I was at the airport last night to pick my wife up. She's been in the PI for a month and a half.
Got to talking to a young Marine. Seems like he had a 36 hour layover in KC and the airline had sent his duffle bag ot Cancoun, Mexico. It had everything in it. His clothes, his money, his ATM and credit cards.
The airline gave him a couple of the small pillows and a couple of the thin airline blankets and told him they would have his duffle to him about 2:00 PM the next day. His next flight didn't leave until 11:00 PM.
I asked him if he would take some help if it was offered. He said sure.
I told him that we would stick around to pick up my wife and then he could come home with us, stay the night, eat a couple of good meals, and I would take him back to the airport the next day.
You should have seen the look of increduality on his face!
He said to me, "You don't know me. Why would you offer to do that for me?"
I just said that I had been in the military, been stuck in airports with no luggage, and wished that someone had done it for me.
He came home with us and slept the night. He's at my house right now with my wife feeding him up nicely with some Italian beef sandwiches, pepperincinis, and iced tea.
He's headed back to Fallujah. He had 12 days leave after 14 months in Iraq.
I figure it's the least I could do for one of our servicemen.
You're a good man Just another Joe.
God Bless you and your wife.
What a wonderful story, Joe.
God bless you Joe. This is something the young soldier will NEVER forget!!! Thanks from ALL of us!
God Bless him. God Bless you for reaching out. I was in his shoes (airports in uniform with 12-20 hour waits) a few times but never in combat.
Tell him this USAF Cold War Warrior said Semper Fi!
Excellent story, Joe, God Bless!
He said to me, "You don't know me. Why would you offer to do that for me?"
You could have said the same thing to him. God bless our troops - keep them safe.
Good for you and your wife,Joe-----That's the America I grew up in.
What a wonderful story. You're not "Just another Joe" in my book.
Yeah!!!!