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We hardly had whiskers when first we met Halfway round the world, I remember it yet An unlikely meeting ’tween an Oz and a Yank It didn’t seem odd then as we talked and we drank Over three million served in the war over there He’d finished his business and for need of a lift As I said before, the chances were slim While visiting one night a member’s home page You do the math… ©Randy Richmond 21st June 2001 |
I’ve wanted to do this for some time and for those of you who didn’t know the story, I didn’t want to comment at the beginning.
I’d like to say now though to Tony that this is for you AND me.
A testimony to incalculable odds and to a friendship formed by what I consider a divine sort of destiny.
DATELINE VIETNAM:
March 1970
It’s now 14 months since first stepping off the plane in Bien Hoa. God that seemed like so very long ago. I have seven more months till I can kiss this place good-bye for the last time. I’ve seen and done much, tried and succeeded at many things and failed miserably at others. I got married a few months ago while on leave and left my new bride behind to return to this hot, God forsaken land and a routine of hard work, long lonely hours, boredom, and Charlie’s occasional rockets and mortars. All this and still only 19 years old. I still won’t be able to buy a legal drink when I do get home!
This day started much the same as any other but proved later on to offer a bit of a surprise. It proved to be a welcome respite when a couple fellows from another base visited. They were here for the day to trade… scrounging is what we called it. You see, the way of things in the military was a kind of “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” proposition. If you had an excess of a certain article, and a need of something else, you’d simply swap for it.
That was the case with these two and, having already taken care of most of their ‘business’, they, due to circumstances, were looking for a ride back to their unit. They quite naturally sought out a transportation outfit (ours) to find a lift. To seal the deal, they were kind enough to provide alcoholic refreshments and conversation for an enjoyable afternoon in a not so enjoyable place with a few of us.
Sound trivial? Probably, but bear with me, it gets better!
DATELINE USA:
February 2001
A few nights ago, I was surfing around and ended up on a web site that I’ve visited before. I noticed some changes had recently been added. The most obvious was a ‘then-ish’ photo of the site owner on his home page. Immediately on seeing this, my mind began whirring , clicking and tingling with recognition. This was one of the men we’d spent the afternoon with 31 years earlier!
Having an excellent memory for faces, if not for complete details, I e-mailed this gentleman with a few pointed questions. Questions that had only one possible answer. If any of them varied from details I knew to be certain, there may have been doubt.
After affirming these questions and exchanging several e-mails, there is no longer doubt. We have met twice under very unusual circumstances!
Isn’t that eerie and amazing? To most people this would be considered interesting but not much more than noteworthy. Until you read something even more amazing……
That gentleman was Anthony Pahl of the Royal Australian Air Force, web master of IWVPA and a long-standing member of a Yahoo Poetry club that I joined recently!!
God IS good and really does work in mysterious ways.
Imagine plotting the 31 year journey to get us together at Boondocker’s Poetic Justice Club?
I don’t think magic is the right word!
Randy Richmond
January 18, 2001Page created: Sunday, 24 June 2001
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Friday, 09 May 2008
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