My ’49 Willys Jeep

Boscoe, my best friend for over 12 years had died. There were a lot of poisons on the farm. . He crawled off to a quiet place in a dry ditch and breathed his last breath on that snow covered Nebraska night. I found his body in the spring of my junior year, laying in the ditch. My old collie was laying there; dead.

I was heartbroken. I had spent hours confiding in my old canine companion. Now he was gone. At seventeen, I wasn’t ready for another dog. I was looking for something else. I found it in an old Willys Jeep. At first glance, there wasn’t much to the old vehicle. Just another set of wheels. Whatever!. I had more fun over the next year than anyone deserve.

I remember driving it home the very first day. No top. No Doors. No acceleration. No problem. It was mine. The wind in my face at the top end of 45. I couldn’t wait to take it to the hills. As soon as I showed it to my father. I was sure he would love it.

I was wrong. Something about talking ti him first about decisions like this. This was a sticking point for us for several weeks until he got stuck in the cattle truck. I told him I would pull him out. He just laughed and said, “If you can pull me out with that baby jeep, I will take back everything I ever said about it.”

Which, he did. I slipped the hook of the 1./4″ chain to the frame of each vehicle. I played with the knobs to get the jeep in 4 wheel drive low range. I gave it a little gas and eased out on the clutch until the chain tightened. It was like there was nothing on the back. That little 1/4 ton jeep pulled out the big 2 ton cattle truck like it wasn’t stuck at all. Dad scratched his head and smiled. I breathed a sigh of relief. The jeep just hummed the happy tune of a Willys.

There were so many great adventures in that jeep. Hunting coyotes in the sand hills, getting to backwoods fishing holes with little effort, and scaring friends will daredevil antics in the pasture. Today’s vehicles are safer, faster, and more efficient that that old Willys. However, I would surely trade anyone one of them to be back behind the wheel of the best vehicle I ever owned. My little 1/4 ton 1949 Willys Jeep.