“Are you okay?”
A voice so innocent didn’t seem to fit in this scene of destruction and death and despair. It reminded J.D. that God was still with them, that He was watching over them and loved them.
Sometimes He speaks through the voices of little ones.
“I’ve been through lots worse,” J.D. told Lily as he was secured to his gurney by a woman from one of the fleet of ambulances on the bridge.
Teri and Lily were standing next to him. They looked fine and J.D. couldn’t be more grateful. To think that they had been driving with the girl and that it had been their car to almost kill all of them—it felt like too much. The accident hadn’t been their fault, but to think of having to tell a mother . . .
Thank you, Lord. Thank you.
He glanced down the hill and could see the young man who’d rescued him getting a duffel bag from another man. All he’d been able to ask the man was whether he was military. The man replied that he was a corporal. J.D. had replied that he had been in Vietnam.
J.D. called out to the man to get his attention. The soldier walked toward them.
“That was mighty heroic back there, Corporal. Who were you with?”
“First Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment.”
The man said it with pride.
No wonder we’re still alive. Thank God for the Marines.
“What’s your name?” J.D. asked.
“Carlos, sir. You part of the ‘Green Machine,’ sir?”
He’s smart, too. Knows his history as he should.
“Zero-Three for a while in a garden spot known as the A Shau Valley. Coulda used you there.”
Carlos laughed. “No offense, sir. But I’m glad I missed that one.”
“Wise choice, son. Still—I’m not sure I can convey how grateful I am.”
J.D. reached out his hand and the Marine shook it.
“We don’t leave our own behind, do we, sir?”
He sounds . . . relieved.
“Speaking of which, there’s someone I gotta go see,” Carlos said.
J.D. gave him a confirming you go do that, son sort of nod.
As they loaded J.D. into the ambulance, Lily asked what they were going to do.
“How about you let them take you to the hospital?” he asked the girl. “Ever been in an ambulance before?”
She shook her head.
“Well, climb on in so you’ll never have to be in one again. Sound good?”