Posted on 11/10/2004 8:36:17 PM PST by conelrad
SPINDALE -- Warren Messer weighed 80 pounds, and had turned blue. His knees were crushed and his feet and fingers were broken.
He was struggling to hang on to life in the hell of a Cambodian prisoner-of-war camp during the Vietnam War, when he saw the eyes of the man who would save his life.
He never forgot those eyes.
Messer was on assignment in Cambodia doing reconnaissance missions for the U.S. Marine Corps when he was captured.
Ronnie Scroggs, an Air Force medic and Rutherford County native, lifted Messer from the hells of the Cambodian POW camp on July 25, 1970.
It was Messer's birthday.
Of course, no one knew that at the time. Messer had been so brutalized that he couldn't tell anyone, including his savior, "Doc Roc" Scroggs.
In fact, Scroggs expected him to die.
During the rescue efforts, Scroggs' captain even suggested a mercy killing. Scroggs disagreed.
"He was laying on the ground ... I saw something in his eyes," a tearful Scroggs said, recalling the day he saw Messer in the POW prison.
Scroggs and two other POWs he rescued, spent three days trekking through the jungle to carry the wounded Messer, hidden in a bamboo cage, to a helicopter where he was flown away for medical care.
Who would have ever thought that 34 years later, Messer would see those compassionate eyes again.
Just over a month ago, fate and an alert Veterans Services Office official intervened.
Messer, 57, who lives in Gaffney, S.C., often traveled to Spindale for counseling at the Veterans Service Office. He is a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Scroggs, 56, also visits the Spindale veterans office on a regular basis where he meets with Veterans Services Officer Marie Champion to talk about his benefits, the motorcycle club, the war, or just to spend time with friends.
Neither was aware they lived 30 miles apart.
Scroggs hadn't thought much about Messer in the three decades since he last saw him. "When I last saw him, I left him for dead," Scroggs said.
Of course, no one knew that at the time. Messer had been so brutalized that he couldn't tell anyone, including his savior, "Doc Roc" Scroggs.
In fact, Scroggs expected him to die.
During the rescue efforts, Scroggs' captain even suggested a mercy killing. Scroggs disagreed.
"He was laying on the ground ... I saw something in his eyes," a tearful Scroggs said, recalling the day he saw Messer in the POW prison.
Scroggs and two other POWs he rescued, spent three days trekking through the jungle to carry the wounded Messer, hidden in a bamboo cage, to a helicopter where he was flown away for medical care.
Who would have ever thought that 34 years later, Messer would see those compassionate eyes again.
Just over a month ago, fate and an alert Veterans Services Office official intervened.
Messer, 57, who lives in Gaffney, S.C., often traveled to Spindale for counseling at the Veterans Service Office. He is a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Scroggs, 56, also visits the Spindale veterans office on a regular basis where he meets with Veterans Services Officer Marie Champion to talk about his benefits, the motorcycle club, the war, or just to spend time with friends.
Neither was aware they lived 30 miles apart.
Scroggs hadn't thought much about Messer in the three decades since he last saw him. "When I last saw him, I left him for dead," Scroggs said.
She put the two stories together and although she didn't have a clue if it was Scroggs who rescued Messer, she arranged for Messer to be at the office at the time Scroggs was there.
"We met right here in this hall," Messer said with his arms around Scroggs.
"It was those eyes again. As soon as I saw those eyes. We hugged and we cried and cried for a long time," Messer said.
"The chances of us seeing each other again was astronomical," Messer continued.
"For about 35 years we've blocked a lot of this out. We don't talk about it too much. It's too hard. I have been depressed," Messer said.
Messer recalled how he was a U.S. Marine doing reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War. It was on assignment in Cambodia that he was captured on Oct. 3, 1968, after being shot four times.
His feet were broken, his ankles broken, all his fingers were broken, his knees were crushed.
That day in 1970, when Scroggs helped to rescue three soldiers from the POW Camp, he never expected Messer to recover.
"Now this has really brought us closure," Messer said.
"Yes, there is closure now," Scroggs added.
Although it took him more than a year to recover from the physical wounds of his first reconnaissance mission, Messer later returned to Vietnam to another tour of duty.
Messer is still in the Marine Corps where he serves as a member of the Marine Corps League, Shelby, as a member of the Foothills Detachment. "I'll stay in the Marine Corps 'til they pull the flag across me," he said.
Scroggs didn't make the Air Force a career, instead, returning to Rutherford County and building a career with the Rutherford County EMS.
"We fully support each other," Scroggs said.
"He's my brother," Messer said.
"We are doing the best we can. One day at a time," Messer said.
Since their reunion, the two men have talked, visited and have ridden motorcycles together. They are members of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club, a club organized to find POWs and MIAs.
Accompanying Messer and Scroggs to Spindale last week were two other Vietnam Vets, Gray Wolf of Marion and Trumpet Mike of Cleveland County, who are also committed to finding the prisoners of war and the people missing in action.
"We are not just another wild motorcycle club, not at all we want our people brought back to us, and they are out there," Messer added.
Messer received 17 Purple Hearts and by the end of the year is expected to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor award.
Contact Gordon via e-mail at jeang@blueridge.net
Incredible.
Sorry, the POW is from SC and his rescuer from NC.
These are the heroes, and they don't showboat liek Lurch does.
They did it.
That Messer did another tour after all he'd been through is just awe inspiring. Thank the Lord we have these type of guys in this Country-- we have many in Fallujah right now.
How did we get so lucky as a nation? God Bless them.
This story would have been almost unbearable to read if things would have turned out differently last week.
For real, the idea that Kerry was constantly thumping his chest over his 4 month tour is even more outrageous when I read something like this. I just wish the paper had included pictures of these two heroes.
Bump.
What a story. God Bless them. So many of us go about our everyday rush and never stop to think who made our freedom possible.
We lost brave young men yesterday in war. What a loss, and what a gift, to have these young men fight our fight.
Every one of us should send them as many prepaid phone cards as we can afford, and PRAY.
Especially during the Holidays.
NC list ping. I think the AP picked this up and it got in the N&O online today.
17 REAL Purple Hearts. Not high-speed rice imbedded in his ass either.
Exactly. Screw Lurch.
ping
It is nothing short of extraordinary. Make no mistake, Nam cost him the election.
Wow! Thank God we have men like this in our country and our military. I'm in tears. And to think this man went back for another tour after what he had been through. I'm in awe, would like to meet him myself. God Bless him and all our vets.
Ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.