can't help but share these things from OEH. This man has a grasp on humanity and putting it into words, that more than deserves to be shared
The snow tires on his truck made a familiar and comforting sound as they rolled
over the dry pavement as the young elk hunter headed up the mountain pass.
He hadn't had time to change to his set of summer tires and knew that the coarse
traction tires would work well where he was going. The gunnery sargent's call
had come the day after he finshed his final exams for spring term. He had quickly
accepted the old Marine's invitation to spend the summer on his ranch. He knew
there would be plenty of work to do but also plenty of time for varmint hunting.

He had carefully cased up his 6mmBR rifle and the old M70 the night before
and was up until midnight loading up various loads for the M70 using his uncle's
notes. He was ready for anything from sage rats to coyotes and was planning out
his strategies for hunting the vast alfalfa fields and the sage brush flats.
Tbe hundreds of miles melted away and he almost missed the turnoff to the gunney's
gravel road due to his daydreaming. The anticipation of the summer's fun was
tempered by his thoughts of his first trip up this long gravel lane last fall.
He would forever remember the unspoken strong bond among all those folks who had
come to pay their last respects to his uncle.

His mood lifted when he saw the old sargent standing on the porch with two
mugs of steaming coffee and a warm grin on his leathered face. He had the feeling
deep down that he was coming home even though he had only been here a few times
before. The warm cup felt good in his hands since it was still nippy up here high
in the mountains. He stood on the porch looking out over the vast fields and
pastures as the old Marine explained the layout of lower reaches of the ranch.
He knew it was going to be a good summer and a welcome break from his studies.

The next morning came early and was announced by the smell of the fresh coffee
brewing on the wood stove. He slipped into his coveralls and wandered out from
the side room. The Gunney was grinning at him from over the rim of his mug
as he said "Its after 0600 hours and you are burning daylight Kid!". Fetching
a mug from a shelf above the sink he poured himself a mug of the thick, dark
coffee. Settling down in a worn chair by the kitchen table he asked the
Gunney what was on the agenda for the morning. The Gunney's reply was
"Tending the stock, killing sage rats, and fence mending."

Feeding the cattle and the riding stock was pleasurable work. The smells of
the dry alfalfa hay filled the air in the barn and mixed with all the other
smells of manure, wood, and tack. The horses wouldn't leave until they had
been grained with oats. They had been spoiled by the Gunney. Now it was time
to head out to the circular alfalfa fields watered by pivots. The sage rats
loved those fields and could wreck havoc if not controlled.

The Gunney parked the old truck in the center of the nearest field by the pivot.
He then got out his M16 and set it to 3 round bursts while the young elk hunter
attached a bipod to his 6mmBr and unrolled his shooting mat. The next hour could
best be described as controlled mayhem. The Gunney took the tactical approach
and concentrated on groups of sage rats and runners while the young elk hunter
took out any sage rat dumb enough to stand upright. The Gunney returned his
M16 to its case and gathered up all the empty magazines. Standing by the truck
he watched as the young elk hunter methodically took out sage rats hiding in the
sage brush at the outer edge of the circular field. There were no misses. Each
Nosler 55 grain 6mm bullet impacted the sage rats in the lower belly and sent
them flying. After confirming over 50 consecutive kills the Gunney asked if he
could try the 6mmBr. Afer getting into position on the mat and listening to the
young elk hunters instructions about the one ounce trigger pull the Gunney hesitantly
took out twelve sage rats. He then laid out thirty of the 6mmBR shells on the mat
and proceeded to make thirty more sage rats go airborne.

Standing up the gunney offered his hand to the young elk hunter and at that point
a strong bond was established between the two. The young elk hunter knew that he
had passed an important threshold of acceptance. On the way back they shared many
stories of friends and military experiences. When they stopped to repair a section
of fence the chatter stopped and they concentrated on the work until completion.
Back at the gate keeper's cabin the young elk hunter offered to go in and start the
coffee. The Gunney headed to the barn to do some chores and the young elk hunter
entered the cabin. He couldn't help but notice that he felt really at home inside
the cabin. When the coffee had boiled long enough he broke up an egg shell and
put it into the big blue porcelean pot to settle the grounds to the bottom.

Hearing the Gunney's footsteps on the porch he poured a full mug of coffee for
him and walked towards the door with it. Upon opening the door the Gunney
saw the offered coffee and accepted it. A grin formed on the Gunney's old face
and the young elk hunter realized that he had made a friend for life.

The summer was filled with work and fun. The Gunney often watched quietly
as the young elk hunter took the old M70 out and shot coyotes at remarkable
distances. Each shot was carefully but quickly done with an unerring degree
of precision. Evenings were spent out in the barn at the Gunney's reloading
bench inside the shop. The young elk hunter had brought his uncle's set of
30-06 dies and used the Redding Competition neck sizer and bullet seater to
carefully assemble ammunition for the M70 and then use a similiar set for the
6mmBr. As summer came to an end the two seldom needed to communicate with words
except to chat about some adventure. Even the people in the nearby town
had begun to call them "the old man and the Kid." The one local restaurant
made an addition to their menu - "Gunney coffee".

As the Kid was loading up his truck for the trip over the mountains and
back to graduate school the Gunney came out with a large manilla envelope
in his hand and a contented look on his face. They exchanged the usual
pleasantries and remarks about how good the summer had been. Then the
Gunney said "Well I have one more task to do for your uncle. His last
letter to me asked me to find out if you were going to be a good man.
That is what this summer has been about. It is clear to me that you
measure up. So last week when I went into town I had the lawyer complete the
paper work that will fulfill your uncle's last request. As you know my cabin is
called the gate keeper's cabin. This is because that is exacly what I have been
here. This ranch has always been your uncle's and I have been the gate keeper
for him. The ranch is now yours."

With that the Gunney handed the manila envelope to the surprised young elk hunter
and fished a ring of keys from his pocket and put them in the Kid's hand.
The Kid was speechless and was then even more surprised when the Gunney fished out
another key ring from his other pocket and said "Here's my set of keys. I
will move into town later today. Enjoy your ranch."

Swiftly and with a firmness that surprised even the Gunney, the Kid pushed the
second set of keys back to the Gunney and said "The Hell you will! You ARE the gate
keeper here and will ALWAYS be the gate keeper. This is OUR ranch. Consider that
a direct order that I will not rescind! Are we clear on that Gunnery Sargent??!!!"

The old Gunnery sargent stood looking at the young elk hunter who was standing
firmly in front of him with a look of absolute determination on his face. He flashed
back many years and saw instead an image of the old elk hunter who he had said
something very similiar once. He knew there was no wavering in the Kid's decision
and replied quietly "Yes Sir." and then added "I will expect you back in time
for elk season. How about a cup of coffee before you get on the road?