woodsmoke’s Profile

Patriotic Poet Honors Military, Vets
With Special Poem to Mark Memorial Day
DATELINE: Memorial Day, 2008

For poet Tom Caplinger of Mahnomen, MN, Memorial Day means more than a barbeque. It's a day to honor all veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and fellow patriots – and Caplinger – known by his pen name "Trapper Tom" intends to do just that.
Caplinger and his work will be featured on Homefront, a nationally-syndicated home improvement radio show broadcast live every Saturday morning. An inspirational patriotic poem, "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave", set to music and performed by the author, will be featured. (9 a.m. CDT on a radio station near you or at www.homefront.com). Trapper Tom and his poetry have been featured on the show since October, 2004.
A retired systems analyst who now fills his days by helping his son-in-law farm or writing poetry or short stories, Trapper Tom began writing poetry in 2000 to honor his Mother's birthday. Relatives and friends urged him to devote more time to writing and the result is a book and two CD's filled with poetry, short stories and "country" recipes. "My poetry is the product of a God-given talent," he says. "I’d devoted much of my professional life to writing - but primarily technical documentation as a systems analyst."
One of Trapper Tom's major projects is donating copies of his most popular poetry as framed collections to VA Medical Centers and other veteran's support organizations.  His framed collections have been gifted to President George Bush, Congress, American Legion and VFW Headquarters and Posts, the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, and Col. Oliver North, who said, "Tom, your work reflects earnest and heartfelt American Patriotism that I pray shall never die.  Your love of Country is evident in your work."
Based simply on a passionate love of the United States, home and family, Trapper Tom’s work is uniquely American, strongly patriotic and glowingly inspirational.  He's unapologetic about his love of God, country and family. He hosts his own Web site, www.trappertom.net.
Contact Tom Caplinger: woodsmoke@arvig.net.