A FLIGHT DELAY, AN AIRPORT BAR, AND A SOLDIER'S STORY
5:41 AM March 31, 2009
I'm back on the job this morning after a few days of vacation. (To those of you who started to wonder in your posts, no, I'm not going anywhere!) I was in North Carolina for an annual golf trip with some buddies. My flight from LAX took me through Newark International Airport where I was scheduled to connect to a flight to Norfolk, Virginia. From there, I would drive to the Outer Banks to meet up with my pals.
Newark was bogged down in fog and rain and aircraft were stacked up as we approached. We circled for about an hour and finally landed late. I rushed through the terminal to make my connection, only to learn the flight was delayed for two hours.
I'm as human as anyone and was fully prepared to be aggravated by it all, but I know I'm blessed in these trying times to even be able to take a vacation. So as I settled in with a beer at an airport bar, March Madness basketball on the TV, I decided not to sweat it and to just take it all in as part of my vacation experience.
I'm not usually a sit-at-the-bar kind of guy, but on this particular night, I'm glad I was. I had great company--a cheerful British bartender, a bunch of fellow stranded passengers, and a U.S. Army soldier on leave from Ft. Irwin-- a young man who had recently returned from Iraq.
The soldier was enroute to Florida for some well-deserved R and R. It was great to see how folks treated him--with respect and gratitude. This fellow wasn't permitted to buy a drink for himself, and it certainly wasn't the kind of ugly scene sometimes encountered by our troops returning from another unpopular war in a place called Vietnam.
As we nursed our beers, we talked about the basketball game, about Barstow, about the life awaiting the soldier when he leaves the Army this summer. But as we sat there laughing and talking, I couldn't help but wonder about his experiences in Iraq. I wondered if it was O.K. to ask him about it.
I decided not to ask. He's on leave. He deserves a break from talking about the war. I have no right to go there, I said to myself. But as if he was reading my mind, he suddenly brought it up. "Check this out," he said. The soldier turned to show me the back of his head where a square of hair was missing, a scar in its place. "I got hit by an IED," he said quite cheerfully.
The young man went on to tell me he was in a vehicle that hit a roadside bomb. They were then ambushed by insurgents who hit them with small arms fire. The American soldiers fought them off and it was only then that this soldier fell over and passed out. Shrapnel had torn through his helmet and lodged in his skull. Fortunately, it stopped there and surgeons were able to remove it. "Everyone else pull through O.K.?" I asked. I knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as the words left my mouth. "One of the guys died," he said matter-of-factly. He said it as if he didn't want to burden me with the news. I felt horrible knowing I'd ask him to relive it. I apologized for his loss.
We carried on talking about his plans for the future, about the good times he was looking forward to in the days ahead in Florida. When I learned my flight delay was now a flight cancellation, I decided to check in to an aiport hotel until morning. I shook the soldier's hand and thanked him for his service.
As I sat in my hotel room later, I thought about that soldier. I wondered if his war experiences would affect him in a negative way in the years ahead. I hope he'll have the support of his friends and family and the Army to get through it if they do. Meeting the soldier also reminded me of the great life I enjoy and sometimes take for granted. It made me feel, believe it or not, grateful that my flight was cancelled. I was grateful I had a chance to share some beers with some fellow passengers, a cheerful British bartender and a soldier with a full life ahead of him.
Posted by Frank Buckley | Permalink | Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)
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Hi Frank,
I'm proud of you for sharing anything with this soldier. Some beers a handshake and a thank you. How nice.
When I left the Marines in Vietnam protests were rampant in the streets and media
and being spit upon and called baby killers was way worse than the humiliation of
boot-camp.
To this day I will salute and offer a handshake to any service personnel.
If it is one person or a group I'll tell the bartender or waitress that the tab is mine.
We forget that era but shouldn't . How many more PTSD, crutches, wheelchairs and
headstones will be needed?
Seper Fi-always faithful
Sniper in 'Nam.
Thank you
Posted by: Carlos | May 15, 2009 at 08:16 AM
Frank,
Thank you for being a good citizen. In our ring of family and friends thats what we call good people, "Good Citizens". I thought Carlos was going to be very hard to replace, You have done an excelent job in doing so. Please keep up the great work and continue being a good citizen...
Posted by: Chris | May 11, 2009 at 09:43 AM
That was the reason why your flight got delayed...
I am glad you are not going anywhere.
You are one of the reason why I still watch ktla from Montreal
since I've left L.A.
Continue the great job and to the team also.
By the way I always wanted you guys to know by using my
service at WWW,CELL-O.CA you can make as many cell calls you want
24/7 as long as you have unlimited incoming or My 5 free of charge
from your provider all over Canada and the US and more.
check my site for more info.
Just to let you know 'cause you guys had complaint about the billing each month so if you guys want to reduce it, check my site.
I am glad you guys are all together but please let the boss know this, ENOUGH with the change!
If you can say SALUT for me to Mark that would be great.
I apologize for the writting but I am a French Canadian
Montreal,Quebec
Posted by: Marie-Nathalie | May 07, 2009 at 12:33 AM
i am glad to know that you are not going anywhere. you are the best, i love to watch every morning before work. you are so up lifting.
Posted by: diane aguilar | April 14, 2009 at 09:11 PM
Frank, I am not surprised by your empathy for this hero.Just think, he is just one of almost 200,000 who have sacrificed their cushy jobs, home life, connection to their families for our protection. I wish you would do more stories on the morning news about them no matter how unpopular LA might think that is. KTLA has just turned into Hollywood Entertainment show for 3 hours, not to mention a conduit for the political officials. What Happened??I certainly wish you wouldn't waste your journalistic talents on another Access Hollywood and Insider copycat show. People listen to you and take you seriously Frank, please take more time with the emotional stories of the American People who work hard for a living, and have interests besides who is who in Hollwood. More people are home than ever from unemployment now, you should encourage your producers to change the format and give them something worthwhile to watch that might enrich their lives with valuable news. KTLA spends more time interviewing celebrities than delivering a piece of breaking news that would be of interest. Loosing the diva would also help!!!
Posted by: marsh | April 11, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Happy Easter to all who come here to post or read.
Additional blessings to our service people who work each day to keep our country safe, our borders secure.
Posted by: jozielee | April 11, 2009 at 09:51 AM
SHERI VAN FOSSEN said; "i hope we have learned our lesson from vietnam even though the war may be wrong we still still need to surport the troops"
What made that war wrong? Walter Cronkite? The SDS? or what? Kenedy pushed for it due to the attacks from the northern nation on the southern nation protected by NATO. Nixon the one who gets the blame did not want the war. I don't think the average American has the straight story here. pleas respond.
Posted by: Forrest | April 09, 2009 at 11:37 AM
we should thank all those who have served and protected our country. i hope we have learned our lesson from vietnam even though the war may be wrong we still still need to surport the troops
Posted by: SHERI VAN FOSSEN | April 09, 2009 at 07:56 AM
Hey w.v.
Posted by: jozielee | April 07, 2009 at 07:08 PM
hi
Posted by: w.v | April 07, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Frank, what an honor you had having a beer with a soldier. We take for granted that these young men are going over to Iraq and risking their lives for PEACE. Yes, we have our own drama here in the States and things may be bad economically but we have the right to believe in any religion we choose or not to choose. We can walk down the street wearing a tank top and shorts without a male "Protector". Women can be Senators, Lawyers, Doctors, Housewives--whatever they choose. I am glad that soldier got the respect and graditude from those in the airport bar. God Bless those that are out there protecting US and OTHERS.
Posted by: Dee | April 01, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Mike wrote:
"In any case, nice to know you are back. Although, no complaints from me about too many women on the show, especially with the early A.M. team."
There is only one I can complain about and that's the diva. On the other hand, the new gal Magan on the 4:30 AM show. Very cute. Good job KTLA bosses.
Posted by: Paul | April 01, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Frank - Thanks for sharing the story! What a nice read, especially on this day. Wasn't it last April Fool's that Sam "was hired by Seacrest?"
In any case, nice to know you are back. Although, no complaints from me about too many women on the show, especially with the early A.M. team.
-m
Posted by: mike | April 01, 2009 at 01:22 PM
I wish you could share your story on the air. I think that we all need to be reminded of their (servicemen and women's) sacrifices. Not to mention- in this day and age I don't think we do enough listening- we are all so consumed by our own 'issues'. It is nice you took a step back from 'me' and listened to 'him'- a Soldier.
Posted by: A.S. | April 01, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Welcome back Frank,
Great story, and from a former Marine thanks for sharing a beer with a fellow service member!
Semer Fi
Posted by: Hector | April 01, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Welcome back Frank,
As a viewer of KTLA, I enjoy each of you on the show. As a soldier myself, thank you again for taking the time to talk and listen to the soldier in the airport.
I have also been to Iraq and now in Korea after a stay at Fort Irwin. I wish there were more people like you to take the time and compassion to talk with us.
Take care and keep up the great work....hope you enjoyed the vacation!
Posted by: Thomas | April 01, 2009 at 05:48 AM
Glad to have you back Frank. I was getting worried for a bit there!
I loved your blog today. I know how awkward it could be to ask of one's past Iraq history. I myself had a cousin who came back from Fallujah, Iraq. My entire family & I were of course thankful to have come back home & were to hear, hate to say his "war stories" but we decided it was best to wait for him to open up and discuss his experiences; just as your young solider did.
Keep up the great work & I'm eager to read your next blog.
Posted by: Teresa | March 31, 2009 at 04:23 PM
Glad to have you back Frank. Always like reading your blogs. Everytime you are gone I watch another news channel. I agree with Cassandra - too many women on the show.
Posted by: Cynthia | March 31, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Frank,
Welcome back. Great story about the soldier. I hope he has a great life ahead for him.
Posted by: Paul | March 31, 2009 at 12:37 PM
I am glad your back, I thought you left, too many women on the show. It needed that balance you bring.
Posted by: Cassandra | March 31, 2009 at 11:52 AM
I am impressed by your humanity Frank.
Posted by: Forrest | March 31, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Good to hear from you, Frank. Enjoyed the read. Wonder if your soldier buddy will see it.
Posted by: jozielee | March 31, 2009 at 06:25 AM