Me and Henry
Bill Irwin
billi@aloha.net
Fri, 21 Mar 2003 11:58:43 -0800
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Here is another veterans story you can take to the UU church: I tried =
to get my service records from the Army, I served from '63-'65. They =
wrote back that they could not find any records of my service. They say =
that many records were burned in a fire in 1973. So as far as the =
government is concerned I never contributed anything. I wont be going =
to any VA hospital or be getting any other help for my Army service. =
Luckily Gerry and the others already at the hospital are getting some =
return for their efforts but many, many had their records burned and =
will get nothing, not even an aspirin.
Bill
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Judy Herr=20
To: 'Gerry Storm' ; austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net=20
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 10:25 AM
Subject: RE: Me and Henry
This is a beautiful piece - may I share it at the UU church in =
Livermore on Sunday? =20
-----Original Message-----
From: austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net =
[mailto:austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Gerry Storm
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 9:02 AM
To: austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net
Subject: Me and Henry
Me and Henry
It just happened that on the first day of the new war I had an =
appointment at the VA Hospital in Albuquerque. Throughout the 5 hour =
drive I was tuned in to NPR. Other than the news it was a lovely day for =
crossing New Mexico, without a doubt a place of great beauty and =
breadth.=20
The entrance to the hospital grounds is adjacent to the entrance of =
Kirtland AFB where a crowd of protestors was gathered, flanked by =
mounted police. Flashing them the peace sign (long time since I'd done =
that) I drove to my appointment. Albuquerque has a sizeable Peace =
contingent, well organized and quite visible. I've thought about moving =
closer the "The Q" to join them.
The best thing about a VA hospital is the attitude of the staff, very =
upbeat and utterly devoted to the patients. The heaviest thing is the =
sight of the patients themselves, many of them quite advanced in age, =
every one of them crippled in one grotesque way or another by an enemy =
they fought as kids. They too have a good comraderie. (One group in =
Southern New Mexico operates a shuttle bus service taking vets from =
their homes to the VA hospital--no charge to the patients, the drivers =
are volunteers.) They call one another "partner" or "brother" or "kid".=20
The hospital provides various contraptions like walking aids and =
braces and even little motorized carts. Some of the guys have attached =
small flag poles and decals to their carts. Most of them are multiple =
amputees.
At a table in the cafeteria I met a woman who was in the service the =
same time as me. She had been driven in by her granddaughter, some 250 =
miles. They were Native Americans. We reminisced about C-119's, the =
"Pregnant Guppy's" of the Korean War era.
I had planned to stay the night and drive back this morning, but as I =
was checking at the accomodations desk they noted that I was from Silver =
City. "Will you be driving back to Silver City?" I was asked. "Yes," I =
said, "In the morning."=20
"We have a gentleman from Silver City who needs a ride home. He came =
in this morning on the shuttle but his appointment ran an hour over and =
he is stranded. We can put him up for the night if you will drive him =
home tomorrow."
Then I saw him, a little guy, maybe 80, all twisted below the waist, =
wide eyes and a mouth that was always open. He wore a leather cap and =
matching jacket. He got up and came over to me, moving very awkwardly =
with two canes, a motion that was quite fluid considering his handicap. =
He smelled of nicotine. Propping one the canes against a leg he offered =
his hand, "Hi Brother," he said, "I'm Henry."
"Hi Henry," I smiled, taking his hand, "I'm Gerry. You want to spend =
the night or go home now?"
"I didn't come to spend the night. Didn't bring a kit or nothing."
"OK, let me get my van. I'll pick you up at the main entrance in a few =
minutes."
So, as this first day of the new war turned to darkness, me and Henry =
drove the 5 hours back to Silver, listening to the war news on the radio =
and talking about war and history (he was born in Santa Rita, a town =
that was literally disassembled in order to mine the copper that lay =
beneath it.) When we got to his house, he handed me a crumpled $5 bill =
and what was left of a pack of cigarettes. I helped him to the ground =
and he walked toward the house with that complicated yet polished gait =
that enabled him to be ambulatory.
I was wishing the George Bush could meet Henry, could spend a day with =
the boys at the VA hospital. Maybe it would open his eyes. It sure =
reminded me in the most profound way as to why I am on the other side.
Gerry
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Here is another veterans story you can =
take to the=20
UU church: I tried to get my service records from the Army, I =
served from=20
'63-'65. They wrote back that they could not find any records of =
my=20
service. They say that many records were burned in a fire in =
1973. =20
So as far as the government is concerned I never contributed =
anything. I=20
wont be going to any VA hospital or be getting any other help for =
my Army=20
service. Luckily Gerry and the others already at the hospital are =
getting=20
some return for their efforts but many, many had their records burned=20
and will get nothing, not even an aspirin.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Bill</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dherr.judy@attbi.com =
href=3D"mailto:herr.judy@attbi.com">Judy Herr</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dmesmo@gilanet.com=20
href=3D"mailto:mesmo@gilanet.com">'Gerry Storm'</A> ; <A=20
title=3Daustin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net=20
=
href=3D"mailto:austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net">austin-ghetto-list@pairli=
st.net</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, March 21, 2003 =
10:25=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Me and Henry</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dblack =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black">This is a beautiful piece =
– may I share=20
it at the UU church in </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=3Dblack><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black">Livermore</SPAN></FONT><FONT =
color=3Dblack><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black"> on Sunday? </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dblack =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: =
medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: blue =
1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original=20
Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> =
<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net">austin-ghetto-list-=
admin@pairlist.net</A>=20
[mailto:austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net] <B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Gerry =
Storm<BR><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Thursday, March 20, 2003 =
9:02=20
AM<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net">austin-ghetto-list@pairli=
st.net</A><BR><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Me and =
Henry</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Me and Henry</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">It just happened that on the first day of =
the new war=20
I had an appointment at the VA Hospital in Albuquerque. Throughout the =
5 hour=20
drive I was tuned in to NPR. Other than the news it was a lovely =
day for=20
crossing New Mexico, without a doubt a place of great beauty and =
breadth.=20
</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The entrance to the hospital grounds is =
adjacent to=20
the entrance of Kirtland AFB where a crowd of protestors was gathered, =
flanked=20
by mounted police. Flashing them the peace sign (long time since I'd =
done=20
that) I drove to my appointment. Albuquerque has a sizeable Peace =
contingent,=20
well organized and quite visible. I've thought about moving closer the =
"The Q"=20
to join them.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The best thing about a VA hospital is the =
attitude of=20
the staff, very upbeat and utterly devoted to the patients. The =
heaviest thing=20
is the sight of the patients themselves, many of them quite advanced =
in age,=20
every one of them crippled in one grotesque way or another by an =
enemy=20
they fought as kids. They too have a good comraderie. (One group in =
Southern=20
New Mexico operates a shuttle bus service taking vets from their homes =
to the=20
VA hospital--no charge to the patients, the drivers are volunteers.) =
They call=20
one another "partner" or "brother" or "kid". </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The hospital provides various contraptions =
like=20
walking aids and braces and even little motorized carts. Some of the =
guys have=20
attached small flag poles and decals to their carts. Most of them are =
multiple=20
amputees.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">At a table in the cafeteria I met a woman =
who was in=20
the service the same time as me. She had been driven in by her =
granddaughter,=20
some 250 miles. They were Native Americans. We reminisced about =
C-119's, the=20
"Pregnant Guppy's" of the Korean War era.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I had planned to stay the night and drive =
back this=20
morning, but as I was checking at the accomodations desk they =
noted=20
that I was from Silver City. "Will you be driving back to Silver =
City?" I=20
was asked. "Yes," I said, "In the morning." </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"We have a gentleman from Silver City who =
needs a ride=20
home. He came in this morning on the shuttle but his appointment ran =
an hour=20
over and he is stranded. We can put him up for the night if you will =
drive him=20
home tomorrow."</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Then I saw him, a little guy, maybe 80, all =
twisted=20
below the waist, wide eyes and a mouth that was always open. He wore a =
leather=20
cap and matching jacket. He got up and came over to me, moving very =
awkwardly=20
with two canes, a motion that was quite fluid considering his =
handicap. He=20
smelled of nicotine. Propping one the canes against a leg he offered =
his hand,=20
"Hi Brother," he said, "I'm Henry."</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"Hi Henry," I smiled, taking his hand, "I'm =
Gerry. You=20
want to spend the night or go home now?"</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"I didn't come to spend the night. Didn't =
bring a kit=20
or nothing."</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"OK, let me get my van. I'll pick you up at =
the main=20
entrance in a few minutes."</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">So, as this first day of the new war turned =
to=20
darkness, me and Henry drove the 5 hours back to Silver, listening to =
the war=20
news on the radio and talking about war and history (he was born in =
Santa=20
Rita, a town that was literally disassembled in order to mine the =
copper that=20
lay beneath it.) When we got to his house, he handed me a crumpled $5 =
bill and=20
what was left of a pack of cigarettes. I helped him to the ground and =
he=20
walked toward the house with that complicated yet polished gait=20
that enabled him to be ambulatory.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I was wishing the George Bush could meet =
Henry, could=20
spend a day with the boys at the VA hospital. Maybe it would open his =
eyes. It=20
sure reminded me in the most profound way as to why I am on the other=20
side.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Gerry</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTM=
L>
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