Unexpected Travel

Not all travels in life are easy or comfortable. They can be unexpected and abrupt, but it is necessary and can be meaningful and honorable, if difficult. Have you ever had to make such a journey?

For me, it’s now been several years, but I still remember that early morning call. I dropped everything and got the earliest flight I could manage out to Washington DC. It was a trick getting through traffic, but I did and made it down to the hospital.

Now, two days later, it was about 1:30 and 200 ish in the morning when I got another call in the hotel room. It woke me out of a fitful sleep. Who can really sleep in such circumstances? Clancy had rebounded on Sunday and I spent some time talking with him and holding his hand, but now things were rapidly deteriorating. I got the call to head to the hospital. I was up and ready to go in about 10 minutes and with little traffic at that hour it was not too long and I was back in the hospital parking lot. Once again, I did not know whether he was still alive or not. Something spoke to my heart and mind that he was going to die, but that it was going to be okay.

I remember walking through the ICC door and making my way to his room on the other side. I looked over to see if he were still alive and sure enough he was conscious and moving. He was raising one arm as he tried to speak. He was a fighter and was fighting it. I prayed as I walked in and went right up to him and prayed a little over him and then took his hand and held it. I did not move from that place until it was all over. I spoke words of comfort to him.

A lot transpired over those last few hours. I won’t write it all here.

I remember wishing it were me instead of him on that bed. He had friends and buddies. Many came later to pay respects. Somehow I had made it to that very short list of best friends in his life. It was a title of sorts he had bestowed on me. The others who had made that list over time were men he had served with or who had served in the military. They were less than you could count on one hand. I was not sure how I made that list or why, but I did everything in my power to live up to such an blessed and honorable place of friendship.

We awaited the arrival of a chaplain. Family said their goodbyes. Briefly I had to let go of his hand to help the nurse. It was then he reached out his hand to hold mine for those last few minutes. I put my other hand on his shoulder. I did not speak any more. I knew he knew gesture meant more than any words. I watched him take his last breath and at 4:35 am Clancy was pronounced dead. We lost a great man. I lost the best friend I had ever known.

Several weeks later I heard a story–one which he had not told me. It was the story of the death of his father. He had gotten the call and got a flight to be with his dad. He had gotten there a few days before his death and had held his hand. I had done the same. I had done without knowing it. It was though things had come full circle in a way. He had taken my hand to hold it for some time as we talked the day before. Now it all made perfect sense.

Clancy had told me I would get a call if something happened to him. I got that call. I came. I am glad I did.

WWII Airborne Veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, Clancy.