An unwise decision landed me in hard times. I sometimes describe it by saying, “I died on February 29th, 2012. Life radically changed. A man with much promise crashed. A demon returned to visit me periodically…to unbalance my life. This instance seemed fatal.
My education and life experience provided much of the technical information needed. I knew what I needed to do…I just didn’t care any more. I lost the will to move forward. A few people stood relentlessly by my side. They believed when I couldn’t believe. I survived, but that is still not a life. I needed something that was missing, to move forward.
My Daughter strongly encouraged me to establish my Social Security retirement. She also persuaded me to enroll at the Dayton Ohio VA. They asked me when I had seen them last. I said, “1970.” Those were the days before computers. My former VA relationship had been under the radar. The admissions officer kindly said, “Welcome home.” I was issued a VA card. My basic safety net was complete.
I sought out Doc Mark Jones and Doc Tom Lundgren and Battalion Surgeon Dr. Andrew Lovy. Each holds a certain level of communication expertise. Two you call. One hangs out on Facebook. I carried their phone numbers in my cellphone. They were available 24/7. My phone was a lifeline for months at a time. Currahees do not leave Currahees. We come back together, or we just don’t come back. This fact remains true almost 50 years later. These three were also members of the medical team. Doc Lovy is our Patriarch… who sourced all of our life giving abilities. Dr. Lovy is still larger than life to this day.
When I heard that Dr. Lovy would attend the 101st Airborne Association meeting, I needed to see him in person. Due to the lateness of this information, my registration was fraught with problems. A former infantryman, by the name of Mike Krawczyk, heard that I was one of Doc Lovy’s medics. We had some brief email exchanges. Mike finally said, “Call me.” I did. Then Mike said, “You come, just come. I will work out all the details.” So, I did. Without that push of encouragement, the real healing process would not have started. In the end, I needed to be with my Currahees again. Nothing could replace that. A few beers and a few stories brought me many more friends. However, they all looked older than the young warriors I knew in 1968.
My daughter, Stephanie Thompson Smith, influenced her DAR chapter to invite me to a state luncheon honoring Vietnam vets. Within a couple of more weeks from my reunion, I attended a very gracious meeting with the Ohio Daughter’s of the American Revolution. They are grand patriots in their own right.
During the family holidays of 2015 I spent much time alone. Something compelled me to start my story on a WordPress blog. Writing brings much healing and personal closure. Writing ignites a spark of life with me. Lt. John E Harrison provided some great examples of our Currahee story. He encouraged me to write; he kept on encouraging me to write. If you look at my blog…you will see many other Currahees backed me in similar fashion. In the end, its our story. We Stand Alone…together.
On February 19, 2016, I took my place with other Currahees at the Vietnam Wall. They have faithfully upheld this tradition for many years. I had slept in my car in 21 degree weather to join them. (Thank God for a great sleeping bag.) We remembered our fallen. We then had a few beers and shared many stories. Most of these men were from A Company.
It was during these conversations that I could connect some dots. I actually shared some months in Vietnam attached to these very men. I also knew with certainty that I had spent some of that time under Lt. John E. Harrison.
Currahees…only Currahees have the power to truly say, “Welcome home.” There is much more peace in my heart, in returning to my unit. We Stand Alone…together.