2 Missed Calls
May was a busy month for USO here. We sent out an entire brigade and part of another. I had flights in the morning when I was there before the sun came up. I had flights in the evening and I saw the sun go down. After several days like that things kind of run together and you have a hard time remembering what day it is. But once in a while something will happen and it will stick with you. Something that you know you won't ever forget. ........I was at the end of the table where the post cards are set up. I was trying to encourage deploying soldiers to write home before boarding the plane. One guy told me he just really wished he could call home. He wanted to talk to his dad and his girlfriend one more time before leaving. I asked him if he would like to use my cell phone to call them and he declined. Then I could tell he was thinking about it. He didn't want to trouble me or ask me for anything special. After assuring him it was no trouble..he declined again. Finally i just put the phone in his hand and told him to call. He looked down at his boots and said thank you m'am. He called his dad first, no answer. Then tried his girlfriend, no answer. He had such a pitiful look on his face. He handed me back my phone. He finally took two post cards to write home on. He went and sat down in the corner and filled them out. About a half an hour later he brought them back. He looked at me and my friend, another volunteer and said thank you. He said he felt much better after writing the post cards. He was sad for not being able to get in touch by phone, but at least he was able to write. Once again after much convincing I got him to call home again. Still no answer. The time came for them to line up and board the plane. On this night I was able to be on the tarmac next to the plane. I got to see them actually walk up the stairs! I was so happy! But wow was it loud! I watched as each one came by. Then I saw him coming. He had a big grin on his face. "Thank you again m'am. I really appreciate you trying to help me." I told him it was no problem. I was glad to help. He shook the major's hand and went up the stairs. I watched him until he disappeared thru the doors. Then my pocket began to vibrate..my phone was ringing. I couldn't answer it because there was no way I could have heard the person on the other end. So I waited until the plane was loaded and I walked back to the line where we watch it leave. I took out my phone and looked..I had two missed calls. My heart sunk. I looked at the numbers and didn't recognize either of them. After some serious thinking and contemplating, I called the first one back. A young girl answered and said someone had called her from my number. I asked her if she knew someone going to Iraq that night and she said yes, my boyfriend was leaving tonight. I told her he was trying to call her. She was so excited until I told her he was gone already. She said thank you and hung up. I was really dreading the second call now. I dialed the number and a lady answered the phone. I told her who I was and she too said someone had called them from my number. I asked if she had someone going to Iraq and she said yes, her son was. Her voice cracked and she said she have to let her husband talk to me. So the father got on the phone. I told him how his son had tried to call. He too was excited and asked to speak to him. I told him I was sorry..but his son was gone..his plane was leaving as we were speaking..i was looking at it. But I assured him his son was in good spirits when he boarded the plane. That seemed to ease his sadness a little. He thanked me and said he appreciated all we do for the soldiers when the families can't be there. I told him it was an honor to be there and we said goodbye. I leaned against the wall and just cried. I don't know why..but i just let the tears flow. Calling those numbers back was so damn hard. I could have just ignored it. They never would have known..they would have thought it was a wrong number or something. But something inside me just couldn't let that happen. What if it were my son leaving and I missed his call? I would want to know he was ok when he left. But the saddest part of all..after talking to his girlfriend...after talking to his parents..I have no idea what his name was.
