Darnell Barksdale

With assistance from Mr. Mel and the Mel Blount Youth Home, former resident, Darnell Barksdale was admitted to Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. Through his diligence and hard work, Darnell graduated from Morehouse, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

"Dear Mr. Blount,

When I first got here I was on a mind set to be cut up and pretty much a jerk, but the staff and my peers change my whole perception and I realize the MBYH is a place to try and help the trouble teens here. The staff here at MBYH really tries to plant a good seed to rebuild self-respect in the kids here. Honestly, I am touched by all the staff here. They all inspired me to do better. Don't settle for less, strive for the best. I experience things at MBYH I will never forget like the hikes and my most favorite thing is the horse program. At first, I was iffy about it then, as the program went on, I felt like I had a bond with the horses on one of my trips to the barn, I met you and one thing I can remember the most was that you said we need to get groomed (I thought horses get groomed, not people).

I am sad to say I am leaving the MBYH, I'm going to miss the staff, my peers, and the horses. Mr. Blount, you probably get letters from many people who leave the Mel Blount Youth Home say they're going to change and do the right thing, but I can't say that. I don't know what back home has in store for me but, I can say that I will be proud to say I will leave with a positive attitude.

Your's truly,
A Former Resident

P.S. I want to give a special thanks to Mr. Neal and Mr. Brooks who pointed me to the positive path of leadership. I will never forget them two positive role models."

It has been a long time since I have written to you. The Army has kept me busy the last two years. I went to Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) from January 17, 2002 - July 22, 2002 and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) from March 05, 2003 - March 01, 2004. I am still in the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Ft. Campbell, KY. I was promoted to Sergeant on October 1st this year. It took me seven years and four months of training, hard work, and two wars to earn my stripes. I graduated from the Ft. Campbell Noncommissioned Officers Academy in the top twenty percent of my class with a GPA of 96.62%.

I have just learned that I will be going back to Iraq again in August or September of next year. This deployment will be different for me because now I am a squad leader and have seven men under me. I will have to care for all their needs, whatever they may be. Most importantly, I need to ensure that they all make it home alive.

I will be getting married to a wonderful woman named Barbara on March 5th. She is the best thing to ever happen to me...minus my Salvation. I praise the Lord for the love she has for me and shows me every day more and more.

I hope all is well with you Mr. Mel, as well as your boys in the home and your staff. One of my main goals for when my second tour in Iraq is done, will be to finally come back to the home to see you and to talk to the boys some. I hope that the boys can see what I have done and tell them where I came from and that if you work hard for what you want, you will get it. Thank you again for all the help you gave me, Mr. Mel. I am not sure if you remember much of me in your home, but I do. I remember that you saw in me the man that is now writing this message to you. You kept me three months longer than you were allowed to. You gave me the discipline that I seriously lacked as a kid and the boys in your home now need the same thing. You and your staff are great Americans, to shape broken boys and mend them into fine men of character is very hard to do, but you and your staff do it every day.

I owe you a debt of gratitude for the man that I have become. You are a great man and truly blessed by our Lord and Savior to do good works in His name. I pray that you and your family will always be safe and that your home will remain strong.

Once again, thank you for all you have done for me, Mr. Mel. If you ever wish to contact me, please check the enclosed card. The picture I enclosed is only three weeks old so it is current of me. I will go for now with this small passage: "It is for Freedom that Christ has set us Free" - Galatians 5:1.

God Bless,

Aaron Lee Westfield Nestor
Sergeant, Unites States Army,
101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division