What’s In A Name

Hello Brothers, just got through with our 2015 Kentucky Kampout.  What a wonderful time.  It warms my heart, every time I think of you guys.  We have a friendship like no other.  I missed the boat getting signed up with the 8th Cav.  Doing it now, going to get a life membership.  For those guy’s that didn’t, please get signed up.  Smiley is working hard on this.  Let’s all get behind him, he has worked hard for all of us over the years.

This is my first entry of stories, or writing out of things.  I hope I make some sense of what I’m trying to write.

Okay, put your thinking caps on.  How many of you call me “Top Gunâ€?  My guess is about 70%.  Smiley, Larry, Billy Lewis and Duck Butter, for sure, call me Gus.  My given name is James Glenn Dotson.  As is common in the south a lot of the time, families will call their sons, brothers, etc. by their middle names.  Glenn was the name my family called me.  When I was in the 7th grade, we as a family moved to Chicago.  When Mom gave my name to get checked into school it was James Glenn Dotson.  Besides being called Ridge Runner, Hillbilly and Stump Jumper, to name a few, the kids and teachers alike called me Jimmy, a nickname for James.  I HATED it.  I also want to let y’all know that after that after me kicking some big-city ass that name calling shit ended.  After a few years of being a street kid, I took another name: “Gusâ€.  A wanna-be gangster, I wasn’t a mean kid. Just always had a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Fast forward to May 1967.  Our uncle came calling.  Name at induction center: James Glenn Dotson, no Glenn, no Gus.  Came to Nam January ‘69.  Wanting to be cool and mean sounding I introduced myself as Gus.  I mean, how many cool and mean guys are called Glenn?  I don’t where I got the 60, don’t know the month.  We were up north.  The ‘67-’68 guys well remember Sgt. Leroy Dees.  I think Leroy was a good leader, wish we could get in touch with him.  Anyway, we were in a world of shit.  Up the hill from our location we were getting fire from 2 gook bunkers.  Leroy was on the ground on my right.  I’m firing up the hill with my 60.  Leroy hollers over to me, “Do something with that 60!† I did, getting up on my knees, bringing much lead up the hill.  Don’t know why or how, the firing from the bunkers stopped.  Leroy Dees looked me right in the eyes and said “You my Top Gun!â€

That was the day the “legend†(ha-ha) was born.  I have been accused of giving myself the name “Top Gunâ€.  Ask Henry.  So my brothers, that’s the way I remember it.  So when we hook up together I can tell, without looking, who’s talking to me by the name they call me.  But always remember, you can call me anything you like.  Because of my love for each of you, I don’t care.  What’s in a name?

James Glenn Dotson

Glenn

Jimmy

Gus “Top Gunâ€