Houston County Courier - Local News

Copyright 2012 - Polk County Publishing Company

Freedom has never been free
Houston County Courier

By Betty Jo Cook Van,
HN, USNR-R
Guest Columnist

I served because I wanted to make a difference. I believe I did. During the Vietnam era, the draft was re-instated. Women were immune from the draft, but as a student nurse I wanted to do my part. After securing permission from my parents, I enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve at Naval Air Station Dallas. Heading for boot camp in Bainbridge, MD, I found so many differences in the people I met from all across the U. S. Back in Dallas, the first station I ‘manned’, I was giving immunizations in what seemed to be an endless line of sailors and Marines headed out for the war. I never made it to Vietnam. It was never meant to be. The cargo ship in which I was flying to Hawaii was hit by lightening over the Grand Canyon. We had to jettison our fuel over the bay at Alameda because of the possibility of a crash landing. Thankfully, the pilots were proficient in feathering in those old prop cargo ships. The damage from the lightning we saw as we stepped out of that plane was surprising. It kept us on the ground for a couple of days. We wished for our dress blues because it was so cold in San Francisco and we were packed for the tropics. We were finally off again for Hawaii. But, just before we reached the point of no return over the Pacific, we had to turn back. The damage to the plane was more severe than previously thought. In the event the ship did go down, the first one you wanted in the life boat was a corpsman. As we switched places to put corpsmen by the escape hatches, we were reminded how much time we would have to clear the wing, briefed on how to use our shark repellent and how long we would have before the plane would (surely) sink in the event we did have to ditch. For a certainty I am sure the Lord held that plane up again as He had when we were initially hit over the canyon. Once again safely on the ground at Oakland/Alameda we spent only a short time. I do not know if that particular plane ever made it to Vietnam or just its cargo. The other two planes fl ying with us from Navy Dallas had gone on days before. Finally reaching Barber’s Point, the station I ‘manned’ was in the dispensary, as- sisting with military depen- dents, primarily washing sand out of the kids’ ears and practicing some creative sewing for minor surgical procedures. As mundane as that may seem, it was doing a service for the men who were serving us. During one tour, I remem- ber sitting at a desk for two weeks in a remote aircraft hanger doing seemingly un- ending paper work. I have found since then that no matter what the assignment, we all had a place to fi ll and a job to do. When I was at Treasure Island picking up some uni- forms, I thought those men had a great assignment. For the most part, their job was issuing uniforms. It may have seemed mundane, but every mundane job played a part in the success of our men on the front lines. Once on a subsequent trip in Hawaii I was on a mun- dane trip ona Seabee bus to Schoffi eld Barracks. The bus driver created a sand- wich consisting of the front of that bus and the carahead of a motorcycle. I did get to see that bike up close and personal. The driver was fi ne, declining any as- sistance other than fi rst aid while his bike had taken its fi nal tour. Nothing was ever actually mundane. On subsequent tours in Hawaii I was able to go on board the world’s fi rst nu- clear powered vessel, the USS Nautilus, the fi rst sub- marine to go to the North Pole and fi rst to journey 20,000 leagues under the sea. I was also able to go on board the USS Enterprise to see fi rsthand a city and mili- tary base on the sea from every perspective, except that of a Wave stationed on board, because that was not possible then. At one time while serving in Willow Grove, PA, I was ‘quartered’ ‘off’ base. I was fi lling a billet as a corpsman, but there were no Wave bar- racks. Every morning, a jeep was sent to get me and to take me to my motel that evening. Once I fl ew on a medi- vac from Travis Air Force Base in San Francisco to San Antonio. I will never forget seeing the off loading of that enormous air ambu- lance. After the ambulatory wounded were assisted off, the next group removed was the stretchers followed by the body boards. That has left an indelible mark in my mind. Today, having married my college sweetheart 41 years ago May 20, we are living near Austonio and enjoying our four sons, daughter and three granddaughters and one daughter-in-law and our son-in-law. Many times I have thanked God for not allow- ing that plane to crash over the Pacifi c Ocean. One of our sons once told me the reason it did not crash is be- cause God knew I needed to be their mommy. God did have a plan for my life then and I believe He still does. I am thankful to have had an opportunity to serve in our military. Today our entire family has had the opportunity to serve our troops. We serve with the Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief. We are trained and have served in areas from feeding units, chain saw teams, clean out, chaplains, water purifi ca- tion, child care, fi rst aid and CPR as well as other areas to assist with needs in disas- ters. I have more than once felt that what we do in the areas of disaster relief we are do- ing for many who may be unable to do for their fami- lies what they would if they were not deployed. I want them to know their families are being cared for back home. All are called, some to serve and some to stay and pray. Freedom has never been free. War has always been with us. There will always be confl ict in this world. There is a bond among all veterans who have ever been involved in service to our country, not unlike the bonds of family, friends and loved ones. No matter what the involvement, we will still work together, stand together and heal together. We have all been changed. We will never be the same. Some do not and will never understand our bond, but we are still a part of all that is around us today. Proud to have served and still pray- ing . . .