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