Today at the PX there was a book signing for the book We are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam . Joseph Galloway was the one there to sign the book. If you have never heard of the movie We Were Soldiers, you should go out and rent it...better yet, go to the library and check out the book We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young: IA Drang - the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam. This is one of my favorite military history books and the movie is also one of my fave war movies.
Over 12 years ago, when we were stationed at Fort Campbell, KY LTG (Ret) Moore went to the PX there and signed the first book. When I found out that they were coming to sign their second book, I knew I had to be there (and luckily since I wrote down the wrong date on the class yesterday..see previous entry, I was able to go). Sadly, the advertising sucked because it made it sound like they would both be there when in actuality it was just Joe Galloway. But that was ok. If you don't know who he is, google his name. Just to give you a brief summary, Mr. Galloway served as a combat correspondent during Vietnam and spent more time in combat situations than a lot of Soldiers. His pictures have been seen all over the world. He still writes today and sometimes you can catch his articles in the Stars and Stripes (and other places I can't remember).
Anyway, there I was at the PX waiting in line just like many others. Kevin called me while I was in line and was extremely annoyed by the lady in front of me, he said she was talking so loud, he thought she was on the phone with him, lol. I wanted to assure him that she was as loud as her hair and outfit were but I was polite, lol.
When it was my turn in line, I set the phone down on the table and handed Mr. Galloway my books to sign. He looked at my phone and I mentioned that it was my husband calling from Iraq. He quickly picked it up saying.."Kev, this is Joe Galloway, how are you doing? He continued to chat with him for 2-3 minutes. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that he would be so kind to take a few minutes to make Kevin's day like that. As he finished signing our books, he looked up at me and said, make sure you tell him I send him my best wishes and to be safe. I shook his hand and went on my way.
Joe Galloway talking to Kevin
Listening to Kevin tell me how cool that was.
Mr. Galloway sending "best wishes" to Kevin
3 comments:
That is so awesome that he happened to call and get to talk to him. That was really great for Mr. Galloway to take the time out to talk to him, when he was in the middle of the book signing. I bet that made Kevin's day to get to not only talk to you, but to talk to him too! What a great memory.
I think that is SOOOO freak'n awesome!
Joe and Gen. Moore are coming to Deland FL (4.5 hours from me) on Feb 25. I am making the drive just to meet them, shake their hands and tell them thanks for their service and wonderful emotional story of these heroic men.
I forgot this book was cming out, and happened to be in the book store on Nov 15 just to kill time. I happened to remember the book had come out, so I picked it up. I thought nothing of it until I realized it was the anniversary of the battle of Ia Drang on that very day.
So I emailed Joe Galloway just to tell him America has not forgotten and that I was thinking about him, and all who were there.
He sent back a very big thanks and mentioned it is still rough and that many tears are shed on each anniversary and that it was hard to write back through tears.
I had just escorted The Moving Wall the week before with the Patriot Guard, and could not help but shed tears myself knowing that I just happened to pick it up on the anniversary and knowing how glad Joe was that I have not fogotten.
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