Encouraging Words on Veterans Day
Real Hero by Jaye Lewis
I only
noticed him out of the corner of my eye.
I knew he was a Marine from the cut of his uniform, with its tightly
pressed military creases. Then I heard him, speaking low, with a kind of
hiss. He was not speaking to me. He was speaking to my sergeant,
who was the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in charge of the Military
Information Booth at San
Francisco International
Airport
I heard his tortured attempt to speak. "Hep nee, peesss!" I understood him, “Help me, please!” He struggled with every word. I was grabbing my purse to take a much needed break, but I was caught by his struggle to make himself understood. I could hear the irritation in the sergeant's voice as she demanded that he "speak up!"
I heard his tortured attempt to speak. "Hep nee, peesss!" I understood him, “Help me, please!” He struggled with every word. I was grabbing my purse to take a much needed break, but I was caught by his struggle to make himself understood. I could hear the irritation in the sergeant's voice as she demanded that he "speak up!"
I paused as
he began again, "I-nee-to-change-ny-tickek!"
I understood every painful word he said. He needed to change his ticket. What was wrong with my NCO?
I understood every painful word he said. He needed to change his ticket. What was wrong with my NCO?
"I
CAN'T understand you!" she said, irritated. "Speak up!"
How rude! I thought, as I turned to put down my purse. I then looked at him, as he again struggled to be understood. No wonder he struggled. Before me stood a tall, strong Marine officer, perfect in his pristine uniform, missing half his jaw! My God, I thought! What is she thinking?!
"Excuse me, Sir. I can help you," I said. Without thinking, I shoved my sergeant aside and maneuvered my way in front of her. I could see the man's teeth through the wire that held his face together. I was of little importance, just a lowly seaman apprentice. However, I knew what this man needed -- someone who cared enough to listen. I studied his eyes. I saw the pain, and I felt his humiliation. Soul to soul, I knew what to do. I smiled a big, welcoming smile.
"Yes, Sir! How can I help you?"
Slowly and painfully the words, tortured and slurred, escaped from his wired mouth. I listened with all my heart, and I watched his eyes. I prayed to God to help me understand him. And I did! More than I can express. I gave him the directions he needed, and his eyes smiled his thanks. When he walked away I called a friend at one of the airlines who adopted him immediately, by personally attending to his needs.
I thanked God for this opportunity to help a real hero; however, I also knew I was in trouble. As I looked at my sergeant, I felt anger rise in me -- at her rudeness and total lack of sensitivity. She studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing.
How rude! I thought, as I turned to put down my purse. I then looked at him, as he again struggled to be understood. No wonder he struggled. Before me stood a tall, strong Marine officer, perfect in his pristine uniform, missing half his jaw! My God, I thought! What is she thinking?!
"Excuse me, Sir. I can help you," I said. Without thinking, I shoved my sergeant aside and maneuvered my way in front of her. I could see the man's teeth through the wire that held his face together. I was of little importance, just a lowly seaman apprentice. However, I knew what this man needed -- someone who cared enough to listen. I studied his eyes. I saw the pain, and I felt his humiliation. Soul to soul, I knew what to do. I smiled a big, welcoming smile.
"Yes, Sir! How can I help you?"
Slowly and painfully the words, tortured and slurred, escaped from his wired mouth. I listened with all my heart, and I watched his eyes. I prayed to God to help me understand him. And I did! More than I can express. I gave him the directions he needed, and his eyes smiled his thanks. When he walked away I called a friend at one of the airlines who adopted him immediately, by personally attending to his needs.
I thanked God for this opportunity to help a real hero; however, I also knew I was in trouble. As I looked at my sergeant, I felt anger rise in me -- at her rudeness and total lack of sensitivity. She studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing.
"I could put you on
report," she said, showing no emotion.
"…and, I could put YOU on
report for insubordination to an officer," I retorted, my eyes spitting
fire. I hurled the stack of blank “report sheets” towards her. "Be my guest!" I said, as I grabbed
my purse. "I'll be on break." And I left.
I went on to supper, because I knew it would be a long night. I was troubled, now that my "dander" was down, at the thought of going before a “Captain's Mast”, or hearing, to explain my insubordination to an NCO. I was certain it would be very unpleasant.
I went on to supper, because I knew it would be a long night. I was troubled, now that my "dander" was down, at the thought of going before a “Captain's Mast”, or hearing, to explain my insubordination to an NCO. I was certain it would be very unpleasant.
As I neared the United Airlines
counter, I saw him again. His luggage was being checked, and his back was
towards me. Then, as though someone had told him where I was, he turned,
and he looked at me. Our eyes met for an eternity. Then I smiled.
This soldier and hero, in the United States Marine Corps, pulled himself up to his full height, and with all the military perfection in his being, he gave me a sharp, military salute. I was thrilled! WAVES did not salute indoors, especially when we were not wearing our cover or hat, but I pulled myself to attention and returned that salute.
Moving on to the cafeteria, I walked a little taller, and I felt a little older. In one small encounter I had grown from a twenty-one year old girl into a twenty-one year old woman. And, truth be told, I felt more like a lady than I ever had before in my whole life! I felt... just a little bit... like a hero.
This soldier and hero, in the United States Marine Corps, pulled himself up to his full height, and with all the military perfection in his being, he gave me a sharp, military salute. I was thrilled! WAVES did not salute indoors, especially when we were not wearing our cover or hat, but I pulled myself to attention and returned that salute.
Moving on to the cafeteria, I walked a little taller, and I felt a little older. In one small encounter I had grown from a twenty-one year old girl into a twenty-one year old woman. And, truth be told, I felt more like a lady than I ever had before in my whole life! I felt... just a little bit... like a hero.
© Jaye Lewis, 2001
