A Toast

[AllAmerican75]

I came across this on another message board I frequent. I thought it fitting for AW. Enjoy.

A TOAST

ONE NIGHT DURING A BOMBING RAID ON HANOI, CAPTAIN JERRY COFFEE, U.S. NAVY, PEEKED OUT OF HIS CELL WINDOW AND WATCHED A FLIGHT OF FOUR F-105'S DURING THEIR BOMBING RUN. AS THEY PULLED UP, IT WAS OBVIOUS LEAD WAS BADLY HIT.

TRAILING SMOKE, HE BROKE FROM THE FORMATION AND JERRY WATCHED THE DAMAGED BIRD UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED FROM SIGHT. HE PRESUMED THE WORST. AS HE LAY THERE IN HIS CELL REFLECTING ON THE IMAGE, HE COMPOSED A TOAST TO THE UNFORTUNATE PILOT AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO HAD GONE BEFORE AND SINCE HIM.

ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1968, CAPTAIN TOM STOREY AND JERRY WERE IN THE STARDUST SECTION OF HOA LO (wa-low) PRISON. JERRY WHISPERED THE TOAST UNDER THE DOOR TO TOM. TOM WAS ENTHRALLED AND DESPITE THE RISK OF TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT, INSISTED JERRY REPEAT IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES UNTIL HE HAD IT COMMITTED TO MEMORY. HE THEN PROMISED JERRY WHEN THE TIME CAME AND THEY WERE AGAIN FREE MEN, HE WOULD GIVE THE TOAST AT THE FIRST DINING IN HE ATTENDED. (for the non-military this is a formal dinner, usually with an informal shall we say hoopla after the formal part, for military Officers and/or NCO's only, a most significant affair, dress blues and tennis shoes)

TOM'S FIRST ASSIGNMENT FOLLOWING RELEASE IN 1973 WAS TO THE USAF ACADEMY. DURING THAT SAME YEAR THE ACADEMY HOSTED THE ANNUAL AIR FORCE CONFERENCE FOR GENERAL OFFICERS AND THE ASSOCIATED DINING IN. TOM FOUND HIMSELF SEATED WITH GENERALS CURTIS LEMAY AND JIMMY DOOLITTLE (TWO MEN OF HEROIC PROPORTIONS IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS).

THE JOVIAL CLINKING OF GLASSES ACCOMPANIED ALL THE TRADITIONAL SPEECHES AND TOASTS.

THEN IT WAS TOM'S TURN. REMEMBERING HIS PROMISE SO MANY YEARS AGO, HE PROPOSED JERRY'S "ONE MORE ROLL." WHEN HE WAS FINISHED, THERE WAS TOTAL SILENCE. TO THE MEN IN THAT ROOM, MEN WHO SPENT THEIR CAREERS FLYING INTO COMBAT AND LAYING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, IT WAS A STUNNING TOAST, AND ONE THEY WOULD NEVER FORGET

PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR GLASSES FOR A SILENT TOAST TO OUR COMRADES IN ARMS.

"WE TOAST OUR HEARTY COMRADES WHO
HAVE FALLEN FROM THE SKIES,

AND WERE GENTLY CAUGHT BY GOD 'S OWN
HANDS TO BE WITH HIM ON HIGH,

TO DWELL AMONG THE SOARING CLOUDS
THEY HAVE KNOWN SO WELL BEFORE,

FROM VICTORY ROLL TO TAIL CHASE,
AT HEAVEN'S VERY DOOR.

AND AS WE FLY AMONG THEM THERE,
WE'RE SURE TO HEAR THEIR PLEA:

TAKE CARE MY FRIEND, WATCH YOUR SIX,
AND DO ONE MORE ROLL FOR ME."

 

[A4sForever]

CAPT Jerry Coffee, former RA-5C driver, is one of my personal, modern-day heroes.

He's the real deal ... hard-core.

His military decorations include the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 13 stars.

Tap Code:
“By tapping covertly on our cell walls using an alphabet code we maintained our unity. We encouraged and cared for each other. We passed information, learned poetry, even learned new languages. I got to know my fellow prisoners like brothers, though I’d never even seen them.”

http://www.captaingeraldcoffee.net/

“At some time or another we all get shot down, we are all POWs, prisoners of “woe.” Be tough. Bounce back. Learn not just to survive, but to go beyond survival: finding the purpose in our adversity.” ....... Captain Gerald Coffee​