Honoring聽the聽Service of聽Veterans’ Families
Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.
One Year
He was gone one year. He left on our anniversary, July 2, 1969, and came home on our anniversary, July 2, 1970.
When you say 鈥渉e was gone one year,鈥 it doesn鈥檛 seem like a big deal.
When you say 鈥渉e was gone 365 days,鈥 it sounds a little worse. How about eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours? Worse yet, how about five聽hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes? Or yet, thirty-one million five hundred thirty-six thousand seconds? Regardless of how you say it, it felt like a lifetime.
Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.
We drove to the airport early in the morning. The radio played 鈥淟eaving on a Jet Plane.鈥 We looked at each other with tears in our eyes, knowing we were entering an unknown territory. The hugs were tight, the words few.
The聽plane left and I watched my hero go. I drove home to our 3-month-old daughter with tears in my eyes. I had to be strong for her. I held her and began聽the聽process of talking to her about her Daddy.聽The聽doorbell rang. Already tense, I slowly opened聽the聽door, fearing what was on聽the聽other side. I was surprised by a dozen roses. As I burst into tears, our long-time housekeeper, who basically raised me, comforted me saying, 鈥淗oney, he sent them because he loves you, not to make you cry.鈥
Ted Minnick holds his daughter Kim聽the day before聽his departure to Vietnam.
Life went on. Our daughter was my life support. I volunteered at聽the聽Air Force base hospital in town to pass some time. I worked at a church as a secretary for a while. Our daughter, Kim, and I spent lots of time playing, reading books, taking walks and missing Daddy.
Ted was able to call me once in a while, and it usually came at noon, so I parked near聽the聽phone at that time. Heaven forbid if he should call and I wasn’t there! I would not forgive myself for that.
It was quite an experience learning how to talk. Saying 鈥渙ver鈥 after every sentence was tough. Ted sometimes would quickly say,聽鈥淗urry! You have to say OVER!鈥
After six months, I met Ted for R&R in Hawaii. It was as beautiful as I had imagined.聽The聽men were bussed to聽the聽welcome center. We all lined up as they exited聽the聽bus and walked toward us on a red carpet.
Upon Ted’s departure, Joy made a point of telling lots of “Daddy stories” to their infant daughter, Kim.
I saw Ted, but he walked right past me — I had lost weight since the baby and he didn’t recognize me. I reached out and grabbed him.
It was a great reunion until聽the聽next morning when we were awakened by聽the聽pounding of a jack hammer at a construction site nearby. As soon as it started, Ted grabbed me and we hit聽the聽floor. It was a while before we could breathe again.
Other than that,聽the聽week was like a fairy tale. Memories we will hold forever.
Then, back to reality. Six more months of watchful waiting, viewing horrific news reports. Good Morning America received several letters from me asking why they only reported聽the聽terrible events. I’m not sure what I thought they聽should聽report, but聽the聽letters made me feel better.
Kim had her first birthday without her Daddy, but he sent her a letter in a card and made one of the 鈥淥VER鈥 phone calls. Somehow, we both survived those 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes. We loved, we wrote, we talked, we cried, we laughed, and we survived. That was one year out of our now 58 years together.
The聽Minnicks have served their country for more than half a century.
Top Photo: A happy family reunion: after a year’s separation, Ted, Joy, and Kim are reunited.
Editor’s Note:聽the聽following essay was written by Joy Minnick, wife of Vietnam War聽veteran Lt. Col. Ted Minnick, USA, Retired.