FDX - for those of you who have not been in the military
11-07-2008, 04:31 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
FDX - for those of you who have not been in the military
This is probably not the correct forum to post this in, so if a MOD wants to relocate it, I'll understand.
The Sack Lunches
I received this by email. Some may not understand why I posted it. I think the veterans in our group will:
Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. "I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap," I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. "Where are you headed?" I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. "Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq."
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. "No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago. His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch.
I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. "Take a lunch to all those soldiers." She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. "My son was a soldier in Iraq;it's almost like you are doing it for him." Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, "Which do you like best - beef or chicken?" "Chicken," I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. "This is your thanks."
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. "I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this." He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.
When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, "I want to shake your hand." Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, "I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot."
I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Soon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. "It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You."
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers . As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up
to and including my life." That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."
The Sack Lunches
I received this by email. Some may not understand why I posted it. I think the veterans in our group will:
Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. "I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap," I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. "Where are you headed?" I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. "Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq."
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. "No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago. His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch.
I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. "Take a lunch to all those soldiers." She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. "My son was a soldier in Iraq;it's almost like you are doing it for him." Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, "Which do you like best - beef or chicken?" "Chicken," I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. "This is your thanks."
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. "I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this." He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.
When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, "I want to shake your hand." Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, "I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot."
I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Soon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. "It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You."
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers . As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up
to and including my life." That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."
11-07-2008, 04:54 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,227
Nice story.
I saw a Fedex captain buy ~20 soldiers a round of drinks in Bangor a couple of years ago. They were headed overseas.
By the way, not sure why it pertains only to us non-military types. You know this JJ: I am all-civilian and I'd wager 50% of the all-civilian pilots in our business wanted to join up but couldn't for various reasons. I still got my ROTC nazi ribbons....
I saw a Fedex captain buy ~20 soldiers a round of drinks in Bangor a couple of years ago. They were headed overseas.
By the way, not sure why it pertains only to us non-military types. You know this JJ: I am all-civilian and I'd wager 50% of the all-civilian pilots in our business wanted to join up but couldn't for various reasons. I still got my ROTC nazi ribbons....
11-07-2008, 05:01 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 609
Originally Posted by Huck
Nice story.
I saw a Fedex captain buy ~20 soldiers a round of drinks in Bangor a couple of years ago. They were headed overseas.
By the way, not sure why it pertains only to us non-military types. You know this JJ: I am all-civilian and I'd wager 50% of the all-civilian pilots in our business wanted to join up but couldn't for various reasons. I still got my ROTC nazi ribbons....
I saw a Fedex captain buy ~20 soldiers a round of drinks in Bangor a couple of years ago. They were headed overseas.
By the way, not sure why it pertains only to us non-military types. You know this JJ: I am all-civilian and I'd wager 50% of the all-civilian pilots in our business wanted to join up but couldn't for various reasons. I still got my ROTC nazi ribbons....
11-07-2008, 05:07 AM
#6
Slainge Var'
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Zeppelin Tail Gunner
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by BOYCAPTAIN
great story JJ....i give them much respect!!!...but on another note...one night years ago after dinner i saw a seaboard captain stuff 20 rolls off other tables into his pockets...
11-07-2008, 05:11 AM
#7
Slainge Var'
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Zeppelin Tail Gunner
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by Huck
I still got my ROTC nazi ribbons....
Comparing college students to mass murderers of six million..yada yada...........you are fill in the blank!(I believe despicable comes to mind)
11-07-2008, 05:19 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Posts: 177
Originally Posted by Jetjok
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up
to and including my life." That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."
to and including my life." That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."
How true! Many current politicians come to mind...thanks JJ.
11-07-2008, 05:34 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
I would have loved flying Eagles with Huck, but his eyes just didn't allow it.
So--I get to hear funny stories about life at ASA and flying MD-11s as a captain for Gemini all over the world, and he tries not to roll his eyes when I tell him F-15 stories...
I too have been the recpient of some meals on the road when I was still active duty, and since then have tried to pay it back. It feels great on either side of the transaction.
Thanks JJ for a great post.
So--I get to hear funny stories about life at ASA and flying MD-11s as a captain for Gemini all over the world, and he tries not to roll his eyes when I tell him F-15 stories...
I too have been the recpient of some meals on the road when I was still active duty, and since then have tried to pay it back. It feels great on either side of the transaction.
Thanks JJ for a great post.
11-07-2008, 06:17 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
Originally Posted by Huck
By the way, not sure why it pertains only to us non-military types. You know this JJ: I am all-civilian and I'd wager 50% of the all-civilian pilots in our business wanted to join up but couldn't for various reasons. I still got my ROTC nazi ribbons....
No disrespect intended.
JJ
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