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My “crossroads moment” was a choice that left me with the
chance to have a fairly normal life. I think about the parallel
universe a lot. And shudder.
Andy Baileyʼs moment left him with a head wound. It took
away motor skills. Made recovery an enormous struggle and put him at a
disadvantage for the next thirty-eight years.
Sgt. Bailey came to our unit from Germany. His first friend on
Number 4 Gun was another Michigan guy from very near his
home. Andy and Mel hung out together, documented the
experience, and talked about returning to Michigan. I saw them everyday,
but didnʼt know them then.
Andy took his wound September 18. The day before the
captain had lost both legs as I was walking toward him. Mail had ceased.
Fresh food was a memory. We had gone to C Rations, then JuJu Bees and Tropical
Hershey bars. Gun crews counted the amunition.
We got help from the 25th Infantry, helicopter and fixed wing
Army air support, other artillery batteries, and even Tac Air jets with
500 pound bombs. In the meantime, we continued to fire support for others. Our
cannons roared and hurled huge shells as far as 20 miles. Forty-one days and
thirty-four casualties later, it let up.
Over forty years went by. I lost contact with everyone.
At times, I may have doubted it even happened.
I found a name who led me to more names which led us to a
small reunion... that since has expanded to other people from
that place and those days.
Andyʼs old friend, Mel, told us of Andyʼs saga. A young
woman had helped him relearn motor skills. He married her, but she soon
died of a rare disease. Mel tried to help, but Andy began to trust the
untrustworthy. They took advantage of him for years until he was alone
and broke in Florida.
