Archives at Zinester: May 30, 2005 - Special Memorial Day Treat - B. J. Cassady. Storytime

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Special Memorial Day Treat ??“ B. J. Cassady

May 30, 2005

Oh Brother Where art Thou?

B. J. Cassady

His name is Bill, we double dated to our high school graduation

back in 1962. He was my third baseman on my baseball team. We

were friends.

After graduation we went our separate ways. I joined the Air Force

and he went into the Marines. I volunteered for Vietnam but was

sent to Newfoundland, Canada. He went to Nam. His first tour

brought him two bronze stars, his second tour he got a third bronzed

star, a purple heart and a silver star. He was the last man to leave

the infamous Hamburger Hill.

While wounded he carried off all the men that were wounded before

he left. How many lives did he save? He was involved in hand to

hand combat while doing this heroic act.

Bill never talked about it to me. His father read the letter that came

with the Silver Star. Bill probably just missed getting the Medal of

Honor by a tad. Bill never thought he was a hero, he was just a boy

from Kansas. While visiting him at his house, I had an gran mal

seizure. Bill??™s medical training helped me recover rapidly. Again we

parted company, me to college, him another tour, his third.

The third tour was a disaster for Bill, his mind had held too much,

seen too much and he suffered a mental breakdown. Bill went

through numerous hospitals. Finally he was discharged and went

home to Kansas. I heard about his setback and made a point to visit

him. What a change. When we talked, he saw things, heard things

that were not there. He was still in Vietnam while in Kansas. My

heart went out to him. His heart was locked in some place where I

could not reach.

While driving, Bill hit and killed a pedestrian. Before his trial, he

jumped bond and skipped. Last I heard he was working on a ranch

maybe in Montana or Wyoming.

His parents have since passed away. I went to his father's funeral

and made a point of being there for Bill. I hope I see Bill again. Our

country owes much to the Bills of the world. Their suffering, their

pain, their lives are forever changed.

Freedom is just a word until we make the sacrifice to earn it.

B.J. Cassady

Guthrie, Oklahoma

~**~**~

Today a Soldier Comes Home

B.J. Cassady

   Last Thursday was like any other day for me. I got up and rushed
around to get ready for work. I left about sunrise and started up the
road from my house. The sight before me left tears in my eyes.
On every fence post, every sign, and on bushes, trees and even weeds
were tied yellow bows, there were hundreds of them.   A half mile
down the road I turned to head for the highway that takes me to
work. Again, hundreds and hundreds of yellow bows tied against
anything that would support the effort. I did not know the exact
circumstance of the ribbons, was it for a soldier leaving, one arriving,
one deceased?

    I phoned my wife and told her about the ribbons. She left for her
work about two hours later and like me, she was stunned and moved.
She notified the local newspapers and phoned the local TV stations
after finding out a soldier was coming home from Iraq that weekend.
Apparently, the local small church had all it's members out decorating
the two mile drive from the highway to his house with hundreds if
not thousands of ribbons.

     When I arrived home Saturday and the corner of the two main
roads that had the ribbons, I saw two TV trucks and they were
broadcasting live shots from the roads. My wife was right in telling
the TV stations, we hear enough bad news, let's celebrate some good
news.

      I do not know the young man who came home, but he is just a
symbol of all the thousands of young men who arrive daily across the
country. Thank you for your time, your sacrifice and your devotion to
your country.

B.J. Cassady

~**~**~

Medals" (CS)

B. J. Cassady

Dedicated to all those whose service has made us free

"Mommy can I pin the medal on grandpa's uniform today?" I

asked.

"No dear this is not the time nor the place." she responded.

My young years did not make me understand.

I went to my father and said, "Daddy can I pin the medals on

grandpa's uniform today?

My father looked at me for a long time, as if pondering the weight

of the universe and replied, "Yes, you can. But first do you know

what the medals means?" He queried.

"I guess it means he served in World War Two and did brave

stuff." I responded.

"Let's sit down and I will tell you a story before we go see your

grandpa. During the battle of Okinawa he personally attacked a

machine gun nest and saved the lives of his company. Then during

Truk Island he carried off his wounded commanding officer, during

the heat of battle, saving his life."

"During the retaking of some of the other Islands he carried ammo

to men that were almost out. During the battle he was wounded and

yet still fought because he felt he made a difference."

"Well he received two bronze stars, a silver star, purple heart and

the medal of honor, presented by president Truman himself.

Your grandpa being shy, kept the honors quiet and keep the

ribbons and awards in a drawer to be worn only during special

ceremonies."

"Now do you understand about your grandpa?" my father asked.

I was in awe of my grandfather. He always treated me so gentle

and with all the love in the world. He told me once he treated me so

because of all the anger, evil and hurt he had seen.

"Love" He said, balances out all the bad in the world."

"Yes. I understand." as I looked at my father.

"Then lets go and you can put the medals on his uniform." stated

dad.

We drove for about 15 minutes, the medals weighing heavy in my

lap. I tried to think about what it must have been like for my

grandpa, but I couldn't imagine how it must have been.

We pulled into the driveway where grandpa was and entered the

building. I walked up to the casket where grandpa was dressed in

his army uniform and I pinned his country's pride upon my grandpa's

uniform.

"Thanks grandpa, thanks. Thanks for your sacrifice and my

freedom."

I tearfully gave him a boy scout salute then waited for the service.

B.J. Cassady

Guthrie, Oklahoma

~**~**~

The Soldier on the Hill

(for Mel Hull and his brothers)

B. J. Cassady

After the last shot was fired,

After the last bugle rang its tone,

The ole warrior was tired,

The years wore on the ole soldiers bones

One summer day as he sat all alone,

He looked to the hill and saw his regiment

marching home.

With a shrug and a last farewell,

He grabbed his cane, and marched into heaven

feeling quite well.

The wife and children around his side,

wondered at the smile they saw upon his poor

weathered hide.

Twas not the war but the victory at hand

it was he, the last soldier marching across

the hill to the beat of a distant band.

B.J. Cassady

~**~**~

Marching to Victory

(for Chet Foster)

B.J. Cassady

They stormed the beaches of Normandy,

They fought the battle of Wake.

They were the doughboys of the Great War,

They wore the Blue and the Grey.

They were at Valley Forge with George Washington,

They remembered the Maine and the Alamo.

They fought in the air, ground and over the waters,

They were in Da Nang, Kuwait and Korea.

They fought for the stars and bars and for a fact much dear,

That you and I could sleep at night with nothing to fear.

When the soldiers the battle fought,

Peace remain the goal most frequently sought.

So let the scars of war be gone and when the bugler plays,

Let the old warrior go home and not beg him to stay.

Let us their valor salute and memory remain clear,

For these are the ones who loved us all far and near.

Victory is at hand for the soldiers last stand,

For death cannot capture the real man.

B.J. Cassady

BJ.Cassady @ af-group.com

B.J. Cassady is a Stephen Minister at

Edmond Trinity Church and ISD professional

in Guthrie, Oklahoma. A disabled Vietnam

era USAF vet, BJ enjoys giving back to

the world with his writings and is putting

together a CD audio collection of his best

writings. For further information please

write: bj.enterprises @juno.com

Also look for his story 'Medals' in

"More Patriot Hearts" by Lt Col William

Coffey and "The Quilt".