Prayers and help for Pinkhamr

[been]

Thank you for sharing. Im kinda late, but I was unaware of his passing. I never met him in person, but he seemed like a great guy. RIP

 

[ssgrock3]

Last Wednesday on July 30th we had the official funeral for Randy where we placed his ashes in a vault at the Fort Sill National Cemetery. I had a thread going on another concealed carry site where Randy and I often posted and brought up that I was kind of spooked that his wife Linda had asked me to speak for him at the funeral. It scared the snot out of me because the last time I spoke publicly was before I retired from the Air Force 20 years ago. However I also felt honored that she respected me enough to ask and I could not refuse her. One of the members on the site, the “Professor” ( AKA yankeejib on CCF) came here all the way from North Carolina to play Taps for Randy and family. We got together for a visit, show and tell and some shooting of the 50 BMG the day before and on Wednesday I got up early to met with Linda’s family and friends for the convoy to Fort Sill National Cemetery where we were met with an Air Force Honor Guard, the “Professor” with his trumpet and a BIG NO GUNS sign on the front gate. For some reason I thought that since the Cemetery was not really on Fort Sill and near Elgin that wouldn’t be a problem. So while trying to dress without wearing my usual bib overalls I had to figure out a better way of carrying my handgun without being obvious. In the long run I put on some khaki pants and a long sleeve shirt with long tail that was not meant to be tucked in. As we pulled in and I saw the No GUN or knives for that matter sign I quickly pulled out my wife’s Walther 40 S&W that I pinched from her this morning while getting ready and put it in the pouch behind the seat. After getting the lay of the land and the entrance facility and while driving to the pavilion I called the Professor to invite him out to lunch afterwards. Now while standing there visiting, then watching the Honor Guard do it’s tremendous job of paying their respects by unfolding then refolding the American Flag and give it to Linda and then present a 21 gun salute to Randy I suddenly realized in my hurry to get out of the house in something different than my usual “uniform” I had left my wallet, all my IDs and my check book at home. I felt butt necked. There I was feeling the fool for leaving the house without my concealed carry license and any form of money and having asked the Professor out to lunch which of course when you ask someone the right thing to do is to pay for it and here I was flat broke. I had to ask the Professor if he could spot lunch and I would get even with him afterwards via PayPal. Of course he said no problem and then we started arguing about me paying him back. I told him if he wouldn't let me I was not going out to lunch. After we got that kind of straightened out the “Professor” played Taps perfectly with enough emotion it about tore me up. So much better than a canned CD or taped version. Man it was so wonderful of him to make that tremendous drive out to Oklahoma for us. I have a world of respect for him and his talents. I was supposed to speak before him playing because it might mess me up but the Honor Guard didn't get the word. In the long run I got through what I had to say I guess just fine. At least no one threw anything at me. We then went to where Randy’s ashes were going to be interred and Linda had me place his stack of leftover BATF 4473 forms that his daughter and son-in-law shot with his 50 BMG that I loaded with a teaspoon of his ashes over 220 grains of AA8700 behind a 647 grain API bullet. They also placed Randy’s FFL license, a picture of his 50 BMG next to his DPMS AR-10 .338 Federal and a wooden desk plaque saying “kwitchyourbellyaching” that his father-in-law sent him years ago for birthday or Christmas and Randy would send it back to him for his birthday back and forth as a family joke. It kind of hit me when we were putting the stuff in there and I had a difficult time with my composure but in the long run got by. Afterwards the Professor and I had some Korean food for lunch. You know the regular kitten, puppy and raw fish type of food but it was good and the Professor and I said our goodbyes. I’m very pleased that Randy’s service turned out as nice as it did and it was not the normal over 100 degree weather but closer to 70 degrees and a bit wet. The kind of moisture that Oklahoma needs very much. I will never forget Randy as he was the brother I never had but man I miss him. A customer and friend of mine purchased several of Randy’s guns from Linda and a couple of them had only shot a very few rounds through them. The first was a DPMS .338 Federal and he had a few problems with it feeding. I wanted to make sure that he was happy with his purchase and told him to come out and we would figure out the problem together. I polished the M4 type feed ramp and that did not solve the feeding problem but then tweaked the magazine lips and it now works perfectly. The other was Randy’s 36” barreled 50 BMG that was not striking the primer hard enough with America (?) brand ammo. It worked great with my reloads so I polished up the left side of the hammer where it could strike the inside body of the bolt and that didn’t fix it then took out the firing pin and polished the shoulder where the firing pin goes through the face of the bolt. It allowed the firing pin to protrude and extra .002” and solved the problem perfectly. I love it when a plan comes together. I’m pretty sure this will be my last post to Randy’s thread, it has been an emotional 6 months since he passed but I’m pleased that in the end before he died he accepted Christ as his Savior. Randy spent most of his life as an agnostic and all the years I knew him I would drop those hints trying to get him saved. Just enough so that we could remain friends and not so much that he would get mad and run me off. I’m looking forward to seeing him again when my time comes. For those of you that don’t understand think about getting right with the Lord because it does not work after you die. Your family will appreciate it. Take care my friends and thank you for all the prayers.

Ron



I'll cling to my God and my guns, and you can keep the "Change".

I appreciate you sharing and looking out for Randy and his Family. Honor, tradition, respect for our fellow man and god is what made this country great. You are a shining example of it all. Pinkhamr was a standup guy, though I did not know him personally, we did have a few transactions under our belts. Take care. and RIP Randy.

 

[tRidiot]

Holy smokes, that sounds like an awesome ceremony. I am glad you guys got to do that for Randy... thank you very much for sharing. I knew Randy very little and only by distance, but he seemed like a great guy. We need more like him... and you.

Stay safe.

 

[okie98]

Thanks for the report. I wish I could have been there. You did yourself and the ole USAF very proud.

Thank you for your very special service.

Captain, USAF, Retired

 

[reddog1]

Very good.

Thank you for the story.

RIP Pinkhammer.

 

[dennishoddy]

RIP Brother.....