 | Great story| Modern Discuss Great story in the Other Eras forums; Received from a friend via e-mail . . .
I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to ... |
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09-16-2005, 09:36 PM
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#1 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,537
Country:  | Great story
Received from a friend via e-mail . . .
I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long, uneventful flight home.
With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well. I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on my issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together.
I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky Mall" magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced,
useless sky mall crap to break the monotony.
With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself.
Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan.
She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes.
The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that I was finally going to be on my way home.
Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up ...
Just get their butts in a seat and let's hit the gas I thought.
The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U.S. Marines returning home from Iraq!!!
Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause.
The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats.
They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her. The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time.
When we were finally airborne, I was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand.
These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life.
I took for granted that others had paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" while those Heroes were going home to their loved ones.
I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed, I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our heroes were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane.
The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms.
I felt proud of them.
I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say "Thank You for a job well done."
I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!!!
__________________  http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | 
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09-16-2005, 10:01 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Auburn,Alabama; USA
Posts: 1,934
Country: | Beautiful story Evan! Im glad those Marines got a heroes welcome!
__________________  Its better to have an
Army of deer being led by a lion,
rather an Army of Lions being led by a deer... | |
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09-16-2005, 10:12 PM
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#3 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country:  | Good for them. 
That's how it ought to be. Ordinary folks giving the troops their unwavering support. They stand for their country. | |
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09-16-2005, 10:25 PM
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#4 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,537
Country: | Yep, I got kind of misty reading it myself.
__________________ http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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09-17-2005, 03:43 AM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country:  | It's great those lads got a warm welcome home. It would have done them a world of good I'm sure.
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004  To those in that club. | |
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09-17-2005, 04:01 AM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 3,502
Country:  | Its a pity some of the tabloids don't publish that instead of constantly picking holes in the forces.
Nice story Eric.
__________________
"Only thoses who lose freedom know it's true worth"
Unknown French woman interviewed June 1944 | |
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09-17-2005, 04:13 AM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Posts: 11,225
Country: | Nice story Eric, it was good the got such a warm welcome home - the deserve it.
__________________  "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill
"To him the people of the world largely owe the Freedom and liberties they enjoy today"
Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London
Moderator WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum | 
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09-17-2005, 07:10 AM
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#8 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
Posts: 12,952
Country: | Good stuff.... About a 100% turnaround from Vietnam.....
__________________  "Boyington was a Drunk, but He was a Drunk We'd Follow Straight Into Hell..."
-- Lt. William Northrop Case | |
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09-17-2005, 07:12 AM
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#9 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country:  | God bless them.
__________________  US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | |
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09-17-2005, 08:59 AM
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#10 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,537
Country: | Quote: |
Originally Posted by lesofprimus Good stuff.... About a 100% turnaround from Vietnam..... | Yep, and a welcome change! Whenever I see a guy in uniform today, I give him a nod and a thumbs up.
__________________ http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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09-17-2005, 09:58 AM
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#11 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country: | And everyone should.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | |
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09-19-2005, 12:00 PM
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#12 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
Posts: 20,412
Country:  | I agree...great story.
__________________  with my one last gaping breath id apologise for bleeding on your shirt... | |
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09-24-2005, 06:32 AM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Auburn,Alabama; USA
Posts: 1,934
Country: | Whenever i see a guy in uniform, i always ask them what division their with, what their role in Army,Air Force, etc. Then if they're going to Iraq or Afghanistan, i say good luck and keep up the good work!
__________________ Its better to have an
Army of deer being led by a lion,
rather an Army of Lions being led by a deer... | |
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09-24-2005, 03:03 PM
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#14 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | that really is a great story.........
__________________ 
"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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09-27-2005, 12:32 AM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas
Posts: 1,004
Country: | There have been some army folks at my campus the last few days, they weren't from Iraq I don't think. They were probably sent to help clean up after the hurricane which never really hit. I want to go up and give each one a high five and go "You da man!"
__________________ "I had ten rockets on board, and as I wasn't particularly fond of head-on attacks, I salvoed the whole lot at him. The rockets didn't hit him but but they must have scared the bejesus out of him, for he did a steep turn to starboard... I let him have the full blast, all eight fifty-calibers. I had never seen an aircraft completely disintegrate in the air the way this Me-110 did..."
Bill Dunn, 406th Fighter Group 
Matt | |
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