Memorial Day has passed as has D-Day the 6th of June, and so has the 4th of July, but still to come are November 11th Veterans Day, and lest we forget Dec 7th Pear Harbor Day.
These five days are marked down to commemorate the sacrifices of American Soldiers who served in the armed forces of the United States.
The days mean and meant different things to those who served in the many wars that America has fought in.
I know it did to Joe Scout.
He was simply a Cherokee ndn from the hills of Adair County.
Scout was not his real last name. Joe graduated from Sequoyah High School and then was drafted during the Vietnam war.
His tour of duty was in Nam he served in country with the 23rd Infantry Division known as the Americal Division. He came home to a country that did not like him or want him around.
Even though his roots went back further than the land known as America roots go.
But there were people who missed the draft or had deferment or crossed the border. They missed the luxurious living quarters that Joe enjoyed. A nice sandbagged bunker on top of a mountain surrounded by lush forested hills and valleys. He said “It could be a bit noisy with the big guns i.e. artillery going off at all hours of the night or day.”
All he had to worry about was the nocturnal visitors such as the rats, mosquitoes, and those black clad people from the north.
He also mentioned that right on time came those goodies from base camp. The ammo for the one-ohh-deuces and one-ohh-fives.
Rest came after fire missions or what he called the mad minute of firing the guns. A lot of work for ammo bearers whether in the heat or during the muddy season.
The draft dodgers missed the gourmet c-rations that Joe enjoyed as all service personnel have during their time of service.
Who can forget the fruit cake, ham and eggs, gravy and potatoes, and of course the all time favorite spaghetti and meatballs!
This idyllic resort that was his to enjoy while in Nam did come with some not so enjoyable happenings.
Like the time the Chinooks accidently dropped their ammo into the valley. Joe and company went down to retrieve it and he stumbled upon a black clad body lying in a stream bed. His world suddenly changed as he viewed the body, the war had come closer to his bunker.
He recounted the time one of the sergeants had caught a Vietnamese worker pacing off the measurements of the base.
Joe said “Dean I never saw the guy again.” And the time an owl would sit on top of the security fence post. Maybe it was the same Sergeant or not who walked by with some det-cord and wrapped it around the post. The Owl came as usual and settled on top of the post and blam! No more Owl just some feathers floating down!
Yep, Joe still wondered whooo was that sergeant?
He got bit by a rat later that year but that was why he got sent to Japan for some rest and recuperation. Some things are better left unsaid.
His greatest thrill during this was seeing Mt. Fuji.
He came home shortly afterwards and after some years got married. He kept some things closed off as all veterans of war do. He made it home alive and wondered for years why he did and others did not. He dealt with guilt about lobbing artillery at nameless and faceless people.
He even kept the Americal patch hidden away. Too many people who never served raised their voices in protest and called all those of the Americal Division “baby killers.”
Later, on he found the grace of God and forgave those who did not go and hated him for being there. He wore the crest of the 23rd Infantry Division with the four stars. The four stars represent the Southern Cross of the Americal Division.
He started to enjoy life, playing softball, walking in the mountains, and fishing and of course the 4th of July. The fireworks maybe brought back memories of firing off some bigger fireworks from the arty guns.
We found out later his health suffered from exposure to Agent Orange.
He passed from this life unto the next.
There are no statues of him nor did he have any songs written about him. All he wore are those of the National Defense ribbon and the Vietnam service ribbon. As taps are played signaling the passing of service people being laid to rest. Reveille is sounded for those who have Jesus as their saviour to awake unto life eternal.
Joe Scout was the nickname I gave him to all others he was simply Joe Scott. Or Jock. To others husband, dad, son, friend….
He served as other NDNs’ because this was still his country.