A Student of Modern Warfare

A few weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure to volunteer for The Gary Sinise Foundation's Snowball Express. Gary Sinise of Forrest Gump and CSI: NY fame heads up an organization that supports active duty Soldiers, veterans and their families. His foundation sponsors a special event: The Snowball Express. Each December the foundation hosts 1,750+ children of the fallen and their surviving parent or guardian at a five-day retreat. Last year they went to Disney World. One of my friends, female combat veteran, planned a trip to an Army base in North Carolina where the families would assemble before heading to Orlando.

Gold Star families hold a special place in my heart. They have made the ultimate sacrifice. I met of few of these families while we were stationed in Vicenza and the surviving spouses and children are so brave. At times I miss the close connection to the military and so welcomed the opportunity to drive the four hours to cheer the kids and parents as they boarded their flight to Disney. What I did not immediately understand was I needed to wake up at midnight to be there at 5AM when the families arrived at the airport in North Carolina. It took me  few days to wrap my head around the idea, but then I recognized what an extraordinary opportunity it was. I went to bed super early that Friday evening and woke up at midnight to get ready for an adventure. I was not disappointed.

The kids ranged from seven to 12 or 13 years old. They were ordinary looking kids. Nothing about them let on that they had lived through the nightmare of having a parent killed in combat. It was early and our exuberant holiday cheering may have slightly unnerved them. It was early for them, but we had been awake for hours. Once they were all assembled we waited on the tarmac for them to board the American Airline aircraft, and this is where it happened.

I saw a savage looking helicopter in the distance. It reminded me of a dinosaur. It was large, hulking and powerful looking. (It also matched my jacket, which was definitely a sign!) I heard some chatter around me about other helicopters, the Blackhawk and the Chinook, but the look of the Apache held my attention fiercely. I had never seen anything like it. I later learned it is a lot like a flying tank. It has a Rolls Royce engine, is mostly bulletproof and can climb to over 5,000 ft. per minute. These are the guys you call when something has gone wrong in the fight, and you need it fixed fast. After I stopped staring at the incredible machine I wondered why they were there, and the answer made me want to cry in earnest. Two Apaches escort the American Airlines plane with the children down the runway until the plane is airborne as a sign of respect, and just that small extra touch to remind the families of how special they are.

During the drive back the Apache became my newest obsession. I texted Hunter's Godmother when I got back to Savannah. Her husband flew Apache's in the Army and survived a harrowing firefight. She shared stories with me over the years, but back then I didn't know what an Apache looked like. My next stop was to find a book that could tell me more about the Apache. By all accounts Ed Macy's Apache is the best out there. The cover has these quotes: "Puts you right in the cockpit with your finger on the trigger. A truly awesome read." and "Thoroughly absorbing...A real find for students of modern warfare." I am not student of modern warfare, at least not yet anyway. In the meantime, this book and the trip to North Carolina have expanded my world view and for that I am grateful.

Until next time on The Cat Who Swallowed the Canary.