Tingling like a little boy ...!

Have just had one of those moments that leave you breathless and acting all giggly and tingling all over like a little boy at Christmas ... In 1976, my wife and our almost two year old daughter, Jeannine, and I were stationed at the US Army Armor School at Fort Knox, KY for me to attend the Armor Officer Basic Course.  As Jeannine's second birthday approached, my wife, Jeannine and I were at the Post Commissary looking for a tricycle for our baby girl.  I had my work uniform on and proudly wearing my "butter bars" as a second lieutenant.  I realized Jeannine had gotten away from us and I was frantically looking for her in the crowded story. As I gazed up one aisle and then another, panic began to overcome me.

I saw what I thought was a small child several yards in front of me at the end of one of the aisles with this man also in uniform bent over talking to a small child which I assumed with Jeannine.  My heart stopped!  I proceeded quickly to what was, in fact, Jeannine.  She was heavily engaged in a conversation with this man I did not even look at for I was so happy to see my baby.  THEN, as he stood and offered a handshake of assurance and a shoulder pat of calm, I realized it was the Commanding General of Fort Knox, General Donn Starry.  You think, well yahoo, who really cares?  Well this 2LT cared enough at the moment to snap to, salute him and could not even put two words cohesivly together except, "thank you, Sir.!"

I have today just gotten off the phone with GEN Starry's wife.  She and the General reside very near us in Jackson Township.  In today's Canton Repository is a wonderful article on GEN Starry so when I saw it and realized he was living very near me, I could not catch my breath.  He, GEN Starry, is the definition of class, leadership and honor. I have watched him, studied him, read his books, learned his doctrines on armor and cavalry operations and, of course, met him that day looking for the tricycle for my daughter.  Ihave been trained in and trained me and machines using his doctrines honed in combat in Vietnam.  So many classes I took at Fort Knox seeing him via video teach us new platoon leaders about the use of armor.  He spoke to our entering class. I saw him again a few years later when, at Fort Knox and I then a Captain, stood and applauded he and dozens of other generals including General Patton's son for the Armor Update as they entered the massive auditorium.   

So enthralled after seeing the Repos article, I went to White pages and sure enough, found his phone number, called and had a wonderful conversation with his wife, Karen. I shared with her all the above.  GEN Starry is not doing well from a health standpoint so I was unable to speak with him but am left, well, breathless, thinking about the whole Starry impact on my life to this very day.  It has not been two weeks ago he came to my mind and I went to You Tube and found several award ceremony videos of this great man and savored every minute of them.

Most of you will probably not care at all about this but this, for me, has made this a truly amazing day.  The world owes much to people like GEN Starry. For me, many years past, I remember that handshake, his taking the time to be a comfort to my daughter until her dad found her and to realize the millions of lives this man has touched.  I wish more than anything I could return that handshake now and render a sharp hand salute to thank him properly.

My pastor preached just yesterday on encouragement ... today memories encouraged me and I know my call encouraged both GEN Starry and his wife.  I told my wife that I feel like I have met one of the Beach Boys or Billy Graham as an illustration of being so close to someone so great that has done so much.

Wow! WHAT A DAY!