A few years back Booger was alot more of a visable fixture in Marion.  He could be seen walking downtown from shop to shop more than likely harassing the local shopkeepers; driving them crazy with his constant babble.  This may have been how he aquired his military fatigues.  It didn’t matter if it was 40 or 100 degrees outside, Booger was always to be seen sporting his cammoflauge military issue slacks, long sleeve jacket and green GI cap.  As far as I know he never wore shoes though; only sandles.  In downtown Marion there is an Army surplus store that sells fatigues and backpacks as well as hunting and camping supplies.  I don’t know whether Booger bought his outfit, stole it or if the owner of the store got so tired of him hanging around that he just gave him the clothes to get Booger to leave him be.  Regardless he wore nothing but military garb.  He could be seen at times walking in town pretending to talk on a handheld CB radio or something similar
to that.  It looked broken, but he acted like it worked none the less and who he was pretending to talk to I never knew until my dad entightened me.

My father is a police officer in Marion and one of his job requirements is to actually work in the school systems.  He not only spends time at the local high schools, but also the elementry and middle schools.  A few years ago on Veterans Day, there was an assembly in honor of Marion’s local war veterans at Marion Middle SChool.  Imagine my father’s surprise when he walked into the auditorium and saw Booger, dressed in his soiled military fatigues, getting ready to carry the American Flag across the stage.  Dad immediately approached the principal.  “Mr. Rhodes, do you know who that guy is?”  “He said he was sent by the Army Reserve office to participate in the assembly,” Mr. Rhodes replied.  “Lord have mercy, no he wasn’t.  Thats Booger Heath.  Get him off the stage right now!”  They then extracted Booger from the stage and exited him through the front door.  Dad says that Booger then pulled out his broken CB radio and started calling someone.  “Sarg, Sarg do you copy?”  A few seconds passed and then he continued.  “10-4.  Sarg, they won’t let me carry the flag across the stage.”  There were a few more seconds of silence.  “10-4.  Roger that.  I’ll meet you back at the reserve center at 0500.  Heath over and out.”

Booger then proceeded to lumber down the hill toward main street and carry on with his business as if nothing had happened.  I assume that dad felt too sorry for him to pursue any kind of charges although Booger was certainly trespassing on school grounds.  Dad has a big heart which I think should be a requirement for all cops, but we all know that isn’t the case.

Whether Booger actually walked all the way out to the reserve office or not, I don’t know.  I doubt it, but you really never know with ole Robbie Heath.  For all I know he was convinced that he was in fact Private Robert “Booger” Heath of the 101st Battalion; Southwest Virginia Reserve Branch.