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Tenth Legion book update!
#2136912
06/13/17 05:27 AM
06/13/17 05:27 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,649 Montgomery
bamaeyedoc
OP
Old Mossy Horns
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OP
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,649
Montgomery
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As I eluded to in an earlier post, I was on a quest to somehow figure out a way to get Tom Kelly to sign an early edition of "Tenth Legion" I found while going through my deceased father's things. A little after lunch this past Sunday I finally got the call I've been anxiously awaiting. Mr. Tom Kelly called me and said he was happy to meet up with me at some point and sign my book. Due to my schedule being somewhat up in the air I asked if it would be convenient for us to come down in a few hours. He said that would be fine! So Janet and I went back home, changed clothes and headed Baldwin county to meet him. We arrived late that afternoon and were supposed to meet him in the lobby of this assisted living place where he now lives so he can be next to his wife who is nearing the end of her earthly journey. He wasn't there so we asked where his room was and as we were standing at his door, I look up and here comes this gentleman with a slight stoop but with a gait and stride of a 20 year old coming down the hallway toward us. As he approaches he says "Hey, y'all must me looking for me!" I said "If you are Mr. Tom Kelly, we sure are!" "Well, that's me!" he replied and let us into his room. We dispensed with the pleasantries and introductions and he offered us a seat. So I pulled up a chair and Janet sat on the couch and Mr. Kelly sat down in a chair directly in front of me. Well, he had no longer sat down and he leaned forward and and asked me if I was driving. I must have given him a quizzical look because he said "I have some of the smoothest, best whiskey in the world, and we need to have a drink!" After assurances that Janet could handle the driving duties, he pulled out a bottle of Blanton's Single Barrel and said "This is the best stuff in the world! I'm not rich but I'm blessed to have some rich friends that like me a lot I guess and one of them gave me this so let's have a drink! You like one shot or two?" I gulped and said "Whatever you're pouring yourself, I'll have the same." He poured two shots of that amber libation into a red Solo cup, dropped in a couple of cubes of ice, and hit it with a splash of water. As he handed me the cup he smiled and said "If you can't be rich, have rich friends! Cheers!" and we touched cups and each took a sip. He was right. Best whiskey I've ever had. I then told him the story of how I came in possession of this copy of the "Tenth Legion." He seemed truly touched as I handed him the book. He took his hand and gently felt the worn and slightly tattered dust cover and looked at it for a moment in silence if he were looking at a long lost heirloom that brought back distance memories of a long time ago. He then told me how the book came about at the encouragement of his wife and how he based on what Ebay says the first edition is worth, "I wish to Christ I'd saved a box full of 'em!" The next hour or so was spent sipping on fine bourbon, talking about family, timber, military service, and yes, turkeys were mentioned a time or two! He told me of the story of his first turkey and how the first gobble he ever heard he thought it was a barking dog! He also remarked that in his opinion turkey hunting is the only thing in life that is just as much fun the last time you do it as it was the first. A lot of truth to that. I told him I thought I'd made enough mistakes in my 30 years of hunting them that I don't know how I could make any more. He found that quite humorous and as he laughed he said. "You ain't done yet! You got lots more mistakes to look forward too!" Over the course of the next 30-45 minutes he dropped some nuggets of wisdom on me about these birds and life that I will never forget. Man, and the laughs! There were a lot of those! Being respectful of his time and considering I had somehow made a drink last about an hour, it was approaching time to say our goodbyes. I asked him to sign and date the copy of the book which he seemed very pleased to do. He took the pen, and with a surprisingly steady hand whose owner has seen 90 birthdays come and go he inscribed "To Benjy with best Wishes. Tom Kelly 6/11/2017." With a stroke of a pen, he created a possession that I will cherish as long as I live. With handshakes (Janet got a hug!), our expressions of gratitude for his time, and with promises to keep in touch, we bid our farewell to Mr. Tom Kelly. As we made our way back to Montgomery I had to take inventory of what happened. I got to spend an uninterrupted hour or so, one on one, sipping whiskey, talking about life and turkeys, and sharing laughs with Mr. Tom Kelly. WOW! And to have about half of it videoed by my wife who was just as tickled as I was with the whole thing was just amazing. Guys, I've been blessed to be able to do a lot of cool things in my life. But for a turkey hunting addict like myself, the uninterrupted hour I got to spend with the humble, humorous, and all around "man's man" who is Colonel Tom Kelly ranks close to the top of my outdoor life experiences. As he said himself with a smile, "At my age, I don't buy green bananas anymore! " but I hope the Lord gives him many more healthy years on this earth. I have a feeling there are a lot more stories and wisdom he needs to impart to those of us who, like him, are "helpless in the grip of our compulsion." The apprentice with the master! The gem! Dr. B
Last edited by bamaeyedoc; 06/13/17 08:38 AM.
AKA: “Dr. B” Aldeer #121 8-3-2000 Proud alum of AUM, UAB, and UA Member of Team 10 Point 2023-2024 ALdeer Deer Contest Winners
Glennis Jerome "Jerry" Harris 1938-2017 UGA Class of 1960 BS/MS Forestry LTJG, USNR
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2136957
06/13/17 06:25 AM
06/13/17 06:25 AM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,495 Earth
snakebit
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,495
Earth
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Would love to see some of the video
"Hate is an acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than the victim on which it is poured."
"Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity."
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2136966
06/13/17 06:43 AM
06/13/17 06:43 AM
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,546 Mobile, AL
soalaturkeys
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,546
Mobile, AL
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Oh, man, that is just an AWESOME feat!! What a memory! And the NWTF shirt, perfect.
Last edited by soalaturkeys; 06/13/17 06:46 AM.
"For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America" ~Benjamin Franklin
Isaiah 40:13-14
RAP is CRAP
NRA Life Member, GOA, BamaCarry Member
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: snakebit]
#2136967
06/13/17 06:44 AM
06/13/17 06:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,002 Covington County
Squeaky
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,002
Covington County
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Dr. B this is just awesome!! I'm truly jealous of the time you got to visit with Mr. Kelly. That had to be an awesome experience Thank you for sharing with us.
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes to us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2136969
06/13/17 06:44 AM
06/13/17 06:44 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,231 Central Alabama
Yelp softly
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,231
Central Alabama
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A memory to be cherished for sure! Really cool.
"When there was no fowl, we ate crawdad, when there was no crawdad, we ate sand."
"YOU ATE SAND!" - Raising Arizona
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2136975
06/13/17 06:53 AM
06/13/17 06:53 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,436 bham
crocker
10 point
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10 point
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,436
bham
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2137015
06/13/17 08:13 AM
06/13/17 08:13 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,097
blade
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,097
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2137134
06/13/17 10:49 AM
06/13/17 10:49 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 10,585 Central, Al
Bustinbeards
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 10,585
Central, Al
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Some gifts from heaven deliver presents beyond our wildest dreams! Congrats Benjy, glad you were able to make Great memories for all of y'all involved!!!
Originally Posted By: Wiley Coyote Well, the way I see it is there's just too many assholes On a good day there's a bunch of assholes in here. On a bad day there's too many assholes in here.
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2137198
06/13/17 11:58 AM
06/13/17 11:58 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 729 Owassa, AL
RSF
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 729
Owassa, AL
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That is a meeting of a lifetime, Congrats !!!
WAR EAGLE !!!
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2137309
06/13/17 02:40 PM
06/13/17 02:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,101 Bagley Al.
Jmxinc
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,101
Bagley Al.
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Congrats on your journey! Looks like your Dad had made this trip for you!
Every day's a gift !
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2137433
06/13/17 04:29 PM
06/13/17 04:29 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 10,055 Northport, Al.
BOFF
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 10,055
Northport, Al.
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WOW!!
What a priviledge and memory made!
God Bless, David B.
Premium member #8925 Team Rack Addicts 2016 Aldeer Deer Champions
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2137447
06/13/17 04:40 PM
06/13/17 04:40 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 833 Cantonment,Fl
hyco
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 833
Cantonment,Fl
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I've had the honor of meeting and hearing him speak a couple of times. He's a true southern gentleman. His tales and exploites are full of humor and wisdom. That man can captivate an audience . Congrats on a one on one sessionand the Memories you and your bride made.
take your kids hunting and you won't be hunting your kids
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2138291
06/14/17 03:52 PM
06/14/17 03:52 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,887 AL
BD
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,887
AL
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2138414
06/14/17 06:05 PM
06/14/17 06:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,921 Huntsville
buckbrush
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,921
Huntsville
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Man what a cool experience.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2138429
06/14/17 07:18 PM
06/14/17 07:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 16,021 Hartselle Al.
n2deer
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 16,021
Hartselle Al.
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That's great and you had the lucky hat.
Do you want to hear him gobble, or do you want to kill him.
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: mr.clif]
#2138434
06/14/17 11:16 PM
06/14/17 11:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 52,200 Gee's Bend/At The Hog Pen
James
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 52,200
Gee's Bend/At The Hog Pen
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Cool story, will be one of those things ya never forget.
How many people am i willing to sacrifice for freedom? Everyone. All of them...
Do not regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many!
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2138436
06/14/17 11:57 PM
06/14/17 11:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,044 NC
hawglips
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,044
NC
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: bamaeyedoc]
#2146379
06/22/17 05:21 PM
06/22/17 05:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 16,495 Guntersville
AC870
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 16,495
Guntersville
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Way cool. Does he still get to get out and hunt some at 90?
“Killing tomorrow’s trophies today.”
On the distance I like to walk to my stands: “The first 100 yards is also the last 100 yards.”
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Re: Tenth Legion book update!
[Re: AC870]
#2146785
06/23/17 06:16 AM
06/23/17 06:16 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,649 Montgomery
bamaeyedoc
OP
Old Mossy Horns
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OP
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,649
Montgomery
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Way cool. Does he still get to get out and hunt some at 90? I don't think he got out much if at all this past year due to his wife's failing health. He led me to think that he hunted a little in 2016. Dr. B
AKA: “Dr. B” Aldeer #121 8-3-2000 Proud alum of AUM, UAB, and UA Member of Team 10 Point 2023-2024 ALdeer Deer Contest Winners
Glennis Jerome "Jerry" Harris 1938-2017 UGA Class of 1960 BS/MS Forestry LTJG, USNR
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