Long Ago and Far Away

Story submitted by our classmate Glenda Burns Minniece, October 31, 2011.

 Blogmeister's Note: This beautiful story of a young man headed for Vietnam and a group of lovely young women who encouraged him along the way culminates in a chance meeting in 2011 on the Milby 1960 Blog followed by a real life meeting in Washington state. The story is told here in a series of e-mail messages and photographs. Be sure to read to the end and then leave your comments for Glenda, Gary, and others to enjoy. 

 The series of messages starts with Gary's original blog comment on Glenda's biography page. He had been searching the internet for links to the girls he remembered from his journey to Vietnam and chanced upon her mention of those flights...

NOTE: Click on photos to enlarge

September 25, 2011

Dear Glenda,

On 31 Jan. 1968, I was a twenty-year-old Marine aboard a Continental flight from Kadena to Da Nang. I was scared to death. All of us were. I remember the beautiful young flight attendants walking up and down the aisles with big warm smiles, talking, touching, and hugging individual Marines keeping our spirits up, knowing what awaited us.

I still don't know what possessed you to take such a risk. We flew into the Tet Offensive that day with two Marine F-4's escorting us into Da Nang. Even as the field was taking rockets periodically throughout that day the flight attendants stayed calm and brave and kissed or hugged each one of us as we left the plane. I have never forgotten that. Your courage gave me courage and I was able to survive my tour. 

I always thought that when I made my return flight I would thank you personally when I boarded the plane, but as luck would have it I was wounded seriously and left Vietnam on a stretcher inside a C-130. I never saw a Continental Flight attendant again.

So, since I found this web site by accident it’s time to give you and your fellow heroes my appreciation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service.  I wish I could send this to all the other young women who made those flights.

Gary K Cowart, DDS
Kent, WA.

 

September 26, 2011

Hi Doctor,

What a lovely posting you made on my high school blog.  It touched me deeply, and I have shared it with various friends who flew MAC flights during those years.  They are touched and grateful, too!  You are so kind, far beyond what we deserve.  But we thank you for your uplifting words.

Now - as it happens I am married to a Marine who has a son who is getting married in October, so we will be in Seattle for a few days.  We'd love to meet you to say hi if possible during that time span.

Am attaching a picture taken in Da Nang.

God bless.  Glenda Burns Minniece

 

September 26, 2011

Dear Glenda,

I cannot believe that you have responded back to me. How wonderful to have made contact with you.  And how great is that – you’re married to a Marine! I have thought of you flight attendants for forty-three years. You all were so unbelievably wonderful in that awful time.

Yes, I want to see you and John. Warn John that I will require a hug! I'm sure he won't mind. My wife and I have a 12 acre farm in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. We have two horses, two dogs and a dozen John Deere tractors. 

I returned to Vietnam this past March with one of my sons and returned to the hill I was wounded on. I'm sending pictures from 1968 and 2011 so you have a picture to put with my words.   Gary

 

September 27, 2011

Hi Gary,

How incredible to have those pictures taken in exactly the same spot all those years apart.  I didn't say this before, but thank you for your service to the cause of freedom!  You paid a high price. 

Am attaching a picture of John when he was in the Marines.                          

We’ll work out details about meeting.  This is an amazing story!  Glenda

 

September 28, 2011

If you want to meet at my farm on Sunday I would give you directions. It's a unique and lovely place.

You're right; this truly is an amazing story.  Can't wait to meet you.   Gary

 

September 28, 2011

Hi Gary (and Nancy),

John and I accept!  A visit to your farm is a great idea.  

We're looking forward to meeting you, too.    Glenda and John

 

October 16, 2011

Hi Gary and Nancy,

Thank you both so much for a lovely day.  My!  What a beautiful place you have, and so much of the beauty is the product of your hard work and creativity. 

We're thankful that the fates brought us together.  It really doesn’t matter that I wasn’t actually one of the flight attendants on your flight.  I’m proud to represent Continental and indeed all MAC flight attendants, just as you represent all of the brave military men we flew into Vietnam.  The certificate you presented to me will be framed and treasured.    Glenda and John

 

October 17, 2011

Glenda,

Nancy and I felt so comfortable with you two that it was hard to remember that three weeks ago we did not know each other existed. It seems like we've known you for years.

Nancy wore her Marine necklace to work today. You two talked so much I realized we never talked about your stories regarding the MAC flights and how you felt about them.  Would love to hear about them.    Gary

 

October 18, 2011

Hi Gary,

Attached some vignettes I wrote about my MAC experiences.  Hope y’all enjoy them.

For the MAC flights, Continental flew Boeing 320 aircraft which held 165 passengers.  A flight crew consisted of three pilots with a cabin crew of four flight attendants and a Director of Passenger Service.  This picture shows a crew in the Philippines with the station manager in white.  I’m the flight attendant furthest right.  The crew would stay together for the entire trip “around the horn” as it was called, and the trip usually lasted about ten days but could be longer.  There were flight crew changes in Honolulu, Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, and Kadena Air Force Base on Okinawa.  We would fly into one of four bases in Vietnam (Saigon, Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay, or Ben Hoa), drop the men off, and then board troops to fly back to the States.

On the way to Vietnam, when the men were not too tired, there was an almost effervescent mood of eagerness to have fun.  Accustomed to being active, they would help us serve meals or invite us to join them in card games.  Sometimes they would don our wigs and serving smocks, and, for a bigger laugh, would stuff their chests with oranges or pillows.  We tried to do our part by keeping flights light-hearted, and tried to make special occasions festive by wearing Halloween costumes, decorating for Christmas, Easter, and the like. 

Saying goodbye to the troops when they got off the plane in Vietnam was never easy.  Our parting phrases seemed so banal considering what they would be up against.  “Good luck . . . God bless . . . . See you next year . . .” were such simple, ordinary phrases when actually there were no words to express what we really felt.  

Years later, in 1994, we heard about a group of Vietnam Veterans in Florida who was sponsoring a reunion to honor MAC flight attendants.  Honor flight attendants?!?  We were flabbergasted.  Who would ever think of giving special recognition to us?  It was the Vietnam vets themselves, so often maligned and disrespected, who deserved to be honored!  Nearly three hundred current and former MAC flight attendants from various airlines attended. 
Two of my roommates and I were there with bells on and so were our husbands.  Many other husbands, including one widower, also attended; his wife had flown MAC, and he wanted her to be represented! 

The Vets presented us with a rose and a specially made lapel pin, designed to look like their Vietnam service ribbon.  Mine is one of my most prized possessions. 

 

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Comments

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

Glenda - thank you so much for sharing this amazing story with us. I have watched in wonder as it has unfolded. I know others of our classmates will find it both inspiring and enjoyable to read. Karla

The following is from John Echoff, first published on Glenda's Biography Page...

Glenda, wonderful story, worthy of a Wally Sisk Journalism Alumni Award. What a lucky guy to have had such a loving crew to share his journey to destiny. I am very glad that he was able to contact you and y'all had a chance to reminisce. Makes me a bit jealous, I rode over in a C130, no flight attendants, and certainly no creature comforts...

Semper Fi
John Echoff

[Carolyn Pfennig]

Great story Glenda! Wow it is so good to hear true good news stories especially when it involves people we know. Thanks for taking the time to share.

I recently wrote a "snail mail letter" to our granddaughter who is a freshman in college this semester. My computer was down and I wanted to try out her new physical P.O. Box. It brought back so many memories of my college years and reminded me of the differences in the times then and now. My husband, Don, graduated before I did and moved to New Jersey to start work. We communicated via snail mail, and he called me every Wednesday evening after the rates went down.

Your story too, reminds us of the difference in times. Who would have thought in the 60’s when you were on those flights that you could reconnect with someone from the past so far away the way you did? It is still amazing even today. I believe that God’s hand was in that “chance meeting” with the timing of the correspondence and the wedding…
Carolyn

[Dave Claridge]

A truly touching story. Many thanks to Glenda for sharing it with us.

[Doris Simmons]

Glenda, I am so happy you shared this story. Yes,it has "God" all over it. He is truly amazing and no telling how many folks will read this and be blessed. It's fun to 'Let go and let God' --- what beautiful stories happen!

Doris

[Linda Hocher Bennett]

Am quite sure that each person who takes the time to read this touching story will be glad they did!! Glenda, your flying days sound like they have a life of their own -- what wonderful memories you have and I'm impressed that you have chronicled them so well. It's really a small world, and the Lord never fails to remind us how unique each person is.

Thanks for sharing.

[Linda Britt]

Glenda,

Such a great story--Cliff went by ship but I am sure he would have loved flying with you.

God works in many ways--we just have to look around.

Hope to have lunch soon.

[John Hammerle]

Glenda, what a tremendous story. Thank you so much for sharing. What are you involved in these days? Would love to hear from you.

[Gladys Payne Bohac]

As always Glenda, you always have such wonderful stories to tell. You are quite the Historian. Thank you for sharing this with your Milby friends. Keep on writing.

[Anne Schwanda]

Glenda! What a wonderful job you have done describing such an important time in our lives. I am proud to have been part of that very moving experience. I know that it changed my life forever. Thank you for expressing it so well.

[Charlie Townsend]

What a great story and reunion.... Gary and I served the same USMC unit in Nam and he is one of the finest men I know, that said -- Glenda, you couldn't have connected with a better warrior.... Thanks for everything you and your team did for us, I personnally flew on Continental a lot !!! I extended twice and got to enjoy your hard work more than many....

[Pat Hixon]

Very interesting story and I want to hear about the get together too!
I went over on a continental flight also. Mine wasn't as eventful but I was deeply affected by the flight attendants too. I never realized that any of the flight attendants would be so affected by the troops and so genuinely interested In them the way she describes.
Thanks. It's nice to know that those attractive, hard working gals also appreciated the gratitude the troops showed them.
I hope we can all regain some of this goodwill on commercial flying and get beyond the ordeal it has become