I was recently on an airplane for a business trip to our South Boston, Va. plant. I had to fly into the Raleigh/Durham airport. I was down the terminal a ways when I heard a large round of applause at my gate. I hurried there, thinking they were applauding for me to get on the plane, naturally...just kidding) and got there just just in time to see a bunch of army soldiers getting onto our airplane. They were preboarding these soldiers. (I was in Minneapolis on the way to Raleigh) I thought that was really nice of all the people...to honor our soldiers that way and not really knowing anything more about it.
When I got on the plane I sat next to a women soldier....Sgt. Jordon was her name. She was very polite and had a very thick North Carolinan accent. You could tell she was from the South. I introduced myself and said hi, and where was she and the other soldiers going. She very matter of factly said they were all coming back from a stint in Baghdad. I said really? She explained her job to me and she was responsible for blowing up ordinance and had to do a lot of driving around that area. I asked a few more questions but felt she really didn't want to talk that much. She told me she was in the Army Reserves from Ft. Bragg and they had been deployed for a year and she was so excited to get home to see her family. She was from North Carolina somewhere. I asked her how it went for her over there and she said "Great!" She said it wasn't that bad and she really loved what she had been doing but was very glad to be getting back home. I quit bugging her and just told her thanks for her service and she said "Yes, Sir" Your're Welcome" She addressed me as "Sir" all the time. She ordered a drink and I offered to buy it for her, but before I could get my money out the steward said it was on him for her today.
We didn't say much more in the two hour flight as she just seemed to want to soak in the fact she was finally coming home. As we landed she was intently staring out the window and I said, "I bet that looks good to you!!" It is very green and lush in NC and she said it did and it was so much greener here than in Baghdad. She said "I just love it here."
I deplaned and they were holding the soldiers at the door of the jetway as I left. I went on out but stopped to see what they were going to do. There were many excited people waiting at the gate for these soldiers to deplane with signs and ballons and the like. (Wives, moms and dads, friends, etc.) I stood off to the side and then the gate attendant announced, "Ladies and Gentlement, please welcome home our soldiers from Iraq" They all came out (about 8 of them) and there was this thunderous applause as people ran up to them, hugged them. Sgt Jordon had a big back pack on as she came off and she had put a small American flag in it so it was waving as she and the others came off the plane. I thought as I observed this whole scene that it was much like coming home from a mission having not seen your son or daughter for two years. This deployment had only been for a year and of course a much more dangerous situation but I could somewhat relate to how their families were feeling. Many tears were flowing and this applause lasted for a good 3-4 3 minutes. All the soldiers kind of looked stunned like what do we do now? I have to admit I had a tear or two in my eyes and a big lump in my throat as I saw these wonderful young people welcomed home. None of them was much older than my own sons and it just really hit me how proud I was of their sacrifice and that of their families. I thought "Where do we get such young people who are willing to give their ultimate in defense of their country" I marvel at that.
I watched this for a couple of minutes more, proud to be an American and so thankful and proud that there are such young people who do this very difficult task in a dreadful situation. I thought how wonderful their reunion is with their loved ones and I said a little prayer for each one of them that they would be able to return to normal life after such a stressful year.
I am so grateful for our country and what it stands for. Say what you will about whether going into Iraq was the right thing to do, but never tell me that these soldiers are anything but loyal, patriotic and brave Americans doing what they have been asked to do. From just my little talk with Sgt Jordon I could just tell how much she loved this country, loved her service in the Army and the gratitude she felt toward being able to serve when and where she was asked. She had no doubt that she was involved in a noble cause and that the Iraqi people were grateful, no matter what you hear on the news.
This indeed was an experience I won't soon forget.
Dad
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6 comments:
Thanks for sharing that experience.
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A lump in the throat and a few tears here as well...thanks for sharing.
I think we all need to hear about things like that dad. Thanks!
Unlike Vietnam, the American public seems to be able to separate the soldiers from the unpopular war they are fighting. It takes a special breed, and I'm proud of and grateful for the ones that feel compelled to lay their lives on the line for their country. I believed (and believe) that the reasons for invading Iraq were justified, but we need to be constantly re-evaluating the situation and adjusting strategies and priorities to assure that no soldier's sacrifice is in vain.
There were undoubtedly some soldiers who didn't come home on that plane . . .
Thank you Dad.
I also feel very proud of the good men and women who represent the American military all over the world and especially in Iraq. How critical and overwhelming is their task. As a whole and as individuals, they are a very courageous and honorable group of dedicated and principled people, unequaled in the history of the world. I wish the rest of the world recognized that fact.
Instead, U.S. haters seem to focus on the few atrocities which have dogged the army from time to time and point to that as an example of what the U.S. stands for.
We make our mistakes and our miscalculations no doubt. We can at times be somewhat over-reaching perhaps. However, on the whole I believe that the U.S. military represents a powerful force for good.
I too am proud of our soldiers and I feel guilty at times that I have not contributed more to a cause I believe it...
Hey Mickey--
That would be sobering. I'm glad you wrote about it.
Last week Jeff and I had the chance to see the monuments on the National Mall in D.C., and it brought to mind again those feelings of patriotism and reverence for the sacrifices of others. The Korean War Monument has a fountain at the top of it, and on this particular trip it made me think of all the tears that have been shed over loved ones lost at war.
I feel like I take freedom so much for granted. I think we could all be more aware and grateful.
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