Bradley Allen Kinder was my next door neighbor. He was the Child of George Newton Kinder and Violet Weiss Kinder Payne and the brother of Layne Kinder, Debbie Kinder and Janine Kinder.
I was five when he died in Vietnam. Strangely, I remember several things about him. First, he wore black or dark T-Shirts; Second, he built a tree house in the eucalyptus tree behind our houses; Third, was the day he left, sitting on the front porch of his house, ready to go. The next thing I remember was two men in army uniforms coming to our house to find his parents. Everyone was crying. Ever since I was a small child, we would visit his grave. We used to walk by the cemetery on our way home from school and always visit "Allen". He was the first person I ever knew who had died. We have many friends and some family buried in this cemetery. However, I don't go home to California often, but when I do, I always stop by to visit Allen. He was close with my sisters who were his age and our families still talk from time to time. For whatever reason, this person has always stayed with me.
Star Lee Swallow-Rhodes
I found a memorial on the Ghost Rider web site and would like to share it with you.
SP4 "Bradley Allen Kinder"
Crew Chief and Gunner
U.S. Army - Vietnam
September 20, 1969 - February 8,1970
I wanted to take a couple of minutes to remember Brad Allen Kinder. Allen was very youthful and he looked much younger than he actually was. He kind of reminded me of a Kid that was away from home for the first time. However, he was learning about the world in a very harsh enviroment. Allen had a very pleasant disposition, was attentive to his duties, and from my observation, he always worked very hard to be a full member of any crew he was assigned to fly with. You could tell he loved to fly and he loved his job. Allen was also the kind of Guy who got the Job done and didn't complain about the working conditions. I'm proud to have known Allen and I honor his sacrifice as a Ghost Rider.
Thomas "Joisey" Clark
I served with Brad Kinder in Vietnam. He was a door gunner with the "Ghost Riders" A Company, 158th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 101st Airborne Division. I remember he used to talk about his motorcycle back in California. He was a brave and a good man. Rest Well Ghost Rider!!
William Ellis
Relationship: fellow Ghost Rider
Sunday, February 13, 2000
On Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 14, Row 115
FATHER: George Newton Kinder
BABY BROTHER: Darryl G. Kinder
I was five when he died in Vietnam. Strangely, I remember several things about him. First, he wore black or dark T-Shirts; Second, he built a tree house in the eucalyptus tree behind our houses; Third, was the day he left, sitting on the front porch of his house, ready to go. The next thing I remember was two men in army uniforms coming to our house to find his parents. Everyone was crying. Ever since I was a small child, we would visit his grave. We used to walk by the cemetery on our way home from school and always visit "Allen". He was the first person I ever knew who had died. We have many friends and some family buried in this cemetery. However, I don't go home to California often, but when I do, I always stop by to visit Allen. He was close with my sisters who were his age and our families still talk from time to time. For whatever reason, this person has always stayed with me.
Star Lee Swallow-Rhodes
I found a memorial on the Ghost Rider web site and would like to share it with you.
SP4 "Bradley Allen Kinder"
Crew Chief and Gunner
U.S. Army - Vietnam
September 20, 1969 - February 8,1970
I wanted to take a couple of minutes to remember Brad Allen Kinder. Allen was very youthful and he looked much younger than he actually was. He kind of reminded me of a Kid that was away from home for the first time. However, he was learning about the world in a very harsh enviroment. Allen had a very pleasant disposition, was attentive to his duties, and from my observation, he always worked very hard to be a full member of any crew he was assigned to fly with. You could tell he loved to fly and he loved his job. Allen was also the kind of Guy who got the Job done and didn't complain about the working conditions. I'm proud to have known Allen and I honor his sacrifice as a Ghost Rider.
Thomas "Joisey" Clark
I served with Brad Kinder in Vietnam. He was a door gunner with the "Ghost Riders" A Company, 158th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 101st Airborne Division. I remember he used to talk about his motorcycle back in California. He was a brave and a good man. Rest Well Ghost Rider!!
William Ellis
Relationship: fellow Ghost Rider
Sunday, February 13, 2000
On Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 14, Row 115
FATHER: George Newton Kinder
BABY BROTHER: Darryl G. Kinder
Bradley Allen Kinder was my next door neighbor. He was the Child of George Newton Kinder and Violet Weiss Kinder Payne and the brother of Layne Kinder, Debbie Kinder and Janine Kinder.
I was five when he died in Vietnam. Strangely, I remember several things about him. First, he wore black or dark T-Shirts; Second, he built a tree house in the eucalyptus tree behind our houses; Third, was the day he left, sitting on the front porch of his house, ready to go. The next thing I remember was two men in army uniforms coming to our house to find his parents. Everyone was crying. Ever since I was a small child, we would visit his grave. We used to walk by the cemetery on our way home from school and always visit "Allen". He was the first person I ever knew who had died. We have many friends and some family buried in this cemetery. However, I don't go home to California often, but when I do, I always stop by to visit Allen. He was close with my sisters who were his age and our families still talk from time to time. For whatever reason, this person has always stayed with me.
Star Lee Swallow-Rhodes
I found a memorial on the Ghost Rider web site and would like to share it with you.
SP4 "Bradley Allen Kinder"
Crew Chief and Gunner
U.S. Army - Vietnam
September 20, 1969 - February 8,1970
I wanted to take a couple of minutes to remember Brad Allen Kinder. Allen was very youthful and he looked much younger than he actually was. He kind of reminded me of a Kid that was away from home for the first time. However, he was learning about the world in a very harsh enviroment. Allen had a very pleasant disposition, was attentive to his duties, and from my observation, he always worked very hard to be a full member of any crew he was assigned to fly with. You could tell he loved to fly and he loved his job. Allen was also the kind of Guy who got the Job done and didn't complain about the working conditions. I'm proud to have known Allen and I honor his sacrifice as a Ghost Rider.
Thomas "Joisey" Clark
I served with Brad Kinder in Vietnam. He was a door gunner with the "Ghost Riders" A Company, 158th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 101st Airborne Division. I remember he used to talk about his motorcycle back in California. He was a brave and a good man. Rest Well Ghost Rider!!
William Ellis
Relationship: fellow Ghost Rider
Sunday, February 13, 2000
On Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 14, Row 115
FATHER: George Newton Kinder
BABY BROTHER: Darryl G. Kinder
I was five when he died in Vietnam. Strangely, I remember several things about him. First, he wore black or dark T-Shirts; Second, he built a tree house in the eucalyptus tree behind our houses; Third, was the day he left, sitting on the front porch of his house, ready to go. The next thing I remember was two men in army uniforms coming to our house to find his parents. Everyone was crying. Ever since I was a small child, we would visit his grave. We used to walk by the cemetery on our way home from school and always visit "Allen". He was the first person I ever knew who had died. We have many friends and some family buried in this cemetery. However, I don't go home to California often, but when I do, I always stop by to visit Allen. He was close with my sisters who were his age and our families still talk from time to time. For whatever reason, this person has always stayed with me.
Star Lee Swallow-Rhodes
I found a memorial on the Ghost Rider web site and would like to share it with you.
SP4 "Bradley Allen Kinder"
Crew Chief and Gunner
U.S. Army - Vietnam
September 20, 1969 - February 8,1970
I wanted to take a couple of minutes to remember Brad Allen Kinder. Allen was very youthful and he looked much younger than he actually was. He kind of reminded me of a Kid that was away from home for the first time. However, he was learning about the world in a very harsh enviroment. Allen had a very pleasant disposition, was attentive to his duties, and from my observation, he always worked very hard to be a full member of any crew he was assigned to fly with. You could tell he loved to fly and he loved his job. Allen was also the kind of Guy who got the Job done and didn't complain about the working conditions. I'm proud to have known Allen and I honor his sacrifice as a Ghost Rider.
Thomas "Joisey" Clark
I served with Brad Kinder in Vietnam. He was a door gunner with the "Ghost Riders" A Company, 158th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 101st Airborne Division. I remember he used to talk about his motorcycle back in California. He was a brave and a good man. Rest Well Ghost Rider!!
William Ellis
Relationship: fellow Ghost Rider
Sunday, February 13, 2000
On Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 14, Row 115
FATHER: George Newton Kinder
BABY BROTHER: Darryl G. Kinder
