Southern Comfort - Part Two

I wrote earlier of the wonderful and unexpected hospitality we received in Columbia, South Carolina the night before we flew to Kuwait six months ago. After a brief refueling stop in Leipzig, Germany, our chartered flight landed in Atlanta, Roughly half our group deplaned here to catch commercial flights to points on the eastern half of the US. The rest of us flew on to Dallas, Texas.

We were greeted in Dallas by an Army master sergeant accompanied by a major. I turned over the Dallas manifest given to me by the team at Gateway and signed several papers recording our flight’s arrival. In the company of the major, myself and an army colonel flying with us, walked off the plane ahead of the rest of the group. We stepped into the terminal and received several thank yous and glances of admiration from people walking around. The major led us down a flight of steps to an unused customs area where he officially stamped our leave slips, recording our entry back to the US. The major told me I could exit as the colonel had checked baggage to claim. I thanked him, especially now that my official duties as flight commander were through.

I made my way to the exit not sure of where I would end up. Two closed doors opened automatically and I found myself in a long hallway. As I turned the corridor I found myself looking at close to fifty people including school children with balloons, flags and confetti. All of sudden people were shaking my hand, giving me a small gift bag, a bottle of cold water and smiles all around. Off to my left, someone played a patriotic song from a stereo loudspeaker. I looked into the eyes of the kids and shook as many hands as I could thanking every one of them. I was overcome, especially as I was caught so off guard. I apologized in fact because the rest of my group was behind me some minutes off. They all said that was okay; I was just as import walking through alone. Truly amazing.

I found myself on the street and in the bright Dallas sunshine. I turned and walked to the next set of double doors and entered the United Terminal where I would be catching my next flight to San Francisco via Denver. I passed through security again and made a call to my attractive wife to update her on my arrival time home. As I finished, an elderly man came up to me to shake my hand and to thank me for my service. I explained I was mid-way through my tour and that I was looking forward to seeing my family. After our chat, I made my way to a bathroom. As I was shaving, a tall young man came in and slapped a $20 bill on the basin and said, “Thank you for my freedom.” I was aghast, picked up the bill and said, “Sir, that’s not necessary...” but he said, “yes, it is. Thank you,” and was gone. I finished shaving, once again surprised by the genuine nature of appreciation. As I finished, a young army specialist (E-4) walked in and began repacking his back across from me. I took the $20 and said to him, “a complete stranger just gave me this $20 thanking for me my service. I’m an O-5 and you’re a E-4; you take it.” The specialist wore the same expression I had just moments earlier and said, “Thank you, sir.” I smiled and left. Pay it forward.

Thank you, good people of Dallas. This Dirt Sailor won’t forget your gestures of hospitality.