Paradise box - Tribute to a General

This is the place to post images of work produced using Aspire
Post Reply
MarkJohnston
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 823
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:51 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster MC4848
Location: Prescott AZ

Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by MarkJohnston »

I have been working on a paradise box for a tribute to a Retired Brigadier General for a while.

My wife moved her Mother into a very nice assisted living facility in our town about 4 months ago and I met this terrific guy one day while visiting her. He turned 98 this month and talking to him is like talking to someone that’s 50, not 98. After several months talking to him I discovered he flew missions in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He retired as a General in the Air Force in 1979 after joining the Army in 1942 as a young man. He was transferred to the Air Force in 1947 when it was split off from the Army. This guy has had a terrific career serving our country, and in my opinion is one of our great American heroes. He is so humble he gives all his success to his men which I found out was over 16,000 under his command. I saw him shed a tear once when hearing “America the Beautiful”, and he gets choked up when discussing the Vietnam wall, and thinking of the men lost in multiple wars protecting this great country.

He wrote a bio about his life and on the last page he had a summary of his life which I carved inside the lid of his box. In his Bio he refers to himself as Mr. Lucky so look at the formula he created to describe one’s luck inside the lid of the box.

I’m going to give him the box this weekend.
Mark
Attachments
Gen box pic 1.jpg
Gen box pic 2.jpg
Gen closeup of laser pic.jpg
MJ inside of lid pic not attached.jpg
Gen front of box 1.jpg
Gen pic of airplane.jpg

User avatar
jarm2
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 244
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:16 pm
Model of CNC Machine: C&CNC electronics 4x4 ext aluminum table
Location: Harpster, Idaho

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by jarm2 »

What a fantastic tribute to one of our unsung heroes. Excellent job. Thank you for sharing.
Aspire 11 ViaCAD Pro 12 Corel 2019 W 10, 2.2 kw spindle wireless pendant

User avatar
Rcnewcomb
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5886
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Contact:

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by Rcnewcomb »

L = tcb

I'll have to remember that one.

FYI, my father also knew and respected Joe Foss.
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop

User avatar
dwilli9013
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1237
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2013 12:45 am
Model of CNC Machine: 3 axis Self Designed Self Built
Location: Machesney Park Illinois

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by dwilli9013 »

Very Nice Work. Love the inscription and his summation. I am sure he will be quite pleased.
I am sure talking with him is like reading through a history book. Always good to talk to the old timers. Doesn't seem like there is near enough of that happening these days.
Thanks for sharing his story and your work. :lol: :lol:
D-Dub
Dwayne
Dwilli

CarveOne
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1479
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:10 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Home built designs - 3'x4' and 5'x12'
Location: Eastern NC, USA

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by CarveOne »

Excellent layout work on what will be a cherished gift to the gentleman (and his family). This is the kind of thing that Michael's Paradise Box project is very good for. It will make your effort to make it very worth while when you see his reaction to it.

CarveOne
CarveOne
http://www.carveonecncwoodcraft.com

MarkJohnston
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 823
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:51 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster MC4848
Location: Prescott AZ

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by MarkJohnston »

Thank you all for the kind words. It was certainly my privilege to make this box for the General.

I took the box over to him yesterday and he was very happy with it. He was playing bridge with some other folks. One of the guys (Ben) not in the picture flew on a bomber over 27 missions during World War II also in his late 90’s. Both these guys’ planes were full of bullet holes when returning to base.

You can see the General’s Mustang hat. He flew many other planes during his career but I think the mustang was one of his favorite planes.
The General was telling me when he was a very young boy that he and his family traveled across this country in a covered wagon. Imagine that.

These folks are about gone and I for one will miss them and the stories only they can tell.
Mark
Attachments
20180715_145753 900 pixels.jpg
20180715_145759 900 pixels.jpg

User avatar
mtylerfl
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5865
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: -CarveWright CNC -ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha
Location: Brunswick, GA

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by mtylerfl »

Mark, your project and the story behind it, blessed my socks off! What a fantastic tribute to a man we can never really repay or adequately thank for his service!!
Michael Tyler

facebook.com/carvebuddy

-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC

MarkJohnston
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 823
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:51 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster MC4848
Location: Prescott AZ

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by MarkJohnston »

Thank you Michael. I have made so many of your Paradise boxes and they have all been a hit with the people that got them. Hands down my favorite project. They can be used for any occasion.

The Generals box was exceptionally gratifying. He truly is one of America's heroes and he doesn't even know it, what a humble guy.

Thank you for the Paradise box monthly project so long ago, I encourage all newbies to make it and learn from it.

Mark

User avatar
Creation in Wood
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 856
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 8:58 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Legacy Maverick ATC 4x8 CNC
Location: Monument, Colorado USA

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by Creation in Wood »

Great job Mark and a great tribute to an American hero
Thank You
Doug

MarkJohnston
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 823
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:51 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster MC4848
Location: Prescott AZ

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by MarkJohnston »

Update.

General Robert Etter passed away February 11th 2019 at the age of 98.

He went into Hospice care at our local VA hospital and passed away 5 days later.

I spoke with his daughter Pam and she told me he loved the Paradise box so much that he wanted to have his ashes in it.

What an honor for me to have known this true American hero.

Mark

Samson
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 322
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 10:14 pm
Model of CNC Machine: 4x4

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by Samson »

The box is beautiful, and it's great that you had the opportunity to meet this hero.
It's very sad to hear of his passing but, it's something special, knowing that he liked the box so much, that he chose it to be his final resting place.

Mark, you too are a hero.

jay pieper
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 213
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2017 4:39 pm
Model of CNC Machine: laguna swift 4x4
Location: Shawano Wisconsin

Re: Paradise box - Tribute to a General

Post by jay pieper »

1. First of all your project for the General was absolutely stunning.
2. As a retired army man the story behind it tore at my heart and brought back a ton memories.
3. Thank You for taking the time to salute a man from the greatest generation
4. I know you touched him in a way many people never experience in their life
but the best part is you were part of it.
thank you again for sharing the story and for a very thoughtful project (KARMA IS REAL)

Post Reply