The Desert Dispatch of Barstow, Calif., reports that Vietnam War veteran Ken Rhodes plans to bicycle Route 66 to Washington, D.C., to raise funds for Iraq War veterans and muscular dystrophy research.
He’s going to leave Santa Monica on April 4, the anniversary that the helicopter he was riding in was shot down in 1969. The paratrooper was shot in the left leg. Rhodes earned two Purple Hearts during his tour of duty in Vietnam.
He started training for his bicycle ride last summer. On a good day, he can go 100 miles, despite a prosthetic knee and a pin in one leg.
Rhodes, who lives in Apple Valley, wants to get the attention of the American people to let them know that the veterans coming back from Iraq need their encouragement.
“They’re young kids and some of them have never been away from home,” he said. “And you give them a weapon and they have to go kill people. That’s on there for the rest of their life and they’ll never forget it. We need to help them, we need to put our arms out to them.” […]
“I’m not protesting the war or anything like that,” said Rhodes, a California native. “I just want to help. I want the people to support the troops even if they disagree with the war. I don’t want to see what happened to the Vietnam vets happen to these guys.”
The article says that Rhodes is trying to set up nonprofit status for his Rhodes Foundation of America. I’ll pass along more information about the nonprofit when I get it.
Ken, myself and a friend have plans to leave from Santa Monica on April 2, 2007 and follow Route 66 as far as Oklahoma then head more easterly and south to Savannah, Georgia. We will be self supported. Hope to see you on the road. Dave Spencer also a Viet Nam Vet.
I am trying to reach Ken Rhodes… NBC would like to do a feature story on your efforts and the ride. Thanks…
My name is Jan Brady and i am one of the members of the SF group that helped you out of the chopper you were in on April 4,1969 in Laos. Would like to get in contact with you. Saw your message on 5th SF Group webpage.
1SG JAN BRADY USA RET
Man have I been waiting along time to meet someone who saved my life 1SG Jan Brady you are my hero, I owe my life to you and the SF Group. As you recall we were the lead ship in on the LZ. To this day I still cant remember what happened. I do remember getting pulled out of the Huey and I was soaked with JP-4 Aviation Fuel and remember someone cutting my flight suit off and hearing them say, get the hell out of here before this thing blows. Please send me a picture of yourself and email me. Here is my email address.
rhodesklr@aol.com Please go on my website journeytothewall.com
You can see what I look like now 38 years latter, lots of gray hair.
I will be back out on the bike on the 4th of May. My generator went out and we had to come back and get repaired and it took them two weeks. The driver Tommy and my good friend has some important things to take care of on the 3rd so we should be in Neddles CA on
Friday and hope to make Kigman AZ on Sat
Please call me and let me know if you see this. My cell # 760-638-1698
To: Riute 66 News
From: Ken Rhodes
Subject: Jan Brady, 1st SGT Army Retired
Dear Sir,
I am still trying to find Jan Brady from Vietnam, the one who helped pull me out of our crashed Helicopter over in Laos on the 4th of April, 1969. If you have an email on him can you please send it to my email at rhodesklr@aol.com I would like him to be in DC at the wall when I get there on July 19 on my birthday. If you can help me out it will be most appreiciated. My cell is 760-638-1698
Thank you so much.
Ride On
Ken Rhodes
http://www.journeytothewall.com
Uncle Kenny I am so proud that you are doing this, Not only for my cousins but for the boys fighting for our country now. I’m proud to be your niece and would love to get ahold of you. Love Dorothy Ann Rhodes
Thank you so much Dorothy,
You were just a little girl the last time I saw you, how time does fly.
How old are you now? You can write me at rhodesklr@aol.com.
You should call your Dad he is going to have surgey, I’m not sure when he will go in but I think soon.
Love you,
Uncle Ken-Ride On
At the present time I am in Virginia Beach, Virginia takeing about ten days off. I was so far ahead of my arrival time I said what a good time to take off for the forth of July. I stopped riding in Roanoke Virginia and we drove the motor home to Virginia Beach. I will go back to Roanoke on Sunday the eigth. Monday I will go to the VA Hosp. at Salem-Roanoke and visit with all the Veterans there and speak at a PTSD class. Should be a good time. I will continue the ride into DC to the Vietnam Wall on july 10th. I should make it to DC on my 70th birthday. If any of you who read this it would be so nice to meet you at the Wall on July 19, 2007. Please pray for all our Veterans and for peace and please pray for the little ones with with Muscular Dystrophy that they will find a cure soon. Please write to this Blog.
God Bless “Y” all. something I picked up on this Journey, grin love it.
God Bless this great nation we live in.
Ken Rhodes
Ride On
Hello Ken from all of us at Victorville Cycles! Happy Birthday to you!
We are so proud of your journey! We will be patiently waiting your return so you can tell us all about your trip.
From the crew at Victorville Cycles,
Kevin, Carol, Ely, and Shane
Keep up the Good work man…I served with Ken Rhodes with the 57th AHC in Laos and Kontum SVN.
We are brothers in Arms. You will always be in my heart Ken. First Platoon Flight(Slicks)
We had three helicopter shot down from the First Flight in April 69. April1(Alvin Gay KIA) April 4(Ken Rhodes April 7 Jim Carriere, Jim Kawa,Paul Brannon, Tony Hernandez)….Most of us were lucky!
Some gave all…..
Jim Carriere and Ken Rhodes,
I am Jim Kawa’s sister in law.
We are wanting to honor him at a veterans memorial in CO. Could you please contact me.
Thanks ! Rebecca
Thanks for tracking me on the Journey to the Wall Jim, this ride is for all the Guys in the 57th and for all the Vet’s. We can’t let happen to these young soldiers what happened to us Vietnam Vets. I havent been training much since I got back from the ride, but will be moveing to San Diego this summer and will get back into it again.
Not sure what I will do next, but I will keep you informed.
Ken (Ride On)
PS
I’m still trying to find Jan Brady, if your out there Jan Brady please get in touch.
Hey dad… I just saw this and just wanted to congratulate you for what you did. Oh, by the this is Kayton Grant Holt. I was born in guam remember… Ok. Well hope to see you soon..
Anthony
You where the best grandma becuse you ride in the freeway becuse you fite for are county
hun you were the beast hunny eaver because i love you hunny
I’m not sure if this will go through or not, but its for Rebeca Kawa. After so many years I went b ack on my old web site (journeytothewall) and I never did read you blog, I’m so sorry anyway I’m not sure if I remember Jim or not. If I could see a picture of him from that year 1969 I would remember, but at this time I cant place him. I was only with the 57th 4 months when we got hit. Anyway my e/mail is still the same ( rhodesklr@aol.com )