GOODBY
Forever came crashing to a halt. He was gone. And she stood in Arlington—alone.
Secretly, all along in the lonely nights she had expected it. She received the “call” yet it was the visit that stayed with her. An old sergeant—one with a look of regret and sadness, and something else. He was unlike any military personnel she had met previously. It was his voice, soft for such a huge man, like a father’s, that had held her together. He had come in honor of his soldier—and her soldier.
The promise of a lifetime had been broken in less than a second of time with the old sergeant’s words. Somehow she had kept breathing though hope had slipped somewhere past her reach.
Now, her tear-filled eyes soaked up the presence around her. She searched the horizon for a sign. The torrential downpour was fitting and welcome, or was that just her own tears? The wind lifted her hair across her face—her hand trembled as she brushed it away
The sound of horses, their breath, and the solid step of their hoofs on the pavement could be heard in the distance. Seconds whispered by, and the sound grew stronger. The air was crisp for a summer day, but suddenly the wind was still----as if it knew something she did not.
The woman stood straighter, her eyes grew wide as she searched to find the sound. She gasped, hand to her lips as the horse-drawn carriage circled before her, the Flag draped in perfection seeking respect from all who looked on. The place of highest honor was about to be awakened, if only for a moment, to receive another one of its own. Her own, her Soldier.
She bowed her head to tune out what would come next. But unexpectedly, something caught her attention, there was a stirring. Something was about to happen.
Then out of nowhere the Old Sergeant stood before her. He only nodded and stood straight and tall in the rain beside her while they had placed her husband in the soft dark earth.
As the minister read from the Bible the old soldier bowed his head and she thought she saw a tear slip from his eye. When the pastor had finished she was surprised to see the old sergeant walk up to the microphone.
In a voice like a cement mixer he started to speak.
“I am not a very good public speaker and I can say nothing to comfort you that your minister has not already said. But I can tell you about this man we are here to honor today.
“He was one of my men and as such he was part of my family too. So I feel that I need to tell you all how this Soldier passed from this life to the next.” The old sergeant stopped for a second to look up in the storm darkened sky as if remembering a day that he would just as soon forget.
With a deep breath he continued. “We were on our way from our compound north of Baghdad to our patrol area in Tikrit when one of our lead vehicles was hit by a road side bomb. At the same time we were ambushed by a large force of insurgents which left us fighting for our lives. It was touch and go for a long time until this Soldier, acting on his own, jumped into a Humvee and started firing the heavy machine gun. He was in an exposed position but without regard for his own safety, he continued to lay down suppressing fire until we got the platoon reorganized and counter attached.
“When the battle was over, I found him slumped over the still smoking machine gun. He had been wounded three times. I carried him out of the vehicle and laid him on the sand. He was still alive and I sat with him while the medic worked. I can assure you he did not die in pain.”
A far away look covered his face. “As I sat with him, holding his hand, he looked up at me and said, ‘Pappy. Tell my wife and family--------how much------I love them. And tell them----that I did my duty-----and that now I am going home.’ I held his hand until he went home. The Platoon did not let him out of their sight while he was transported and I never left his side all the way to the States. This Soldier did indeed do his duty and above that. He loved the men in his platoon so much that he gave his life for them. He died so that a country would have a chance for freedom and he died so we would never have to fight on our own soil. He is indeed a Hero.”
Then the sound that split the clouds will forever echo throughout eternity in her mind. The prayers, the respect, the pain, the remembrance, all exploded through time as the volley saluted her Hero who would take his place among his new family--Family of the Fallen. She knew she had met her Soldier for the last time. She would leave him with his Comrades, his Buddies, his Brothers.
Again she heard the pain weathered voice of the old sergeant as he knelt before her husband. “I see you have come through again for our men and women that have spilled their blood for this great Nation. You are in the best of company now. Rest in peace. You are a chosen one.”
With this, the old sergeant took the folded Flag and knelt in front of her. He took out a Silver Star and pinned it onto the Flag as he pressed it into her shaking hands.
Then he whispered something in her ear that she will never forget. “Be proud. He died a warrior’s death. He is with his Father now.”
And with that he was gone. She turned and saw him slowly walking toward a waiting military vehicle and as he got in he looked back. Even from the distance she saw his face was tear-stained now, yet he gave her a smile. He mouthed words that looked like: “Goodby, Son.”
And it was her turn to smile through tears. “Goodby, Pappy.”
By:
Steve Newton
Janie Orman
Copyright 2006
Write Pappy at:
GOODBY
An Old Sergeant Story
RETURN TO
All content property of Steven J. Newton and
The Silver Star Families of America Copyright 2005-2007
Like it?
Why don't you toss a coin or two this way to help honor our wounded?
We'll buy some banners and give to 'em--- so they know we ain't forgot what
they did for us.
Thank ya---
Pappy
