PFC Geoffrey Morris Remembered on April 4, 2008
As the majority of our League knows Kirk Morris's Son was KIA on April 4, 2004. Since then every year on the anniversary of his son's death Kirk has arranged for a Pheasant hunt, one of Geoff's favorite things to do with his Dad. If anyone reading this article ever gets the honor of being ask to join the Morris team of Kirk and youngest Son Dylan I suggest that you go into training about 5 months ahead of time. Make sure at the end of your training you can run a 5K like it's no big deal. You have been warned!
The day starts out with a gathering of all at the Morris home at 0730. As you drive into their home you become very much aware of the 6' X 12" American flag in their front yard along with the many Marine Corps flags that surround the flag pole area. It once again hit's home as to why we are all here.
As the whole team arrives, there is a sense of mission in the air. Morris is trying to make sure all the equipment is in the back of his truck, all the extra shot guns, vests, hats, extra bottles of water for the dogs, and yes the Dogs are now on board and we are ready to embark on the journey.
The 3 trucks/cars embark for the hour journey up to the Pheasant farm in Wisconsin . When we arrive we also meet up with another member of our journey for this day. Now we are all ready and are directed to our first area for hunting. They have put out 20 pheasants for us to search for. Heck, 5 dogs, 8 shot guns, a water boy, and a camera man. The pheasants don't stand a chance.
We started with two strips of brush land to move our teams down, 4 on one with 3 dogs and 4 on the other strip with 2 dogs. It took some time but eventually the first pheasant went up. However someone forgot to tell everyone to also practice shooting during the winter. The first three pheasants flew off to safety with a few Men wondering what was wrong with the SIGHTS on their shot guns, LOL of course it wasn't them. You could hear Kirk saying in the other field, hey send them my way I'll get'm for you.
As the walk, ok stalking continued, the guys were able to settle their sights on the 1st of many pheasants that didn't make it. We continue to walk several more strips of land that seems to continue for miles. As we finally started back to our vehicles everyone was feeling Geoff would have loved this. A morning in the Sun, walking with family and friends, and enjoying the time together was great. Let's see 20 pheasants put into the fields, 3 got away and only 11 were shot, hmmm. Rusty comes to mind when you consider that we had 7 shot guns, 5 dogs and support. It was a mission that needed, shall we say, tweaking.
Lunch was interesting. The PDA's come out, the voice mails are all answered, and Dylan Morris, the 10 year old brother of PFC Geoffrey Morris was just concerned as to whether the pizza had pepperoni on it. Oh to be that young again. Lunch over and Morris informs us that there will be 50 pheasants on the afternoon outing. WOW we can't miss.
As we arrive at the afternoon site of rows which seem to reach out forever, you could see those brand new wind mills. They are beautiful and as we all knew, they are the new alternative energy for everyone. We started out with such a large area we figured that we should use 3 on one strip of brush land and 4 on the other, however we weren't getting the birds even with the dogs trying to flush them out. We decided to change our mission parameters and move everyone into one strip of brush land at a time. Let's see, that means we have 7 shot guns and 4 dogs walking down one strip to flush them out. Well that worked and the Pheasants were really in trouble. The first one sent up and 7 shot guns responded, oh my gosh that poor bird. Ok guys let's at least have something to bring home for dinner, OK. As we walked many, many fields there were many birds that met there fate. However there were a couple of birds that had turbans on them that were special for everyone to find and eliminate and boy did they.
That afternoon, as we seemed to walk miles in the muddy fields our two Marine fathers were seen running up a hill chasing one of the pheasants that was wounded and flew up a hill to see if it was one of the turban pheasants, lol. What a sight! They weren't going to give up, so everyone sat down and waited from them to return. They found the pheasant with the help of Finn Finn, but it wasn't one of the turban ones. The hunt continues for the turbans.
Everyone was tired and it seemed that we just should not have sat down for a while, for it just made it worse. How long was the day and the walking in the fields. Well the camera man's batteries actually ran out of juice, the water bottles were all emptied to make sure the dogs were kept watered, and well the guys just kept on trucking so to speak.
The afternoon ended with everyone making sure they were gathered for the final picture of the afternoon shoot so to speak. The picture included all participants with the American Flag flying and the Marine Corps Flying as well, a proper tribute to Geoffrey Morris, the Marine and special young man. We think he was around, for during the last photo by the cars the dogs just would not sit still for the picture. I think Geoff was laughing the whole time while he was making the dogs run back and forth in front of the group for pictures.
Well, no day outing with friends, family and Marines goes without getting into some kind of trouble. Here we are in what seems like miles away from nothing, and Kirk Morris decides to bring out his new AR 15 Marine Corps assault rifle. Well they put up a target thanks to Don Wilkerson having a few with him, YEAH. When the first 223 round was sent down range, well let's just say the echo was as powerful as the sound going out. After 2 magazines of 20 sounded off into the dusk of the evening it was pretty obvious to some of us we were going to get in trouble, LOL. As Kirk Morris put 9 shots into the target in very fast order the owner finally came racing out in his pick up truck to yell at all. Once again the boys trip was officially on the map. How far out were we? Well I think the owner heard the first shot but didn't get there until over 2 magazines were used up.
Cleaning of the birds went well with there being 50 pheasants. With two breasts per each we took home 100 breasts for dinner. As everyone said their good byes we all got into our cars and proceeded home. Everyone was tired but I don't think any one of us thought we were that tired, LOL. When we got home and everyone TRIED to get out of the car, that first step was a big mistake. Boy was the body in pain, aching and the feet, oh my gosh where is the Advil and lots of it. Everyone tried to move slowly to help put things away for the Morris's but when even the 10 year old was tired you knew we were all going to be really sore in the morning.
As we all departed you could just hear PFC Geoffrey Morris saying way to go little brother and Pop, you ran them ragged at the farm.
A special note, having Jason Jerik, one of the 17 young men from Warren High School that joined with Geoffrey Morris to become a United States Marine, well let's just say it made the day really special. Thanks for being there Jason. Jason is a two tour Iraq veteran
Even in the beginning of the day as we started out, the first picture we had of all 8 people in the photo with 3 of the 5 dogs that were with us for the day. It must of been Geoffrey messing with the other two dogs even in the beginning of the day, laughing the whole time.
In attendance for the special day were the following MCL Lake County Detachment 801 members Kirk Morris, Jason Jerik, Gary McDermott, Marty Smith III, and young Marine member Dylan Morris
Also in attendance were Marine Dad JJ Jerik and some special friends, Doug Wilkerson, Paul, and Chuck. Dogs in the party were Finn Finn, Stanley, Coty, Riley and new puppy of Chuck's is Drake..
Semper Fidelis,
Marty Smith III
Commandant 801