The Mailbag Adventures

Meet Clark Bailey. He served for two decades in the Army, two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Communications Corp. He once told me a story about how it was his job to setup the communications structure before the troops were sent in to fight. That meant he had to arrive before everyone else to get his job done. That also meant no one could know he was there because the fighting may not have begun. One afternoon I started asking questions about what he actually did during his service. He did not tell stories often, yet on this occasion he wanted to tell me all about it.

It was before the conflict began, so he had to get into the country without anyone knowing. He spent three days in a mailbag on a train being ‘smuggled’ behind enemy lines. No one could know he was there. He had no identification, no official capacity, and no place to be that was out in the open. He then told me about getting things set up and ready for troops to communicate. I was astounded that a mailbag on an obscure train was his transportation. I had no idea that these things happened. He winked and told me there was a lot that no one knew about what went on to serve. I then asked about how he got out of the country once his mission was complete. With no official capacity, no documents, no identification how could he get back home? It was time for dinner that evening, so he said he would save that side of the story for another time. He passed away before I could hear how he escaped. It is a story I have always wanted to experience.

Words cannot express my thanks and admiration for the things our service men and women do to keep us safe. The stories they could tell, the tragedies they have seen, the trauma they have experienced. Men like Clark who served with pride and passion. Women who left their babies to protect us around the globe. Troops that live in horrible conditions in foreign lands working so we can do or say whatever we want. Remember today their tireless service and honor their memory.