Westward bound, Day 8: Home at last

It was with the honking of horns and the sounds of happy family members, we arrived at our homes after our 22 night, 23 day, 7719 mile road trip.  That’s about 1/3 of the distance around the globe. (circumference of the earth is 24,901 miles).  Machines, both human and mechanical are grateful for the respite.

Our last day was a 396 mile trip from Baker City, Oregon, through Yakima, WA over White Pass and then to Olympia via the back roads from Mt. Rainier.  It was dry and hot as all across the region, municipalities notched all-time record high temperatures for June 5th.

Even though it was the last day, I wasn’t about to forget our mission.  I was on the lookout for someone to encourage.  The chance came really early.  Dad and I rode the short distance into town to visit the Starbucks, collocated within the local Safeway store in Baker City.  After we ordered I struck up a conversation with a gentleman wearing a USMC hat. At first he was reluctant to chat and made an excuse to depart.  After about 10 minutes, he returned and unloaded his Vietnam burdens on us.  It was an honor to hear his story and to assist him in unlocking what he’d carried for so long.  I never caught his name, but my Brother who served with distinction is now much lighter for having shared his pain with us.  Not everyone who served during Vietnam saw combat. This brother is one of those. He was ready, willing, able, and terrified at the thought of it.  Twice he was loaded onto a ship from his base in Okinawa with a destination of Vietnam. Twice the ship diverted back to base, or a training exercise elsewhere.  Knowing that his fellow Marines were paying the ultimate price for freedom and he never saw combat has eaten at him ever since. The telling of it put a light into his eye and a lighter step in his walk.  We encouraged him that not being sent into Vietnam wasn’t his choice. He is still a hero for having served during that terrible time and that he should carry himself with the dignity of a Marine and not with the weight of guilt.

The best thing about the whole encounter wasn’t that we talked with him, and wasn’t that he seemed much better for it, it was in knowing that God set it up.  If you recall, we carried the flag of GySgt Shirey to The Wall.  Gunney was a USMC Tanker.  Our new brother from Baker City was a USMC Tanker.  Our mission came full circle from day 1, to our final day 23. There is no way on earth we could’ve planned that.

USMC M41 in Vietnam