I started the painting featured below in 1987 when I was hospitalized at the VA Medical Center in Gainesville, FL for a PTSD "tune-up." I remember thinking in the art therapy class when I started the painting that I'd like to go back to West Virginia someday to retire. I'd been the County Historian at Ritchie County in 1978-79, appointed by the State library system. While I worked as Ritchie County Historian I applied for and received a grant from the National Endowment For The Humanities to write a history of the county, and in doing so, I fell in love with the region and it's people.
After I was awarded total and permanent disability by the VA in 1995 I realized my dream. My farm doesn't look like this, but it's not too far off. The picture is from my imagination, not memory--but sometimes dreams do come true! I finished the painting, finally, the year before I moved back to West Virginia--seven years after starting the painting. I live on top of the hill in Berea, WV: HC-70, Box 1 Berea WV 26327. 304-659-2583. I'm retired now.
For a page showing an artistic java display of CoxFarm photos, go to http://www.angelfire.com/art/wcox2/
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The photo above is from the top of the driveway looking South
from CoxFarm. Sure snowed a lot this year!
--Other Art--
Image "NVAHelmentJohnGifford2WillCox" © 2000 by William Cox
NVA helmet sent me by John Gifford, a friend & teacher in Minneapolis, MN,
who served with the 101st ('66) & 82d ('68) Airborne Divisions in Vietnam,
from his trip back to Vietnam in Aug 2000. Thanks, John!
All photos featured here are © 2000, 2001 by William Cox.
On the way to North Bend State Park,
Ritchie County, WV--Winter 1978.
The pic below is a special gift I received from a friend,
John Gifford of Minneapolis, MN, today [8-23-2000] in the mail.
It's a jar of dirt from the coastal town of Tam Ky, Vietnam, I Corps.
John recently made the trip back, and he's shared it with many others.
My outfit [1/52d Inf] protected Tam Ky during PostTet 69, at a very high cost to us
(and to the NVA) so this is ground we fought and died for. John fought as a
parachute infantryman with the 82d and 101st ABN Divisions in Vietnam.
Thank you very much, John! I'll treasure it always.
Below is a logo I designed for the Combat Infantryman Brotherhood--
which doesn't yet exist. Maybe someday . . .
AboutHonor-- AdviceAboutAnger-- Anniversary 69-99-- BuryingTheWarrior-- CaptainCoxHome-- CitationForBSMwV-- CombatLogHistory-- CombatMedics-- CombatPhotos-- CombatPicsLarge-- GlorifyingSoldiersEditorial-- HonorRollKIA-- LTCStinsonTribute-- MyArt-- MyLINKS-- MyUnits-- MyMedals-- MyPTSD-- MyWritings-- TheActiveWarrior-- Wounded6Mar69
