Hating, loving our boys

One of the most deeply moving phone calls I've had in 35 years as a radio talk show host, came on the night before the great Washington, D.C., parade of our troops who had returned from Desert Storm.

They were led by Gen. "Stormin' Norman" Schwartzkopf, who told a joint session of Congress: "We're the armed forces of the United States and we're damn proud of it!"

I watched that parade with hopes that possibly the messages I had left for the general in Tampa might reach him – so that he would insist that this parade include at least one company of his fellow veterans of Vietnam.

But apparently someone intercepted them, and there was no Vietnam Veterans detachment in that parade – despite the fact that when they returned from Vietnam, there were no such parades for them.

TRENDING: Caught red-handed

My caller that night was a Marine veteran of Vietnam.

He said he was sincerely glad that there would be such a parade the following day – "even though my regiment had more men killed than in that entire war."

Then, he told me how it was when he was aboard a plane load of 300 of his fellow Marines who returned.

"As we taxied up to the terminal, we saw a mob of hairy peaceniks carrying signs insulting us. We estimated about 600 of them ... as good odds ... we looked forward to taking them on when we got off the plane.

"But suddenly we felt the plane taxiing away from that terminal, and moving rapidly to the end of a distant runway. When we finally stopped, we found our plane immediately surrounded by jeeps with 50 calibers aimed at us – not at the peaceniks.

"They kept us on that plane for hours, until long after dark – instead of giving us as much right in that terminal as they gave to those peaceniks. Welcome home, Marines, to the United States!"

I will never forget that phone call, which I thought of when I received by e-mail the following, written by a medical center programmer in California named Jean Robinson:

"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.

"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 was 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 others paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes of delay to me those heroes 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!"