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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 31, 2005 Gary Rishforth prepares his roan horse, Roy, to leave Veteran�s Park in Medford on Monday at the start of a cross-country ride to help homeless veterans. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Riding for veterans An ex-Marine who fought in Vietnam begins a nationwide ride from Medford for homeless vets By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune The clip-clop of a strawberry roan Monday afternoon out of Medford’s Veterans Memorial Park sounded the first leg of Gary Rishforth Sr.’s ride across the United States to bring attention to homeless veterans. A former Marine who survived combat in Vietnam, then battled homelessness back in the states for three years, Rishforth says he is making the roughly 14,000-mile ride for his former buddies. "I’m going to talk to anybody who will listen along the way about homeless veterans," Rishforth, 55, said before saddling up for the four-year mission. "I want people to know there are veterans out there without jobs or places to live. "I’ll be talking to every homeless vet I can find," he added. "I want to help them any way I can. That’s what this is all about." Advertisement The former enlisted Marine calls his quest "Veteran’s Ride Across America for the Homeless Veteran." Rishforth was accompanied by three members of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Posse — Rick and Jan Geiser and Chamaine Triplett — who planned to ride with him to Blackwell Road. "First time I’ve ever been escorted out of a town politely," Rishforth quipped before leaving. But he is deadly serious about the trip he has been planning for several years. He launched a fund-raising drive that has included $3,000 being donated to buy two 11-year-old horses — the strawberry roan named Roy and a part quarter horse dubbed Buddy. "One of the bravest guys I know is riding out of here," observed Medford resident Tom Monson who contributed the money in the name of Nathan James, a new men’s clothing store that Monson’s son, James Monson, and nephew, Nathan Molnar, opened in downtown Medford earlier this month. Monson urged Rishforth to keep a journal, both written and photographic, of his long trek. "Put some faces on the homeless vets for us," Monson told Rishforth. "That’s what we have to do. It’s a disgrace we aren’t doing something about it." Applegate Valley resident Jack Duggan, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1969, was among more than two dozen well-wishers to see Rishforth off. "Gary’s got a lot of guts," Duggan said. "He’s bitten off a big mission but I think he’s going to be successful." Duggan is helping organize a local veterans group to aid homeless veterans. The group has no name as yet. Duggan and Dan Davis, another Applegate Valley resident who served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam in 1968-69, have already contacted veterans groups in Eugene and Seattle to help Rishforth. "It’s important we identify and deal with the issue of homeless veterans," Duggan said. "I think veterans get short shrift in this country. The fact that 25 percent of the homeless are veterans tells us something about what we’re doing and not doing to take care of the people who have fought to defend our freedom." Davis agreed. "What Gary is doing is awesome. This guy has a lot of courage," Davis said. "I’m impressed he is undertaking this mission to bring attention to homeless veterans. I love the guy. "We’ll be keeping track of him along the way," he added. For additional information about the group, call Duggan at 899-7310 or Davis at 899-0276. Originally hailing from a rural area near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm working with horses, Rishforth joined the Corps in May 1966 at age 17. Serving as a ground pounder in the 3rd Marine Division, he arrived in Vietnam in March 1967, serving in the war for 11 months. He was discharged on Feb. 27, 1969. After the service, Rishforth would marry and divorce several times while abusing alcohol, hitting rock bottom while an unemployed construction worker in Laytonville, Calif. He lived where he could, including in a dead car for a time, then eventually was admitted to the former VA domiciliary in White City. The facility is now known as the VA’s Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics. Because of his experience as a homeless veteran, Rishforth believes he can connect with those who once wore a military uniform and now have no place to sleep. He plans to stop at Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and other veterans’ gathering places en route. He estimates he’ll travel a maximum 20 to 25 miles daily, camping at night. He’ll trade for other horses along the way if necessary. "I’ll keep heading north, try to get to Alaska this year," he said, adding he hopes to take a ferry rather than ride along the Alcan Highway. "I’m going to hit every state except Hawaii," he said. "But I feel like I should go to Alaska. There are homeless veterans up there, too." Rishforth is carrying an American flag he plans to have signed by anyone he meets en route with a relative who is MIA or was a POW. He intends to present the flag to the administration in Washington, D.C., when he arrives there. "I’d like to talk to the main man but we’ll see how that goes," he said. The project’s Web site at www.vetride.com will be updated as he rides across the country. Contributions for the ride as well as to homeless veterans may be made to Washington Mutual Vet Ride, 3607 Crater Lake Highway, Medford, OR 97504. 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