Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 93284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“I couldn’t make him come home alone, and the escort who is with him didn’t know him like I do. So I came home with him, to make sure he got here safely.” James said to me.
The military escort, Jason, had a solemn sad look on his face. According to James, this was his first military escort. The military always made sure that those KIA were escorted to their final resting places. Personal effects were given to family members. He made sure that each soldier wasn’t alone. If this situation weren’t so awful, I would have asked him more questions about the military escort process. I made a mental note to question Sam about it later.
“Cheyenne honey, James looks dead on his feet, why don’t you let him go.” I heard Sam say from behind me.
“Its ok, I like her where she is. I could use it right now. It is a good kind of hurt.” James said, not letting me go when I tried to pull away.
We stood like that for what seemed like hours, but then the luggage was being unloaded, and James came to and walked in the direction of the men who were loading suitcases onto the cart.
I stood in between Sam and James as we watched and waited. Finally the last piece of luggage was unloaded, and taken away. Another cart was pulled up beside the plane, but this one carried a flatbed trailer.
I couldn’t hold it in and longer, and let the tears fall, streaming down my face.
Four men made forward to get the last item out, but Sam, James, Elliott, Gabe, Jack and Max stopped them and moved forward to do it themselves. Gabe on one side, Sam on the other both reached in and pulled the box that held Dougie out.
Once more of the box was exposed, Elliott and Jack moved to take the middle, and Max and James got the end. They walked it carefully to the flat bed of the trailer and set it down with upmost care. The military escort stepped to the right, out of the way of the men unloading and saluted.
I glanced to my left when I saw movement, and noticed several baggage handlers, the pilots, and some stragglers from the plane standing in place. Those with hats had them covering their hearts in a sign of respect. Chills raced up my spine. Tears tracked down my cheeks uncontrolled. Dougie would have been so proud. He loved what he did, and each of these people here today would never forget him. It would follow them their entire lives, what they saw today. They would know that a hero came home, and was greatly loved by all.
Turning my attention back to the guys, I started walking forward when they did. We all followed the casket, and the military escort to what looked like an empty hanger. The guys loaded the box onto the platform that was already set up and waiting, then backed away as the escort started cutting the box away. It was wrapped in cardboard, tied with white strips to keep it secure. Once that was off, he removed the plastic that was covering the casket.
James was standing off by himself, and I pulled away from Sam, and walked to James, curling myself around his body, and watched, remembering how it felt when the guy on the phone had told me what had happened.
“Ma’am, I am sorry to bother you so late, but this is Captain Lance Arnette with the United States Army. Your brother was on a mission and was wounded. As of right now we are not sure how serious his injuries are. He is on a military flight…..” was all I heard before my mind shut down.
I heard Sam talking to the man, but my heart was breaking. God please let him live, please let him live. I repeated over and over again.
James tensed up and I forced my attention back to the casket. You could see the beautiful mahogany wood that was polished perfectly.
The military escort, who I learned was a PFC named Jacob Satterwhite, laid the folded flag out on top of the coffin and unfolded it laying it flat over the top of the coffin, while tucking it in and doing something that made the sides stay tucked up.
I looked around at the guys, and everyone’s eyes looked haunted.
Once the casket had the flag draped over it, a waiting hearse was backed up and the men loaded it into the back.
The funeral director came over and spoke with us to let us know where he would be taking the body.
“If you don’t mind waiting, we would like to follow you. The escort will ride with you, and we will be behind.” Sam said to him.
The man nodded and went to his hearse as we walked to our vehicles.
We did some luggage repositioning, strapping some down to the back of the bikes with bungee cords before we finally had enough room for James to get in. I got up front with Sam, and James sat in back with Janie who was asleep in her car seat with Cheetos smears all over her face. We had to rearrange luggage and shove some up front with me to get a seat open for him to sit comfortably.
James buckled his seat belt, then turned and ran his hand down Janie’s face, leaned over and kissed her nose. He smelled her hair for a couple seconds, then leaned back into his seat, but held her hand, closing his eyes tightly.
I turned around then, letting him have a little privacy.
We headed to a back road where we saw the hearse exit from a back entrance, and followed him all the way to the funeral home. I’m sure we looked a sight, following behind the hearse: a large black Suburban with big tires, and three motorcycles, one flying an American flag behind it. Cars flashed their lights, and never passed the entire way to the funeral home.