[July 19, 2024] Farmer Simons and I were out in one of his grassy fields, trying to get a 1920s Doodle Bug Ford tractor running again. When the engine turned over and started to sputter back to life, we let go a holler of excitement. “She runs!” “There’s life in that old girl.” There was no telling how long she’d sat there, rusting and having the pack rats and termites go at her.
Converted from a Model T, the Doodle Bug had sat there since maybe when my grandparents had struggled through the Great Depression. Anybody who can take old yard scrap junk and get it puffing again has my respect.
Mr. Simons, along with his eldest daughter Linda – and the first girl I’d ever kissed – had set his mind on getting that old mound of rust running as a workhorse on the farm. He needed it. The neighbors saw her as a hunk of junk and an eyesore, too, and Linda wanted something to drive in the fields. We were both 12 at the time, and it was legal for us to drive tractors as long as we stayed off the county’s paved roads. As we cleaned her up, we found that most of the wooden structure had been eaten away, and as soon as we started moving it around, the cab fell apart, and even the tires had rotted off.
Pulling some steel rims and engine parts from some old trucks located nearby at Tubbs’ Wrecks, a local junkyard about a half mile north of town, and some new spark plugs, plug wires, and ignition coil, Mr. Simons worked like he’d been a trained mechanic his whole life. To be a successful farmer, fixing engines was a must-have skill. And we got an old Model T cab to fit onto the frame. Some high-mileage, nearly bald tires went on easy. And then, the fun began.
Mr. Simons told Linda to hop on and “take her for a drive.” I hopped onto the tiny frame that held the rear axle in place and held on for dear life. Mr. Simons took a few turns at the hand crank to start her up, and after a few tries, she sputtered to life but then died a few times. Miraculously, the old girl putt-putted back to life. It’s a good thing the engine hadn’t seized up.
The cab had no floor; it had rotted away ages ago. Linda just hung her legs down, trying not to touch the ground. We didn’t get too far because none of us kids knew how to work the clutch or gear shifter or spark arrester or the gas pedal or read the gauges, and much of that didn’t work right anyway.
A week later, after more work on her, and Mr. Simons teaching Linda and me the basics, we were hauling bales of hay to the cattle barn and milk for the larger trucks to pick up. We couldn’t get much speed out of that old Doodle Bug because the rear axle had been changed out to reduce the gear ratio to give the tractor more pulling power.
I’m proud to say I pulled out some mighty big tree stumps that summer of ‘64 from the fields his cattle grazed in. The other option was to use dynamite. That was fun. You could get a lot of work done with both.
—————
NOTE: See all my letters here: https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
—————
Please read my books:
I’ve been reading Gen. S’s blog but haven’t commented in a long time, but I’m back today to say thanks for this letter and that Im really enjoying them all. Please continue writing these letters. 😀
Mike, welcome back to Gen. Satterfield’s leadership forum where good folks go to get the latest AND greatest updates on what’s happening. This series of letters, as you know, is about the past but more importantly – entertainment to the side – we are finding out what made this man a successful officer in the US army. I’ve discovered that the more anyone knows about those who are successful in life, the higher the chances of that person being successful themselves. And the first step is to surround yourself with successful people. Then you become like them. It’s not rocket science. And Gen. S. as a little boy figured that out. Here he is working with a farmer who is making a good living for his family and involving them on the farm too. Hurray, another letter and looking forward to the next one.
Bryan
Excellent observation on our friend Gen Douglas Satterfield. He look at unproductive things in a different prospective to turn into something of great value. People and things are his art of getting the best out of it
Gen. Satterfield, you’ve done it once again with a wonderful, loving, informative, and important letter that tells the story in part of you growing up. And I really love this “doodle bug” story best of all. I can tell the real southerner in you.
Gen. Satterfield is truly an American Patriot and it comes out in his writings, and for a great example, see his most popular articles on the right side of the webpage. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Let us hope and pray that he continues producing these “Letters to My Granddaughter” for us all to read and enjoy. For it is us who benefit for each and every one of them. For those new here, I will suggest, respectfully, that you not feel left behind. Go to the tab that has ALL the LETTERs starting with the first and ending today. you can find that link here: https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
You won’t be disappointed. In fact you will be captured by so many stories that meld into the person that eventually becomes a very successful army officer.
Don’t ja just love it???? My students in HS think so. I have the read these letters. Wonderful feedback.
🤣 Gen. Satterfield is giving us a gift with his letters. 🎁 And this gift must not be wasted so read each with the knowledge that the letter is from the heart. ❤ This is what makes them all such a treasure and of the greatest value. 😀 Whether Gen. S is playing baseball or just running like the wind, he tells us a story that “needs telling” and he is good at it too. ✔
“As individuals, we all use storytelling. Maybe we are not aware of it or its power over others. But those of us who have advanced in the hierarchy of humanness, know that it works and works well. No other method has been invented to allow a sharing of experience and does so meaningfully and is unforgettable. Storytelling is a tool that takes a prominent place in the leadership toolbox. Storytelling is a means of persuasion and can be the most effective aspect of one’s leadership style; like for U.S. President Abraham Lincoln who used it well. Mastering authentic storytelling is a necessary trait for all leaders.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield telling us about storytelling and telling a story.
BEAUTIFUL LETTER ……………………………….
Of course, and a great story too. This is about one incident that Gen. Satterfield had as a boy and now what I’d like to see is how it connects with him as a military officer. Overcoming obstacles? Yep. that is what he is getting at.
Gen. Satterfield, another masterpiece of a letter to your granddaughter. I’ll tell you now that I hope you consider putting these letters into book form. And, that you ‘connect the dots’ on how your growing up experiences link to your successes in the US Army. Now that would be a fantastic book and I’m sure many of us would love to read it. I would and I would help recommend such a book to others. Just remember, I suggested it first, right here. Thanks for this letter #84 on the Doodle Bug.
🇺🇸 I am proud that the land of America provides the opportunities that Gen. Satterfield enjoyed/experienced as a little boy growing up in the Deep South. It is not always the case if you are raised in another land. We have a land that is blessed by God and will continue on despite many who no longer believe in American Exceptionalism. That is okay, they still benefit from it. For those who love these letters like me, please continue reading and commenting here. That is one way we can support Gen. S. and please get a copy of his books. “Our Longest Year in Iraq” and “55 Rules for a Good Life.” These are great, I read them each twice, and started reading a third time. There is so much that links these books to Gen. S’s letters to his granddaughter. Get your copies today. Read Read Read.
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/
Thank you American Girl for your support and loyalty.
Yes, great comment too.
Thankyou, Gen. Satterfield for another loving letter.
Gen. Satterfield, greetings from Canada. We love you too up here and are big fans. My entire family is reading your blog now. And it is these letters that pulls them in so thoroughly. I’ve been a regular reader now since the last 3 or 4 years and have never been disappointed. Your letters to ‘my granddaughter’ makes for a departure from the typical article on leadership. Thanks.
❤ A lovely letter ❤
Liz, yes! And I was going to write the same, but you beat me to it. All these letters are lovely and tell a story of a boy growing up in the 50s and 60s and his struggles, his loves, his family, and what it takes to turn a boy into a young man who would eventually become an army general officer. His growth is what makes these stories so fascinating to me. Maybe Gen. Satterfield one day will put these into a book. Anyone else think that?
Brilliant
Gen. Satterfield, in the letter, is at his best with storytelling. In his article “Leadership Toolbox: Storytelling” he says that the power of storytelling is in its infectiousness. Good leaders understand the draw of a good story, its intoxicating effect, and the embedded insights. Englishman Robert Harris, being a successful novelist, as expected understands this and thus his quote about the narcotic power of the story. Storytelling’s muscle is why popular movies, the theater, and great books all tell a convincing narrative.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/leadership-toolbox-storytelling/
Storytelling is powerful. As humans, we know a lot of things intellectually, but we live on storytelling. The best stories last generations. The greatest stories last for thousands of years. Peer into writings of ancient religions to get a grasp of how they articulate to us a moral sense, justice, human frailty, honor, suffering and pain, and enlightenment.
…… from the summer of ’64 ……
“Farmer Simons and I were out in one of his grassy fields, trying to get a 1920s Doodle Bug Ford tractor running again. When the engine turned over and started to sputter back to life, we let go a holler of excitement. “She runs!” “There’s life in that old girl.” There was no telling how long she’d sat there, rusting and having the pack rats and termites go at her. Converted from a Model T, the Doodle Bug had sat there since maybe when my grandparents had struggled through the Great Depression. Anybody who can take old yard scrap junk and get it puffing again has my respect.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield and a great start to a letter. Keep these letters coming our way, and I’ll keep on reading them.
Can’t beat these letters to make for a great day. I am not surprised at all that we are now up to Number 84 but a bit sad too that gen. Satterfield is telling us that he will be writing only 100 letters. Please Gen. S., keep going and writing more and more letters to your granddaughter.
I second that, OJ. ✔✔
👍👍👍 Thank you Thank you Thank you 👍👍👍
Love your letters to your granddaughter, Gen. Satterfield.
Another beautiful letter to Gen. Satterfield’s granddaughter that makes me smile. I hope that she enjoys every one of them and cherishing these letters forever. Thank you, Gen. S. for sharing them with us.
Yep, and exactly one of the reasons I continue to read this blog. Each day, I say to myself, “Will there be another letter to my granddaughter?” Today is the day. YEAH. I really like this letter because more of them are describing Gen. Satterfield’s struggles as a little boy and his interaction with others. This is what we call ‘growing up’ and I hope there are more letters like this one. Well done!!!!!
Yes, excellent, certainly made my day.
I think we could all say that. I’d never heard of a “Doodle Bug” before. I guess that must be a Southern term. 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗