Sgt. MacDonald with Comanche II

I don't even know how to begin this story. Sgt. MacDonald is one of the last remaining WW II cavalrymen, riding from 1936 to 1942. He rode his  Comanche I, the last ceremonial warhorse at Fort Ord until 1994, He trained over 1200 horses for the Turkish Army, was Gen MacArthur's stable manager and  a military patrol officer on the Mexican border. After years of wanting to meet this man, here he was; being honored on his 90th birthday  this Veterans Day 2013. So I packed up a bottle of Comanche Cellars Chardonnay, and went out to meet him. Standing at attention with Comanche II in front of a crowd of a hundred or so, while our local dignitaries gave themselves a photo op and waxed on and on, his touch was so light and his kisses so gentle as he effortlessly calmed his little Mustang mare. I grew up with horses, and this is the real deal! Gave me goosebumps! The woman in the photos is his daughter, Jane, and if not for her, I may have never gotten through the crowd to meet him. When I introduced myself and explained my connection, she pulled me with her into the fray yelling Dad, Dad, look at this!! She knew how to get his attention. As luck would have it, my friend, and professional photographer Juanita Turner was there on her own quest, and she captured these special moments. Take a minute and look close at him and Comanche. All I can say is Wow!! You won't see this again anytime soon. This is living History.

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