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Grayson was early to the airport in Istanbul, having traveled to and from it for years now he knew how hectic and packet it could get at the airport, expressly on the weekend. His wife, Ravza, had stayed behind, having more days off that he was able to get. After being stopped in the security checking, he was pretty sure the same employer had drug tested him and his belongings over ten times since he and Ravza became a serious couple, Grayson made quick work of getting through the rest of the security check and located his gate and headed over.
Finding an empty seat, he put on his headset and took out his computer from his carry on, started his usual work playlist and started looking through his lesson plan for the upcoming week.
Having traveled a lot the last few years, Grayson was able to board the plane early, sitting down on his favorite seat, by the window, left side, five rows from the back.
Grayson watched as a man in his mid- to late 20s sat down at the seat beside him. He was dressed in the usual navy uniform, and his blond hair and beard was unkempt, his right arm was in a sling and bruises and cuts were coloring his skin. He seemed well trained and muscular and clearly over 6ft tall, but did seem to play himself small when he made his way through the middle of the plane, as if he was trying to take up as little space as possible. The man wasn't even traveling with a carry-on, simply sank down on the seat next to Grayson, fasted his seatbelt and started tapping his leg not out of nervousness, more like out of boredom.
“Sir, what’s your name?” Grayson asked, turning to the young man next to him after the cabin crew finished their security brief, and the plane moved toward the runway.
“It’s Evan Buckley-Diaz, sir. But most people call me Buck.” The soldier, Buck, answered with a friendly smile.
“I’m Grayson, heading home after visiting my in-laws. I take it you are heading home from deployment.”
“Yes, probably going to drop to my knees, kiss the ground or do something else as cliche when we finally land in California.”
“Long time since you were back in America? Is your family waiting for you to come back?” Grayson was curious about Buck.
“I haven't seen my husband and son in 18 months and 14 days when they drove me to the airport, Chris, my son, is supposed to be on this geth-together today, and my husband, Eddie, is supposed to be on a shift, he’s a firefighter, but I know the two of them, they will be there when I arrive. Probably my sister, her fiance and their daughter too. Meaning Bobby and Athena, my husband's captain and his wife and police sergeant, are there as well, and if their children are with them, Hen, Karen, Denny and Ravi would also be there, which in turn would mean the whole fire crew is going to be there. So to answer your question, yes, my family would be their when we arrive in LA.” Buck had a small but found smile. The man continued to gush about his husband, son and surprisingly complicated family/friends dynamic.
Grayson used the time to take him in one more time. This man was so full of love and passion, and still, he was willing to leave it all behind and risk his life constantly, and for what? He didn’t know.
Grayson had always been against war. Growing up during the vietnam war era, he saw what combat did to people and for what? More pain and conflicts. Grayson had grown up knowing war was never the answer. That war only led to more suffering and pain. That war should be avoided at all costs.
But this man, Buck, how could someone who clearly had seen the dark sides of war, that Grayson couldn’t even imagine, how could he still be so loving and kind, so delicate and innocent? Grayson had never given much thought or respect to veterans, but meeting Buck he realized that is going to change, and it was going to change now.
Grayson took a deep before he gave the soldier a big smile and started talking. “Let me be the first one to say: Welcome home. Welcome back. We are all grateful to have you back where you belong, and for everything you did on deployment. You fought hard for our country you obviously love, I’m probably speaking for all of us when I say ‘Thank you for your service’. We should be proud to call you an American.”
“Oh” an older man a few seats away said slowly.
“Sir?” Buck looked questionable on him.
“I know how much you need that right now.” the older man simply explained.
“You served?” Grayson asked, tilting his head slightly. It was a habit he had when he was unsure of what answer he got. He didn’t even know he did it until one of his students had pointed it out to him, a few months back.
“I spent two long years in Vietnam and when I got back to Jacksonville I wasn't met with a warm welcome. There was protest signs and picket lines, and a teenage girl spit in my face.” The elderly man took a shaking breath. “I was just trying to make the world a safer place.”
Grayson could spot tears forming in the man's eyes as he continued. “I didn’t need a hero’s welcome, but it would sure have been nice to hear a welcome home and a thank you for everything I had to go through.”
Hearing the soldier next to him take an auditory breath, Grayson looked over toward Buck. He had some unreadable expressions on his face.
Loosening his seatbelt and standing up Buck walked up to the older man and snapped into a proper salute. He was answered by the other man as he too got up saluting before they both lowered their hands at the same time. “I know this is a little late, sir, but ‘Welcome home, Welcome back to America and from the bottom of my heart thank you for your service. Me and my team, friends and colleagues couldn’t have done the job we do without those who came before us, without you. I probably owe you my life, and for that, sir, I hope the rest of your life will be peaceful and that you get the respect and gratitude you deserve.” It was something in the young soldier's voice, something like honor and obligation.
“Thank you, son, may you serve our country with pride and grow old with your family. My name is Jeremiah Knight, former sergeant of the 352nd.” The two men hugged before they sat down.
They started talking, swapping war stories and live sessions, Grayson and several others sitting close by shooting in a question from time to time or small comments about their experience.
Time flew by, and before anyone knew it the plane crew informed them they were going in for landing and started their landing procedures. The landing went smooth, the passengers barely noticing when they hit the ground.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Los Angeles International Airport. Local time is 16:48 and the temperature is 78 degrees. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the ‘Fasten Seat Belt’ sig is turned off. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move. Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight. If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you. On behalf of Turkish Airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!” A flight attendant's voice filled the plane, but another quickly took over. “The crew has been informed that onboard this plane is a soldier returning home after one and a half year deployment, and a Vietnam war veteran. From everyone on this plane I want to welcome you both home and thank you for your service.” The whole plane started cheering, thanking the two men.
Grayson stood up and saluted the soldier next to him as soon as the plane stopped. Surprising him a little, the rest of the passengers and the entire flight crew followed suit. As the crew gave him a nood Buck slowly stood up and marched as in a parade down the middle of the plane before exiting the plane first. He made it three steps before he collapsed on the ground, crying. The next to exit the plane was the veteran, who walked up to the younger soldier and pulled him off the ground. As the rest of the passengers exited the plane they made sure to give the two of them some space, as they hold each other for support.
“Come on, your family is waiting for you.” Jeremiah said as he wiggled out of Bucks hold.
The younger man took a few slow breaths and wiped his tears before nodding.
The two of them walked together toward baggage claim, spotting a navy issued bag already on the belt, Buck was quick to grab it before heading toward the pick up area.
It wasn't hard for anyone to spot the large group of people waiting. Most of the adults were wearing firefighter uniforms, and one woman was dressed in a police uniform. In the front of the group was a clearly stressed looking man and a boy around 12 with red glasses and matching crutches. Several of the kids in the group were holding clearly homemade signs with things written on them as ‘Welcome home, Buck’ and ‘Finely back on U.S. soil’.
“Pappa!” The boy shouted as soon as he spotted Buck. Drawing the attention to Grayson and the others around. They watched as the man started sprinting toward the kid, throwing his bag to the man standing next to the police woman before he picked up the kid, spinning him around. The man next to them joined the two of them laughing, he stepped up to the soldier and gently stopped his spinning.
The three of them held each other. Buck kissed them both, every surface he could find, forehead, cheek, nose, neck, hair - and on the man his lips.
“Evan, spare some of it to us as well, you know, we’re happy to see you as well,” one of the women (not the one in the police uniform, but a brunette, standing with a little girl and an shorter asian man) deadpanned, but she couldn't stop smiling.
Buck was working his way through the group, the kid still in his arms, with hugs, kisses and well greetings when Grayson left the airport. He was already changing his lesson plan, deciding that the essay he was going to be given to his student would be theme writing about a recipient of the medal of Honor, teaching them a lesson about humbleness and sacrifice.