  When the photo of Alex was taken, there was actually a rainbow behind him. I am certain Doc was with us!

What the Sam Hill

Dear Bill,
Thank you so much.  Today I have entered Doc’s Galaxie 500 in the Holliday Car fair here at JPL.  Doc just loved that car and the flag presented by the Military Honor Guard is proudly displayed in the window.

The photo of you with Doc at the mission is also included.  Unfortunately that one is blurry but I still remember it well.

“Bill Schmidt, what the Sam Hill are you doing here!”  That was a golden moment.  Thanks for making that happen.

Semper Fi,
David Scott

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Ford Galaxie

Doc’s new galaxie

Doc owned 26 different Fords over the years.  Al C. Ling, the owner of Ling Ford in Brighton, Co was one of Doc’s best friends.  AC Ling used to park all of the new years model cars out at our farm until he had moved the older cars off of his lot.
Doc and I also got to drive many of the demo cars and trucks.  AC was a great resource.
Doc had several Galaxies from 1960-1968.  I was supposed to get the 68 for my 16th birthday.  Unfortunately my brother totaled it before I turned 16.
The 62 Galaxie in the photo is one I bought for Doc at a garage sale in Glendale.  He loved our sunday drives in that car. 
All the best,
David

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JPL Letter of appreciation

JPL Notice

Today the link to Doc’s WW-II Memorial was published in the Universe, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s public record of significant events.  The archive of the Universe publications goes back to when JPL was first formed as an Army Lab researching rockets back in the 1940’s.  Doc’s signature will also be written into a silicon chip using the electron beam lithography system.  This chip will be attached to the Mars Exploration Rover scheduled to launch in 2011.

The link to his memorial  is included here so you can view the official version.

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=1892706&popcount=2&tcount=3

Bob’s Memorial

Here are some photos of the Scott Memorial in Brighton and some more information on Doc as recalled by his brother Bud Scott.  We will soon have a DVD of the memorial service for Doc.

Bob’s Memorial

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