Walking Soldier

One morning at about 0430 on my way to work I was running late and didn't want to miss morning muster. I live in military housing in Camp Stover which is located on post in Wheeler Army Air Field (one of the first places attacked on Dec. 7th 1941).

It isn't unusual to see troops road march that early in the morning so I didn't think much of it.

As I was driving past the old Army Housing there was a Soldier dressed in Desert Cami's with a full pack on crossing the street.

I had to slow down in order not to hit this guy with my car. I began to get upset because he started walking slower. When I was finally able to pass him I rolled down my passenger window to yell at him, then he disappeared. As soon as the Soldier got to the curb he just vanished.

I had no idea what to think or do so I called my wife on her cell phone and woke her up and told her what happened. She didn't believe me at first but once she heard the fright in my voice she knew it wasn't a joke.

I don't know who that soldier could have been, but since the war started there have been many Hawaii based Soldiers from Schofield Barracks and Wheeler AAF have been killed in combat and helicopter crashes.

Whoever it was, I believe he was just trying to come home.