VIETNAM POW VETERAN STEVE KIRBY SHARES HIS STORY

 STEVE KIRBY "WILLIE NELSON" SHARES HIS STORY OF BEING A NAVY SEAL DURING VIETNAM

"Willie leading the way with Progressive Waste Solutions"

Steve Kirby (Willie Nelson) was originally born in Fort Worth, TX where he soon moved to a Garland, TX to live with his mom and step dad. Willie volunteered for the United States Navy in 1971 (after turning 17) in a time when Americans were being drafted.  He signed up to be a Yeoman which is equivalent of being an admin personnel or "desk clerk" in Willies own words.  This would prove to be a safe position with a very low chance of losing your life.

While sitting at his desk in the office he began typing up an available Navy Seal position that needed to be filed immediately.  Willie thinks that he was "just in the right place at the right time" and made it known that he was interested in this assignment.  His supervisor asked, "what experience do you have son?" and Willie replied, "I'm an expert with a rifle, I'm pretty knowledgeable with hand to hand combat, I'm a great swimmer and I have a mean bite!"  After passing a few simple tasks of swimming underwater the entire Olympic sized swimming pool and a few other basic physical requirements Willie began his Seal training.  He learned many skills from jump school, scuba school, explosives training and water survival to name a few.

During the summer of 1972, "Willie" was assigned to a submarine group in Italy because he was the most qualified Seal that was available.  Almost a year had went by before Steve Kirby received his papers announcing his involvement with the SEALS.  A major part of the conflict had declined since 1969 when the campaign was at it's peak but the seals had a hit list like a deck of cards.  Willie would travel in and out of Vietnam throughout the next year on seek and destroy missions.  "Willie" stopped counting the men after his 25th confirmed kill. He sadly realized that every time he would pay another visit to Vietnam, people were killed on our side and theirs.  "They were getting the worst of it," Steve remarked.

"Willie working with American Veterans Fence Company"

In the middle of a firefight in late 73, Willie had been shot by the enemy and 2 Seals from his 5 to 6 man team were tasked with carrying him to the extraction point.  Willie didn't feel like it was fair for the men to carry him and not defend themselves so he demanded to be put down.  The Vietnamese captured him and Willie remembers being in the dark for the next week with only one bright light.  Interrogation tactics were used as rocks were thrown at him in addition to the mental and physical abuse.  He was asked questions like, "Where's your units?" "Are your parents rich?" "Will they pay a ransom to get you back?"  "Is the President your Dad?"  His Navy Seal team came back to rescue him less than a week later.  "Willy" is a POW and has been stabbed 4 times during this military experience.

Almost a year later Willie was vacationing in the Netherlands as his Seal team informed him to hang out with them in the mountains.  Before his vacation was halfway over, he had orders to meet a helicopter in the morning.  This helicopter would take "Willie" to an aircraft carrier where he would catch a flight out.  At the midpoint of the flight without warning "Willie" was ejected from his plane on purpose and he parachuted into the Mediterranean Sea.  Ten minutes later he felt little nibbles on his legs that wouldn't stop.  After punching one man in the face breaking his goggles, the scuba divers surfaced and explained to him his next assignment.  Using the buddy system of sharing the air supply, they descended to the submarine and his new home base.  He later found out that the Admiral was on board and he was about to begin his best and final years in the Navy.

"Our Veterans will not be forgotten"

Shortly after this introduction, Willie had been personally selected to be the Admirals driver and assistant.  Driving the Ford LTD with the 2 star general was not Willies favorite assignment but driving the Porsche from Naples to Rome on the Autobahn was.  Willie remembers getting there in an hour and having the time of his life.  The Admiral also had his own yacht that was between 50 and 75 feet long and would seldom travel between Naples and Sicily.  Many nights of drinking and fishing were memories that he'll never forget and helping the Senior Leadership make their way back to quarters was just part of his duties.

Today "Willie" works with Ron Robey and American Veterans which is a multiple company profile under the AVR&R LLC umbrella.  This corporation helps Veterans find work to support their families.  If you live in the North Texas area and would like employ "Willie" to complete a Fence, Flooring, Roofing, SEO, Christmas Light Installation or any other minor/major Handyman work please call 469-215-8758. You may also visit us online lightingbyveterans.com or visit us on Facebook. Let's not forget our Veterans and the sacrifices they made for our country.