Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for our fallen heroes. Today, I would like to remember a fallen hero that I personally admired, my Uncle Bill.

First, I would like to describe my Uncle Bill. Think of James Garner . He not only resembles James Garner in appearance, but also in attitude. He was a fairly happy guy, would do just about anything for anyone unless he was crossed or there was an injustice done. He would fight for what is right. Kind of a cross between Garner’s “Maverick” and “Tank” characters.

Uncle Bill joined the United States Air Force in the late fifties. He was a load master on Air Force planes. Eventually, Bill made it to the rank of E-7, Master Sergeant. He served in Vietnam on Air Planes that dropped what we now know as Agent Orange. That is what I know for sure about Bill. Through the grapevine, I’ve learned that Bill suffered, like many US Veteran’s have, because of what he experienced in Vietnam. The nightmares haunted him and the Agent Orange he was exposed to started to destroy his body. He had trouble with his marriages, and trouble with everyday life, but like a good soldier, he fought the good fight and eventually received compensation from the US Government for his illnesses from Agent Orange exposure.

The last time I saw my Uncle Bill, was in August of 2001. He finally seemed at peace, content with his life, both past and present. I remember the day my daughters and I spent with him like it was yesterday. I want to remember him just as he was then, before everything changed.

The day that impacted Bill more than anything that had happened to him in his military past, was September 11, 2001. It was about a week after 9/11 that his buddies at the VFW post he frequented became concerned over the fact that he hadn’t stopped in for over a week. A friend went to his home and found Bill lying on the floor. He was incoherent, malnourished and disoriented. You see, one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center was piloted by a man who Bill had flown with in the Air Force.

This horrible day in American history pushed my Uncle Bill over the edge. He was hospitalized and eventually, place in a Veteran’s hospital in Tampa, Florida. Bill lives in his own world now, a world at peace and a world where people aren’t trying to kill each other. He believes he is still a younger man, that his father is still alive, and the world is at peace. No, my Uncle Bill isn’t dead, he’s now 70 years old and still in the same Veteran’s hospital he was placed in over 5 years ago. But Bill is no less a fallen hero then all the other veteran’s that will be remembered on this Memorial Day and those to come. I love you Uncle Bill, you’re still my hero…..Bunny

Posted by: Bunny at 08:24 AM under "System"
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