Wall Magic...

Staff Sergeant David P. Spears and two of his men at Dragon Mountain with Montenyard children. Vietnam

For those who are connected to the history of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC in any way, shape, or form there is a belief in a thing called "Wall Magic." This so-called "Wall Magic" is the belief that the men and women whose names are written there watch over all of us together and at certain times, when the moment is right they see fit to bring certain people together at exactly the right moment.

Now I realize for some this may sound a little strange...but believe me I have seen enough in my few short experiences at The Wall to know that this "Wall Magic" is real. I have seen a Veteran who lost his son in Iraq be untied at The Wall with a nurse who held and treated his son during his final moments on Earth...no one knew their connection, the nurse merely saw a button on the man's lapel with his son's picture...and that is just one of many stories others of reuniting friends...family members of battle buddies...even the uniting of families of a soldier who made it home with the family of the soldier who saved their life by paying the ultimate sacrifice.

One of the last pictures of my grandad from Vietnam was taken in front of Dragon Mountain. He is seen in the picture with Montenyard children, two of his men, and a howitzer. For many years my mother searched to find out who those other men in the photo were. As time went by she found out one of the men (the one in the back left) was actually living outside of Eugene, Oregon...but he did not wish to talk to my mother. And no one seemed to know anything about the other man and as time passed the idea of ever meeting these men passed as well.

In 2004, my mother was asked to speak at a ceremony at The Wall in DC. During her speech there was a man in the crowd who seemed to recognize far too much of my mother's story. This was a man who had grown up on the streets of Harlem and at age 16, with his mother signing his wavier, joined the Army to go fight in Vietnam in order to get off the rough streets of Harlem. As this man listened to my mother's speech...he turned to his friend and said, "...that's my platoon commander's daughter..."

My mother was one of three little kids this man had always wondered about ever since the death of his Sergeant in Vietnam. This man was determined to introduce himself after the ceremony and tell this woman that he knew her father...but as he approached the stage to speak with my mother a rush of emotions overcame him and he turned back. It wasn't until several weeks later that a friend of this man found a way to reach my mother and introduce these two people over the phone.

Fast Foward now to Memorial Day 2008...My mom and her sister are both in DC, my Aunt's first time...as we prepare to leave the city to return to Williamsburg my mom gets a phone call...it was him...the man from the photo...grandad's number one gunner...and his friend. He was in DC and wanted to meet. So, mom, Aunt Linda, and I went to the Jefferson Memorial were on the footsteps of the giant monument we finally met Dave "Mac" MacIntyre...a man who served with my grandad...finally it was time...after so many years two little girls all grown up got to meet the man from the photo we all had all but given up looking for!

Meeting the man from the picture, grandad's number one gunner, Dave "Mac" MacIntyre

L to R: Mom, Dave "Mac" MacIntyre, and Aunt Linda

Memorial Day 2008

For Memorial Day this year I was able to ride the train from Williamsburg up to Washington DC for the ceremony at The Wall. I was able to meet up with my Aunt and Mother and some of my Yellow Hat Uncles. It was an amazing time as always. For those of you who missed the ceremony the main keynote speakers were US Army Joint Chief of Staff, Gen. George Casey, Jr. and US Army Captain David Moses. Captain Moses is a our family through my mother...the ceremony can be seen here. Captain Moses tells his journey from a Lost Boy of Sudan to a US Citizen and Soldier. He has completed two tours in Iraq and has an amazing story so be sure to watch his speech...even Gen. Casey thought Capt Moses' speech was the best one on the day!

L to R: Gold Star Moms, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Capt. David Moses, Gen. George Casey

Earlier in the morning I had been at the Vietnam Women's Memorial listening to the storytelling sessions they have every year. While I was there I was approached by several members of the 25th Infantry Division Association who after noticing the riding vest I wear in memory of my grandad, which has the 25th ID insignia all over it, they asked me to be the wreath bearer during the official ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony my Aunt and I had the honor of laying the wreath at The Wall.

My Aunt and I laying the wreath of the 25th Infantry Division at The Wall

It was an honor to be a wreath bearer this year. At the conclusion of the ceremony I had an opportunity to briefly meet professional actor Robert Patrick. Mr. Patrick was in the original X-Files TV series, starred in Terminator 2, and currently can be seen portraying Col. Tom Ryan in The Unit on CBS.

Actor Robert Patrick and I

When everything was said and done, my Aunt, Mother, and I returned to Williamsburg where my Mother and Aunt were able to spend some time seeing what it is I do here at work...here's some shots from their visit you can enlarge all images by double clicking on each one:

Come to Williamsburg...

Disc Golf and some History...

Today Portia and I went to New Quarter Park here in Williamsburg, it's just a couple miles walk down the Colonial Parkway from my house. I had done a search online the other day to find out that New Quarter Park had an 18 hole Disc Golf course, a sport I loved to play when I was living in Western Oregon and haven't had a chance to play much since leaving there.
What I didn't know about New Quarter Park is that it was also the sight of military action during the Civil War and the Battle of Williamsburg or as it is sometimes called the Battle of Fort Magruder that took place on May 5, 1862. The Disc Golf course is positioned on land between Redoubts 11 and 12, positions that were quietly taken by Union Brig. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, or "Hancock the Superb." Hancock earned his nickname "the Superb" at this battlesite for how he took over these Redoubts and then held off Confederate attempts to regain control of Redoubts 11 and 12...Here's a picture of Portia early on in our adventure today:

Disc Golf is basically golf without the balls and clubs...using discs instead. Since it was my first time at this course I decided that I would play against Portia...which would give me two throws, one for her and one for me the whole way through. Trouble is her throws always came up better than the ones I was throwing for myself!

As you can tell from the look on her face she pretty much knows she is winning at this point in the day:

By the last couple of holes it was pretty obvious she was going to win and win she did. Par for the course was 62...Portia ended up with a 65 and I lost with a 69...so there it is our adventure in Disc Golf and some US History along the way!

May 17, 2008

No words today...this song pretty much says it all...

Life In The New World...

It came as no surprise and had much more build-up than actual fanfare, but my contract here at work was renewed for another six months leaving me employed until sometime in January when everyone comes under review again. I say it was no surprise not to be cocky in any way...but just that it was a given that all the new kids where going to be retained unless we choose to walk away, which thankfully no one did.
Life is a little odd here of late...I'm not going to lie...nor am I trying to complain in any way. I am just feeling a bit isolated and trapped to put my feelings into words. I know that some of it has to do with my lack of cellphone and the trouble it has been trying to get it replaced, which if all goes as planned should finally be tomorrow sometime. Nothing like a week without your phone to make you wonder what you did before you ever had one!
Besides the phone I continue to struggle to find a life outside of work, yesterday I went and observed an evening program that is interested in hiring me...it was a good program and I think I will do well with it. However, since I have no reliable transportation of my own it required me to stay "on-campus" if you will and I did not make it home until after 10pm last night...needless to say Portia was glad to get out of her crate and go for a walk last night!
One bit of promising news is that I found out about a softball league here in town not too terribly far from where I live just a couple miles...and there is a chance I may still be able to get on a team...I really am hoping that works out. It's tough being surrounded by my work and co-workers all the time and not really having a true outlet or breakaway from that at any point. I have decided if I get into this evening program I am going to take the money I make there and save up for a truck...cause man Portia and I really could use the opportunity to drive outta here once in awhile and go to the beach or the mountains or something. Nothing like a week without any communication to make you miss your friends and family and wish you had at least a couple who were close by.
Like I said I am not complaining in anyway, just trying to process that I have ventured to a new world for me and now I have to find a way to make this my new home with new friends...God help me please!

Saw my movie...

Well okay so not my movie, but I did see MADE OF HONOR...first off let me just say AWESOME soundtrack!! Loved every song! Despite all the critics I really did like this movie and there were many things I could relate to the main character throughout the movie...ok, so not so much on the rules of dating and his whole sleeping around thing, or in the end trying to break up his best friend's wedding from the inside...but there was a lot of other aspects I could relate to his, his feelings for there has to be more to life and his enjoyment of the cranberry orange cake (can I just say Mmm good and I am said Shield's Tavern closed today to never serve me Cranberry Orange slices again!) Anyway, back to the movie...it was great and I know I am way out of the loop for what is new and popular but I have a whole new appreciation for Sara Bareilles what a great singer/performer...not bad to look at either, too bad she doesn't have blue eyes or live in Virginia!