May 21, 2011

        Saturday was yet another wonderful day for traveling. We had a wonderful breakfast at American Legion Post 430 in Odessa, TX. The Riders meeting introduced a large number of FNG’ . Many folks can ride only on weekends so numbers swell.

        We returned to the Permian Basin Memorial. It’s not nearly so foreboding in daylight, but still very powerful and inspirational. All the bikes and many riders were blessed by the ritual ceremony of a real American Indian Chief burning sage and in full head dress and costume. He is an Army vet. He performed a very moving Indian Ceremony invoking the blessings of the 4 winds and Mother Earth to protect us on our important journey. In honor of RFTW they unveiled today a new stone tablet at the Memorial. It reads: “Not everyone who lost his life in Viet Nam died there. Not everyone who came home from Viet Nam ever left there.” In view of last night’s events there, today’s stories and conversations, no truer words can be said. This is why we ride.

       104 miles later we rolled into Colorado City, TX, a town of 4000. Most of them turned out to line our route into and out of Town and to host our lunch at the Railhead Building there- a steak dinner no less! And there was a program presented by the Colorado Middle School that was outstanding. Even on a Saturday these kids came out to welcome us. I was able to give the Wytheville lapel pins and Virginia Is For Lover’s pencils. They also presented plaques to 4 local American heroes there today. A school child told the story of each man’s military background and awards. An 81 year old man even rode his motorcycle 20 miles to receive his honor today. That is why we ride. A survivor of Iwo Jima was presented a plaque today too. That is why we ride.

       We had 2 donated gas stops today, which were muchly appreciated. I don’t know the donor, but may learn more at tomorrow’s Rider’s Meeting. With today’s prices around $4.00 a gallon it is a welcome gift indeed!

      We rode 238 more miles into Grand Prairie, TX. We rode thru the Dallas area. Even on a Sat. the traffic was quite a challenge. I’ve heard that as many as 5 bikes went down but cannot confirm that. We’ll learn more in the morning. It was hot and very humid, but we arrived behind the thunder storms and did not get wet. Several organizations set up tents in the host hotel lot and fed us dinner – hot dogs, hamburgers, meat balls, and lots of cold water! It was great!. I am sure that all riders were in bed by 10:00 PM as we were all tired and tomorrow waits. In a stroke of luck, since I have no roommate these last few days I drew the single bed room. That meant I got a king sized bed and Jacuzzi suite! I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have the water soothe all the road kinks, do my posting, packing, and organizing, and be in bed by 9:30! I might even catch up on the 3 hours we’ve lost since heading East from CA!

       I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you at least a bit more about last evening’s visit to the Memorial. I talked to the rider today and received his permission to tell his whole story – in the hopes that it’ll help someone else he said. He was told nothing about what to expect when coming home from Nam. He got married in large part to avoid the draft. He was drafted anyway. He said being in Nam was easy. Coming home was much worse. He said he stayed drunk most of the time in Nam and fired machine guns from choppers – although that was not his job. He said killing the enemy was easy when he was drunk. He had a family farm and cows when he shipped out. They were the most important things to him. He longed to return to farming. He landed in Seattle in 1968 wearing his uniform. Immediately upon entering the terminal he was spat upon. He didn’t know what to think. On his way to the bathroom to clean off his uniform he was spat upon again and called “Baby Killer”. He instinctively attacked his attacker. As he said, the US Government had taught him how to kill people and he felt he was back in Nam. He indeed would have killed his attacker but for being pulled off him by a buddy and some police.

       He was met in the airport by his parents, his wife, and 8 month old son he’d never seen. He said he felt nothing. Numb. No one talked in his family. Some miles later he asked his Dad how the cows were doing. His Dad told him they’d sold both the cows and the family farm. He was devastated. They’d not written him to avoid upsetting him. They’d taken the money and bought 2 houses next door to each other – a rental and one for the wife and baby. He’d been “home” less than 10 minutes when the rental tenant next door knocked on the door. The rider opened it and the tenant told him he was in love with the rider’s wife and they had a problem. The Rider told him that if he saw the tenant the next day the tenant had a real problem that would be fatal. Not knowing how to deal with his feelings the rider went to the local police chief, a family friend. He was a Vet and he called in a couple of the rider’s buddies. Short version is that they helped him through it, he stayed married for 24 years, had 3 children, and somehow managed. The closest buddy who helped him  was sent back to Nam later, died there, and it was his Father who helped the Rider find his name on The Wall. If that doesn’t move you nothing will. Last night, when the Rider completed his tale, he was upset and crying. Other riders surrounded him hugged him, and made sure he was ok. His bike was next to mine last night. As we saddled up for the return trip to motels he said to me: “I have no idea where that came from. I’ve never spoke in public before”. This morning he told me that he spent most of last night talking to “friends” he met – several trained counselors. It helped him. He hopes it helps someone else. This Ride is about healing. That’s why we ride! I told you it was intense. It took me 24 hours just to be able to relay in coherently. This journey is very emotional for everyone. That’s why we ride. Keep us in your prayers.