Post by Anonymous Vet on Jan 11, 2003 5:50:04 GMT -5
ravenbo@yahoo.com <ravenbo@yahoo.com>
A debt of honor to Tsgt Bennie Lee Dexter
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He was taken prisoner of war on May 9, 1966. I didn't know him then, fact is, I was only one year old. But I do remember when I was a little older seeing rail thin soldiers climbing off an airplane, bending down and kissing the ground. I remember my mother crying and I did too. I didn't know why. But I do now. Years later I received his POW/MIA bracelet and have worn it ever since. Although we never really met, I sort of feel like we are friends- does that make sense to anyone at all ? I feel as if we look out for each other somehow. I never take this band of steel off my wrist. I feel as if it is a tiny payment of honor to Bennie and all the other brothers and sisters whose whereabouts are still unknown and it is for their families. I always wondered about Bennie- was he tall or is he tall. Was he- is he funny or smart or serious, what about his favorite baseball team ? was he, is he alone or afraid ? If we had ever met would he have liked me ?
I am not naive you know, I don't wear this bracelet with the undying hope that he is still alive. The thing is- I don't know if he is or not! I wear this because I can't give up hope on him. If he is alive where is he ? If he is not, it is to remind me every day that his Mother deserves to have his remains brought back to her with an honor guard and a flag draped gently over him.
If Bennie is in Heaven I know that he knows by now that his niece and I met not long ago and we both cried- I thought she might tell me to take his bracelet off- to let his memory rest to forget as so many other Americans have chosen to do. I am sure I would not have been able to bear that. But she did not. She thanked me. No I told her, my thanks is to you and to Bennie and to all the other soldiers in our country who have given so much and been given so little in return. Every day I remember him. It is a debt I can never repay.
ravenbo@yahoo.com <ravenbo@yahoo.com>
A debt of honor to Tsgt Bennie Lee Dexter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He was taken prisoner of war on May 9, 1966. I didn't know him then, fact is, I was only one year old. But I do remember when I was a little older seeing rail thin soldiers climbing off an airplane, bending down and kissing the ground. I remember my mother crying and I did too. I didn't know why. But I do now. Years later I received his POW/MIA bracelet and have worn it ever since. Although we never really met, I sort of feel like we are friends- does that make sense to anyone at all ? I feel as if we look out for each other somehow. I never take this band of steel off my wrist. I feel as if it is a tiny payment of honor to Bennie and all the other brothers and sisters whose whereabouts are still unknown and it is for their families. I always wondered about Bennie- was he tall or is he tall. Was he- is he funny or smart or serious, what about his favorite baseball team ? was he, is he alone or afraid ? If we had ever met would he have liked me ?
I am not naive you know, I don't wear this bracelet with the undying hope that he is still alive. The thing is- I don't know if he is or not! I wear this because I can't give up hope on him. If he is alive where is he ? If he is not, it is to remind me every day that his Mother deserves to have his remains brought back to her with an honor guard and a flag draped gently over him.
If Bennie is in Heaven I know that he knows by now that his niece and I met not long ago and we both cried- I thought she might tell me to take his bracelet off- to let his memory rest to forget as so many other Americans have chosen to do. I am sure I would not have been able to bear that. But she did not. She thanked me. No I told her, my thanks is to you and to Bennie and to all the other soldiers in our country who have given so much and been given so little in return. Every day I remember him. It is a debt I can never repay.
ravenbo@yahoo.com <ravenbo@yahoo.com>