Submitted to MW by Jeremy Milstead

If you have something you would like to submit to MW to share with readers, please email treasure@mysteriouswritings.com

Submitted by Jeremy Milstead:

Not too long ago, I stumbled onto a POW/KIA memorial forum that had an entry from 9/7/01, whereby Forrest was reaching out to the family of a lost fellow pilot and friend, John Overlock. I decided to do a little research…what I found was an amazing story of a downed pilot and the continuous efforts of search and recovery.

Below is the email exchange I had with Forrest Fenn…

From: Jeremy Milstead xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, May 6, 2018 2:13 PM
To: Forrest Fenn xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Lt Col John Francis Overlock

Mr. Fenn,
During my research, I came across a old forum where you were inquiring about an old friend, J.F. Overlock…

This is the entry I read, followed by a link to the actual wall:

From: “Forrest Fenn” xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: John Overlock
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 22:28:01 -0600

John Overlock was a close friend who worked for me as a fighter pilot at Tuy Hoa, South Viet Nam in 1968. He was a warm and giving man with a strong patriotic spirit. We discussed the merits of him volunteering to be a Misty FAC in the F-100 and move to Phu Cat. He knew that it was a very dangerous job but felt he wanted to do it. He was reported missing on a flight on August 16, 1968, and later declared KIA. I would like to contact any surviving members of his family and tell them what a great man I thought John was. I would welcome an email to that effect.

Forrest Fenn
xxxxxxxxxx

http://www.pownetwork.org/tletter7.htm

My curious nature got the best of me and I began to search. Wow. Just one of so many unheard stories…but this one is his. I am not sure if by now, you have found this information, but here are a couple links you may find informative.

https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=81175

http://www.missing-in-action.com/Overlock.html

Also, I found on eBay of all places, where someone sold a memorial bracelet matching his criteria. I included that link as well. Who would sell such a thing? I hope a family member made the purchase.

https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/Vtg-VIVA-Vietnam-POW-MIA-Bracelet-Maj-John-Overlock-8-16-68/132464192336?hash=item1ed77b2b50:g:8GUAAOSwYxBaQ3a2

Best wishes,
Jeremy

May 6) Here is Forrest’s reply:

I read the reports with great interest. John worked for me at Tuy Hoa and was a good friend. I still think about him often. Thank you for sending that to me. f

May 6) Reply back to Forrest:

You are very welcome, sir

——————————————

Commentary (by Jeremy):

You can say so much, with three little letters…WAR…POW…KIA…USA…etc…After reading this ‘one’ historical record, I can’t help but recall -the lonely French soldier that nobody cries for anymore…the remnants of wars, on top of wars, returning to dust that Forrest so eloquently speaks of. Because truly, few people think of these things when they find relics like arrowheads or musket balls. For most, the ‘neat-o’ factor far outweighs the implication of these implements.

How many names are not etched into stone? And of those that are, how many of those names belong to someone who’s story will never be told?

I’d like to think, I have played a small role in helping to remember, Lt Col John Overlock. In honor of life, service and sacrifice.

And I certainly hope Forrest found what he was looking for.

I could continue on this subject…but like I said before; “You can say so much, with three little letters”… in closing, I will leave you with three I haven’t been able to shake… Wow!

99 Comments

  1. One of the best things about ‘treasure hunts’ is all the unintended treasures you find along the way. The path is filled with golden relics if only we are aware enough to notice them.

    Jeremy–Thanks so much for sharing your research and conversation with Forrest. And what a beautiful commentary! A true honor to Lt Col John Overlock!

    Jenny Kile

    1. I think to truly honor someone is to continue their purpose or goodness. It is then, that even the simplest concept can be one of the most profound. But I don’t honor people; I honor and respect their pursuits, actions, work, and accomplishments. I honor God only. Thanks.

      Pen Ghost

      1. Semantics.

        I honor a lot of people…both living and dead…which is to say I hold them in high regard…but I don’t worship any of them…nor would any mortal person worthy of honor ever ask to be worshipped…or even ask for honor.

        You’re welcome…and thanks to you also. 🙂

        JC1117

  8. Names etched in stone . . . how about etched into the hearts of those touched . . . etched into the heavens . . .
    Which etchings last longest . . . those passed on from one heart to another for years, generations, thousands of years . . . those invisible to the eye and those deaf to the ear, but those that pound through the individual body held so dear.

    Pen Ghost

  9. Very interesting–thanks a lot for the article and links. It’s strange—just the other night I was reading “One Upon A While” and noticed near the beginning of the book that there is a small drawing that says POW! and refers to Page 46. The POW has to do with Skippy and fireworks—-but I did also wonder if Forrest may be referring to a different kind of POW in reality.

    Sparrow

    2. Well . . . a different kind . . . I don’t have OUAW but I think I saw a page clip with him and the bronze box and there are words perhaps that mentioned ‘another kind’ or ‘different kind’. Perhaps you are on to something! lol

      Pen Ghost

  10. Ancestory shows a marriage record in Florida November 1964 for John Francis Overlock and Beverly Jean Bowling. Is this the same person?

    County: Leon
    Certificate: 38622
    source: Florida Department of Health

    Amber

  11. Wring hands and weep for the dead.

    Do you feel better now, having done that?

    Doing that doesn’t change the past.

    We should be trying to influence the future, to help prevent war . . . which is usually, in large part, caused by greed . . .
    which is, in part, a result of insecurity. Please do your due diligence before voting (every time). And please teach your
    children well.

    tighterfocus

      1. Do you think people are finally getting it? Finally hmmmm I wonder what took so long? Getting beyond death destruction and a path of the seven deadly sins can be accomplished with reasonable speed. But the willingness to recognize the path and chose another path of life and love requires self-denial and to include others….. So what took so long? They are seeking a box of the past for themselves.

        Pen Ghost

    2. To prevent – yes! To think and get oneself educated before voting! to get off the social media and subliminal message intrusion! That takes a population of willing individuals to learn to seek to improve. Greed go with selfies and counting ‘likes’. It pains me to know of the dead and their trials and struggles that we ignore as the living while we enjoy what others fought for us to enjoy. Eventually, the labor of those past fades along with the etching of their names. We think immediate gratification and consume — that’s the USA — one of consumers and not laborers — the technology age of replacing people the past with hand-held pacifiers. To influence the future at this point of moral, ethical, cognitive decline is a challenge. Did Forrest create something that would have such an effect, an effect that can be codified and taught to generations of children? IMO Yes! To understand the poem is to understand the writer and that is to understand his purpose in life and the fulfillment of his reason for being. To appropriately state who Forrest was and is and to move his Godly purpose in life is worthy of the effort. IMO he accomplished in a unique way a message as profound as the messages from R. Bradbury — warnings and went further to demonstrate the how to teach the future. Remember he hinted at who he is and was through stories such as the importance of one’s own labor rather than being given a pile of bottle caps, his guiding hand in someone’s education with the rural community service requirement as a payment. There is no ‘free ticket’ in Mr. Fenn’s belief system. Yes, tighterfocus, IMO the seven deadly sins of which greed is one leads down a path of destruction. but to understand Mr. Fenn would encourage generations upon generations not on the elements of war, death, destruction, but rather upon repair, regenerate, reuse, recondition, repurpose and life for humans and other animals and their habitats for all of God’s glory to return as beautiful as he tended to his own property. IMO Mr. Fenn’s message is understandable and doable and he has begun by example and labor and teamwork with the masses of others pursuing a united effort – While Forrest has paved the way, we respect his actions in high regard, and we praise and worship God for Forrest.

      Pen Ghost

              1. Lots of ‘Amen’. Now then, if Forrest is as this, how do you – all of you or us – explain his hiding a bronze box full of artifacts that only one person can have which appears to encourage greed, misdeeds and theft of other’s work, digging up property, violating the laws regarding reporting the find on whatever property it is. Do you find the poem and the bronze box you seek as a contradiction to the above that was so delightfully ‘amen-ed’? In other words, how does the bronze box fit into the profile? BTW, I think Forrest may be taking some of these comments to incorporate into his autobiography lol.

                Pen Ghost

                1. You know what? All great questions.

                  The chase is the journey of a lifetime to me. It started as a way to keep my mind engaged as my body failed..
                  A way to escape grey in pursuit of color that the years had faded. A way to build confidence eroded by life experiences. A way to ensure I’d never burden my kids financially. A way to help me to help my kids break the cycle within my own family.

                  It has ended in all of that and much more for me. And as much as I’d love the financial independence of being the one who earned the bronze box – being the one who saw, heard and understood another human being is more important to me somehow now. Being able to continue passing that on with my story and the story of others is what it’s about for me now.

                  As for the Bronze box, Forrest knew what would get people paying attention to the hook. He knew that we tap into something bigger and more important than ourselves in nature. He has witnessed the breakdown of tribes and community. I think he knew the fish he wanted to catch and was careful with the fly he selected to catch just the right fish. The fish is caught. Forrest has released it. Now the new journey begins. All imo.

                  Twingem

                2. Thank you and it is interesting, Twingem. It sounds like it is over for Forrest and he is concentrating on his story. I guess he fished for the last time. I hope the fish returned to its place. Thank you.

                  Pen Ghost

                5. The delicate fish did not make it. That is one fish out of the massive. One fish never gets missed in the massive. The delicate and gentle do not survive the power and strength of any war. This one fish did not survive the experience.

                  Pen Ghost

                7. Pen Ghost;

                  I have listened to your story of despair, then of hope and now your words trouble me greatly. You say, “which appears to encourage greed, misdeeds and theft of other’s work, digging up property, violating the laws regarding reporting the find on whatever property it is.” Where do you get these accusations? For most, the search or Chase is about solving a riddle – not about greed. Sure, if I find Indulgence the money will go towards helping members of my family and close friends – is this greed? I think not.

                  Misdeeds and theft of other’s works? Where do you get this crap? I have been searching for 30 months, and have NEVER heard of such. Can you back up these statements with FACTS? I think not.

                  “digging up property, violating the laws regarding reporting the find on whatever property it is.” Who has done this to your certain knowledge? It is this kind of baseless – unfounded – accusations that give the searcher community a bad name.

                  I think that you owe the searcher community a BIG appology.

                  I might have felt sorry for you earlier for your plight – I no longer do. I believe in karma – you get what you sew. If these baseless accusations are how you live your life, no wonder you feel that “the world is out to get you.” – It probably is – JMO – JDA

                  JDA

                8. Greed? Maybe. Misdeeds? What have you been smoking?? Theft? What have you been mainlining? Violating laws? I think even asking you these things is like talking to a wall, so I’ll
                  just stop now (except for adding that most walls I have seen are relatively stable).

                  tighterfocus

                9. Often it is necessary for us to rein in our many wandering thoughts;
                  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
                  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”-Proverbs 3:5-6
                  One night upon my bed the following word was gently dropped into my mind: “It is better to give every thought to Christ than to keep on thinking.”
                  Although I was excited at the prospect of finding Forrest’s treasure chest when I entered the Chase; for me it has been a journey of fate and faith, much finer than gold. I began seeing myself speaking to the world about how God has secrets and He longs to share them with those who believe. Along the way He has made it plain to me that it is my destiny to be the finder of the chest, for His purposes. Some might think this is arrogance, but I assure you it is merely about knowing one’s destiny and stepping into it by faith. God is Greater than all of us, so I will not argue with His plan for me, but rather joyfully accept it, earnestly pursue it and lovingly share it. We must know who we are in Christ…then everything else will be made manifest. Do you…?

                  “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
                  Galatians 1:15-16

                  Grace and Peace be with you all, amen.

                  TomTom

          3. Yes very much- A-Woman- Amen The living are still fighting for the ones past and for the ones future. The living probably have just as much or more trials and struggles as though’s in the past. It was a much simpler time . IMO. Side note- If you view it as greed it probably is. If you view it as a tool . It is a tool.

            WoodyBogg

  13. Jeremy,

    You are the flavor of being I deem worthy of success. Thanks for highlighting the positive aspect of this experience. You are an inspiration to all of us living here who have chosen this particular path. You have put a lot of work into this and that is respectable.

    Good Luck, Stay Safe, Happy Hunting

    Your Friend,
    fallingrock

    fallingrock

  14. I find I do not feel comfortable with the discussions any more. IMO I wrote about things I feel are probably not true. I feel extremely bad and depressed. I am leaving because I feel I have no hope that is positive any more. IMO I made some big mistakes and things do not get erased in my life but rather get announced to be ridiculed. I am sorry but I was wrong in my writings regarding my thoughts about the chase. While I had fun with some of the chase, the end is bitter and not tolerable. Many regrets I have for my stupid choice to play the game. Keep safe.

    Pen Ghost

      1. Thanks however, 59 years of the same result indicates I am not going to find a new meaning – just more insults. It is not new meaning but rather my misinterpretation of purpose, philanthropy, and about everything actually other than the solution to the poem itself.

        Pen Ghost

  15. Fish don’t eat bananas nor do they hang out with elephants. People aren’t you tired of being jerked around like puppets? Top hat just likes to play with fire and eat your insides (some gut feeling) while we all look for the trashy disco ball that some millionaire put in orbit (for his own personal entertainment?).

    Jeez, you have enough gold in every cell of you body to buy the entire universe. So what are you searching for? Go paint a self-portrait but don’t ever sell it to an art dealer.

    http://feeco.com/activated-carbon-in-gold-cyanidation/

    Stay in school and don’t let the salt crystals on a dead stick make you think you see it for real the first time. And NO CHEATING on the exam.

    https://www.britannica.com/topic/On-Love-by-Stendhal

    lifesablaze

      1. Please do not allow the fog of war to corrupt you. You have the freedom of choice. Nobody here is better than anybody. We all make mistakes and we all learn from them collectively. I believe in you. I will give up on the chase before I give up on any of you.

        fallingrock

        1. To work and labor only to have someone full of greed take it all and leave you on the street (figuratively) and alone is a war of which I am tired. So you liken the chase as a war with a fog that corrupts. The mistake is to trust someone, but what world or country is it when there is no one to trust ever again. For what have the fallen soldiers fought? IMO only some learn from mistakes others don’t even acknowledge a mistake. Give up the chase? How long is this war called the chase scheduled? What happened to the Big Picture? What kind of legacy is left and for whom? To end the war upon people who don’t know the enemy and don’t even see the war as destruction. I am not for conducting harm upon anyone. Therefore, if this is a war and if wars cause harm, then give it up. I have. Anyone who does not speak truth has given up on me. Having my writings stolen while my husband is in surgery after being informed that his heart took a serious decline, is not the time to learn about a war that will never end until one person who obviously is better than all others wins and not just wins but does so at the expense of others. The dreams of a bronze box, of a poem solution, of a book or movie or any other means are all equally delusional. It is like watching A Beautiful Mind where John Nash finds out that the people and things in his life for a few years didn’t leave but never existed. A pre-meditated war upon people, good or bad people, is unacceptable. The enemy is evil, pure evil. Why would you hesitate in giving up a war. Who sits back and watches harm? I feel like I just entered, “Another Dimension” R. Sterling. In the end who ‘won’ the war? I can say that it is not the one who was supposed to or expected to. I do not look for riches and rewards but to have more things stolen is the opposite side of a pendulum of death. War leaves KIA, POW, MIA, etc. Death.

          Pen Ghost

          1. Was the purpose of this chase war to lure people with the purpose of watching them work and work honestly and then steal their work? I imagine the next book truly wrote itself with all the work of others and profit for one. Leopards do not change their spots – that’s the lesson learned. Giving a person a second chance in life, is going to cost the other person everything including dignity – that’s the lesson learned. These are lessons that exist in a Godless place – the chase is Godless as the logic follows. I freely chose to exit such a war and its surrounding environment.

            Pen Ghost

            1. If you have chosen to leave the “War” – as you call it – Why are you still posting? Sure, you are angry that someone MAY have stolen your writings, but are you sure that they were “stolen” and not just picked up by someone accidentally? – If it is sympathy you are looking for – write Dear Abby – Sorry I have heard enough of your whimpering – JDA

              JDA

              1. I understand. I finished responding to some people who asked something of me. Beg pardon, but I will answer someone. I don’t need sympathy and don’t need Dear Abby. If you are capable of passing over my posts, do so. You don’t have to read anything by me. But I am done and it is over.

                Pen Ghost

  20. On my 49th birthday, I’d like to point out….

    “And I certainly hope Forrest found what he was looking for.”

    I believe he did. Its just that sometimes for Life to give something of desire, it must also take something. Perhaps a French soldier’s grave isn’t too bad of a consolation prize after all.

    Iron Will

  21. Ok. I can understand the message given to me. Dear Abby – no, not for me. If I ever happen to find the chest, I can assure you that I will never ever come forward! I understand very well after one post calling me garbage and the latest one calling me a whining whatever. In a way, I wish I would find it. I will never ever come forward. And since I don’t do Dear Abby, she will not know either. I regret I will not be able to respond to anyone who comments to this sign off because I’ve been told to go away and seek pity with Dear Abby. Ok JDA! are you happy now, you can read intelligent comments only from superior people like you. I wonder about Forrest’s answers to the latest news article SFreporter.com – hmmmm whoever the finder might be some day probably had enough as well and I don’t think it is about the IRS but the fan club. I would never hid anything from the IRS as I am honest and believe in my contribution to the requests of the country I live. But honesty is only for Dear Abby 🙂 lol

    Pen Ghost

    1. Pen Ghost;

      It is not about making me happy, it is about you being happy, and it appears that you have a need to make us feel sorry for you, and I am sorry, but I don’t. Your attitude seems to be what is creating your unhappiness. No one can make you unhappy. You are the one who either chooses to be happy, or not, regardless of your circumstances.

      This site is for those wishing to share ideas about the chase, not chasing demons… and we all have them – you are not special.

      Just the opinion of an old, old guy who has had those demons chase me for a long long time, until I decided that I no longer needed them. I then CHOSE to be happy, and to leave no room for the demons of PTSD. Good luck in your choices – JDA

      P.S. I certainly am not superior to you nor anyone else. You chose to make that distinction, not I.

      JDA

  22. Forrest – Talks alot about a mirror image . Kind of reminds of a carnival mirror where you see yourself and think that’s really the way you look . Changing the way you see things doesn’t change anything it is still you . So stop looking in the mirror if you don’t like what you see. Change it to look at it differently.

    WoodyBogg

    1. Wouldn’t it be cool if you were the blaze? If you are wise and found the blaze…..(at the end of your hard work you simply found yourself!). What a great aha moment that would be. I hope the finder tell us what the blaze was, I really do. That would one good use of a mirror.

      Copper

  25. This is a verse that we can all learn from:
    “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”
    -Proverbs 10:19 NASB

    Grace and Peace be with you all, amen.

    TomTom

  30. Wishing a relaxing Happy Father’s Day to all of you friends here who are Dad’s, Grandfather’s, or role models for others! Thanks for all you do! You too Forrest! You are in my thoughts today. Blessings, Jaime RP

    JRP

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.