Pray for CSM James E Voyles

[garyedolan]

Pray for James E Voyles
From RHOF Inductee JAMES E VOYLES:
" if you get this email up date I have the cancer and will start treatment soon chemo and radiation; on 9-13 while driving my wife to a doctor's appointment I lost sight in my left eye and will be blind in that eye for the rest of my life. "
Please remember this amazing Ranger in your hearts and prayers.

[Jim]

Getting old is not for the weak. Prayers out!

[rangerjd]

One of my heros in life. Not only was he my CSM in 2nd Bat, but I had the opportunity to work for him at G-3 Ops, I Corps. A truly great man, I will be praying and keep us updated, please.

[garyedolan]

One of my heros in life. Not only was he my CSM in 2nd Bat, but I had the opportunity to work for him at G-3 Ops, I Corps. A truly great man, I will be praying and keep us updated, please.

As a young 1LT in Nam without a PLt SGT for a period, Ranger Voyles, who was a PLT SGT of another PLT, took an interest in me and taught me more in 4 months than I learned in 4 years at West Point. Truly a HERO to many!

[Slowpoke]

Getting old is not for the weak. Prayers out!

This truely sucks!

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

Getting old is not for the weak. Prayers out!

This truely sucks!

Yes it does. Many prayers. Thankfully his drive and determination gives him the edge in any fight.

[rangerjd]

Anyone have any new news on CSM (RV) Voyles. Still praying, hoping he'll be able to attend the 40th anniversary celebration on Thursday and Friday.

[Jim]

From Ranger Marc Thompson on 3 October 2014:

Here is the latest info on Ranger Voyles:
He was diagnosed with cancer in his neck, and started radiation and chemo Wednesday (2 days ago). He is in good spirits. The future prognosis depends on the results of the treatments, as you probably guessed.
Marc.

[rangerjd]

Thanks for the update. I was hoping to see him at the reunion, kind of figured he wouldn't make it, but I was hoping. Still praying CSM Ranger Voyles, you keep fighting and we'll keep praying. RLTW

[rangerjd]

20160318_191646.jpg

While shopping at Cosco in Tacoma, WA, I ran into CSM Voyles. He seemed in good spirits and when I told him everyone on this site was praying for him, he smiled and said it's working cause I'm beating it. Keep up the prayers. God bless our heroes, we're losing too many of them.

[CharlieRanger1FFV]

One of my heros in life. Not only was he my CSM in 2nd Bat, but I had the opportunity to work for him at G-3 Ops, I Corps. A truly great man, I will be praying and keep us updated, please.

As a young 1LT in Nam without a PLt SGT for a period, Ranger Voyles, who was a PLT SGT of another PLT, took an interest in me and taught me more in 4 months than I learned in 4 years at West Point. Truly a HERO to many!

Prayers out to Ranger Voyles and his family. Like Lt, we were in the company at the same time ( but in different platoons ). He was a hell of a Ranger back then.


RLTW!!!

[Lefty]

CSM Voyles, one of the most memorable Rangers I ever encountered, has been added to my lengthening prayer list.

As I have written many times, he was the toughest of a tough group of Ranger instructors for my class (13-70) at Ft. Benning. On one of the first days he told me to take charge of the platoon and march it someplace. As a young (and very dumb) LT, I simply left my place in ranks and took my place in front of the formation. Voyles was apoplectic that I had not reported to him first, but, acting out of habit and thinking "since when does a LT report to an SFC?", I had forgotten we had just been stripped of rank and had to kowtow to everyone with a tab.
Voyles made the most of it, very loudly, smoking me in front of the platoon to teach me and all the others a lesson. From that day on, every time we spotted him coming out of the "Tacshack", all of us Ranger wannabes would scatter and try to get out of his sight.

Toward the end of the Benning "City Phase", Voyles stood in front of the class to announce he was going to VN. There was a palpable silent cheer by the entire class. I thought I would never see him again.

But the joke was on me. Many months later I was in the dusty BDQ teamhouse outside Pleiku in VN's II Corp when a jeep pulled up outside. We had been told some C/75 Rangers were expected soon to work with our BDQ LRRP teams. With much cursing, someone strode into our teamhouse, slamming the screen door hard enough to break the hinges.
It was Voyles, wearing his cammies and an NVA pith helmet, complete with the enameled red star, for headgear.

Voyles, I thought, Voyles. Of all the s***holes, teamhouses, and outposts in VN, he has to walk into mine. Thought I would rather be out humping the boonies than dealing with him.

Dealing with him as an NCO working with the LRRPs, however, turned out to be an entirely different matter than dealing with him as an RI. Everyone learned from him.

In the years after VN, I heard anecdotes of how hard charging he was as a rising NCO in 2d Batt. None of them surprised me.

[fatboy]

https://m.facebook.com/Grenada1983/?__tn__=H

This should link to Gunny Mooch's Urgent Fury Facebook page. It's a post about the CSM, looks like he is doing better now.

[Jim]

Jeff Mellinger reports CSM Voyles is doing well. Prayers continue.