This particular camping trip I would be tested on land navigation, knot tying, and swimming. I hoped I would be proficient enough in all three. I wanted to get these three merit badges like some of my friends had. I felt confident in what I had learned and practiced for months, and I was ready to be tested. I didn’t want to disappoint myself, and I didn’t want to disappoint Mr. Taylor. My success was his success in my way of thinking. He had invested a lot of time helping me.
The trip to Brushy Creek was scheduled for the third week of July. Brushy Creek was a little different than most creeks people would choose to come to. First it wasn’t a creek that could be accessed by car. To get to Brushy Creek meant a three mile walk through mainly piney woods. No road to speak of, just a winding narrow trail of underbrush at best. The walk, although difficult for us, would preclude anyone from accessing the creek unless they were in good physical condition. Its seclusion just meant there probably wouldn’t be others to spoil our camp out for the next three days in my mind.
The night before I left for the camp out I made sure I had studied my knot tying skills, and my land navigation skills. I knew that swimming wouldn’t be a problem as I had been a good swimmer since the age of six, learning to swim in a bayou near home. I made sure I packed up all the necessary items for a three day camp out. Sleeping bag, tent, lantern, flashlight, bug repellent, compass, knife, cooking utensils, rope, food, matches, extra clothes, all check. This was going to be fun, but quite cumbersome hiking this in to the camp site. I thought of leaving certain items behind, but then I thought all of it was necessary, so I crammed it all in my backpack and readied it for the morning.
The morning of the camp out we all packed up the truck that would leave us at the edge of the woods. This was where we would get started with our long walk to the creek. My best friend Ray was there. I was glad that Ray came along. Sometimes his parents wouldn’t let him participate with scouting events due to his list of chores to be done, or because of the grades he brought home from school, but this was the summer and they probably wanted him out of their hair for a few days. Anyway I was glad he was here. “Hey Ray, you know we have a three mile walk to the campsite right?” Ray looked a little confused, and replied, “Well if I knew that do you think I would have brought along this watermelon? Too late now, I’m not leaving it behind. We’re going to enjoy this once we get there.” “I’ll help you carry it Ray”, I said as we put on our packs and followed Mr. Taylor to the edge of the woods. The walk through narrow trails, and thick brush took about two hours, and as we approached the camp site we could see the clearing and the white sand banks that lined Brushy Creek. “You scouts find your numbered tent site and start pitching your tents and setting up camp. You never know when it might rain. After you finish, meet me here at the center of the camp and we’ll discuss our agenda for the next couple of days.” Ray and I teamed up and got the tent set up and our gear stored within twenty minutes. We then went and found a hiding place for our watermelon in a pool of cold water down by the creek. When we were done, we heard Mr. Taylor blowing his whistle that he carried with him in his shirt pocket. We knew whenever Mr. Taylor blew his whistle that we needed to come running.
“John Reinmiller, front and center, barked Mr. Taylor.” “Yes sir, Mr. Taylor”, I replied almost out of breath. “John, you want that land navigation merit badge real bad I know, that’s why I chose to let you have your chance at it first. Grab your compass and come with me.” With that Mr. Taylor gave me the coordinates to a location only he knew and we were off. 45 degrees Northwest for 500 yards, then back 45 degrees Northeast for 500 yards, then 180 degrees North for 2 miles. When we reached our objective Mr. Taylor said, “John, do you recognize where you are?” I looked around and it did seem familiar. “Yes, Mr. Taylor, this is the clearing that is just off the main highway that leads back to the campsite.” Mr. Taylor smiled and said “Good job John, now let’s follow the trail back to the creek and you can tell everyone you earned your merit badge!” When we got back to camp I was so tired, yet thrilled to let everyone know that I had passed my test. I felt proud to be a scout, and I had made Mr. Taylor proud too. “Recreation swim time guys”, Mr. Taylor shouted. Everyone grabbed their swim trunks and hit the water except Ray and Mr. Taylor. Mr. Taylor had promised Ray that he would help him with his knot tying skills.
We had been swimming for almost 15 minutes and then it happened. A gunshot! The distinct sound of a shotgun being fired from the direction of our tents echoed through the woods. Most of the guys quickly got out of the water and started running in the opposite direction of the camp. I thought for a moment to do the same, but I had to find out what was happening at the camp, and if Ray needed my help. He was my best friend, and I knew he would do the same for me. I ran back to the camp, and before reaching the clearing, I could see a man that I did not know holding a shotgun to the neck of Mr. Taylor. I knelt low behind a tree and overheard him shouting at our scout master. He was dressed in hunting camouflage, and appeared drunk. “Well, well, well, if it ain’t Jim Taylor our local war hero? Look at here what I captured…a real live war hero. What makes you think you are so special around here Taylor? I ought to kill you here and let your boys find your body, better yet I ought to have them watch as I blow your head off. . . you high and mighty war hero. To me you ain’t nothin’ but a piece of shit who stole my girlfriend back in high school. Then you went on to marry her and rub it in my face. Every time I saw you and her in town I wanted to kill you, and now I’m going to.”
My heart was racing, and I was shaking badly but I had to do something to stop this man. I looked around for Ray and saw him lying on his back and bleeding from his head. Ray was groaning so I knew he was alive. I worked my way over to my friend quietly as possible to see if I could help and that’s when the man with the gun heard me and turned and looked my way. As he swung around in my direction, Mr. Taylor grabbed the gun from his hands and hit the man with the stock of the weapon along the side of his head dropping him where he stood. Mr. Taylor shouted out to me, “John, grab some rope son. I’ll back this scoundrel up to a tree and you tie his hands around the tree and behind his back. Do you remember how I taught you to tie a square knot? Well tie the best one you have ever tied, and make it tight. Now listen closely, I’ll stay here and take care of Ray and make sure this man won’t get away, but you need to go for help. Do you remember how to find your way out of here and back to the highway? I’m counting on you John. Now go flag down help. You know what to do.”
I grabbed my compass, and took off as quickly as I could. Within an hour I was out of the woods and I had flagged down a passing motorist. We made a quick stop at the nearest gas station, and I told them what had happened. The town Sheriff, along with a medical unit met me at the store, and I lead them back to the campsite just before sundown. Ray had regained consciousness, and Mr. Taylor and the rest of the boys were guarding the prisoner, still tied to the tree. It seems the prisoner was a Mr. Jack Wade. The Sheriff knew him well as Mr. Wade had just been released from the county jail for spousal abuse, and public intoxication. As the Sheriff lead Mr. Wade away in handcuffs, he patted me on my shoulder and said “Good job, scout.” The remainder of our camp out was canceled. Ray was taken to the local hospital with a concussion from being struck by the felon, Mr. Wade. Even though our camp out didn’t go as planned, a lot of valuable lessons were learned.
Three weeks later at a Thursday night scout meeting I was called to stand front and center of the scout troop. I was awarded the Boy Scout land navigation merit badge. I also was awarded the Boy Scout knot tying merit badge even though I wasn’t formally tested. Mr. Taylor said that I tied the best square knot he had ever seen, even better than his army buddies could have done. Then the door to the scout building opened and my Mom and Dad entered followed by the Mayor of our town, and the Sheriff. They came up and stood by my side. The scout troop was called to attention and then Mr. Taylor presented me with the Boy Scout Meritorious Lifesaving award, an honor not previously awarded to anyone in our troop's history.
Mr. Taylor came by the house the following day and thanked me for saving his life. “If you hadn’t been so brave and come to the aid of your friend Ray that day back at the creek, both Ray and I might have been killed. You were courageous." "But I was scared Mr. Taylor, I thought he might kill all of us." "John, courage is not a lack of fear, but the ability to act while facing fear." With that said, Mr. Taylor reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his Silver Star that he had received for gallantry in action in Vietnam. With tears of thanks, he pinned it upon my collar, then saluted me. It was at that moment I knew I was no longer a boy.
It’s been forty one years since that hot July day in Mississippi. Some things have changed and others have remained the same. I would like to think the important things remain.
The Looking Pool
One early morning I awoke
and walked down to the creek
and knelt down by the sandy banks
to see what I might see
Reflections of the sky and clouds
blue and white as I'd ever seen
then looking deep within the pool
I saw the strangest thing
An angel appeared and spoke to me
I listened to what she said
her every word was like the breeze
that blew above my head
She spoke of Mississippi
and the beauty of the land
She spoke of mother nature
and the brotherhood of man
And when she finished speaking
a tear rolled off her brow
I then awoke and stood up
and walked back in to town
