This is the second installment of a multi-part series of “The Ride Home” 2009 by my dad, Gy. Sgt. John Ferguson (Ret) USMC. Photos are compliments of John Incata of Rolling Thunder NC 5 as well as Rolling Thunder NC 7 and Rolling Thunder South Carolina 2. Send-off video is compliments of Jacksonville Daily News reporter Aneisa Holmes. “The Missing Man Table” video is courtesy of the Illinois Women Veterans and the “Taps” video was created by Kerry Atkins.

September 18, 2009

Up at 4:00 a.m., breakfast in the dining hall at 5:00 a.m., buffet style.  Rolling Thunder Chapter NC 5 then staged the motorcycles in the motel parking lot.  DJ gave a blessing

We were only about a mile from the Walmart parking lot where all the chapters met. Fourteen Rolling Thunder chapters and hundreds of motorcycles filled the parking lot.

The POW’s and their guests asked a lot of questions about Rolling Thunder. They were so awed that so many people took an interest in them.

These two ex-POWs survived the Bataan Death March:

This year Rolling Thunder chapters honored 175 former American Prisoners of War at The Ride Home. The motorcycles escorted two chartered buses to the National POW Museum for the Korean War POW Plaque dedication. Chapter NC-5 (we had the biggest showing) was sent ahead of the Rolling Thunder Heroes Escort Ride so we’d be there when the buses arrived.

It was fun being among all the motorcycles. Organizers of the event used everyone they could get a hold of to block traffic on the parade route, even U.S. Forest Rangers. And when we came through, we sounded like rolling thunder!

Me on my red Yamaha V-Star Silverado:

Here is the Rolling Thunder Heroes Escort Ride from behind:

When the buses arrived, we lined up on foot. As POWs and their loved ones got off the  bus, we escorted each one to their seat for the Korean War POW Plaque dedication.

Chapter NC 5’s Color Guard presented the “colors” and our fellow members Jesse Hansley and Jane Sutton sang the National Anthem. The plaque dedicated for the Korean War ex-POWs was presented and accepted.  It was a very touching ceremony, including the bagpiper that played from Chapter FL 4.  He was really good! A retired Army Col.

After the ceremony, all members of Rolling Thunder carried the chairs from the plaque dedication site to the tent where the next ceremony would be held. From there some of us (including me) went back to the motel to rest. Others visited the National Prisoner of War Museum and Andersonville National Cemetery.

Ben Purcell, shown below, is an ex-POW colonel who was shot down in a helicopter in 1968. He was imprisoned in North Vietnam for five years, much of the time in solitary confinement. His wife Anne raised their five children and played an active role in national, state and local Georgia MIA/POW organizations. Here they are signing the book they wrote about their ordeal, “Love and Duty.”

It is a huge POW cemetery, and beautiful. It is the final resting place for soldiers who perished while being held as POWs at Camp Sumter during the Civil War. It is also a burial place of honor for present-day veterans.

On Friday afternoon, we gathered once again at Walmart for a heroes parade through Americus to the First Baptist Church for the Remembrance Ceremony. We listened to some outstanding speakers talk about “Keeping The Promise, We Will Not Forget.” It was a reminder to all of us to never forget those who are still waiting to come home or the families who still await answers.

Here is USMC 1st Sgt. Shane Henson, one of the speakers, with a female ex-POW:

Sgt. Henson spoke about an encounter he had with a propane truck driver recently. The truck driver told Sgt. Henson that he didn’t believe in increasing veteran benefits and went so far as to say his  job as a propane delivery driver is just as dangerous as that of a combat soldier. The driver soon got an education on POWs/MIAs and the importance of veteran benefits from a “Teufel Hunden.” Teufel Hunden, by the way, is what Germans call U.S. Marines because we “fight like rabid dogs and are mean as the devil.” Semper Fi, Sgt. Henson!

There was a social hour with “The Hero’s Dinner” at 6:00pm at the Lake Blackshear Resort, followed by a candlelight ceremony. Members of NC-5 stepped up to the plate, literally, to help serve the guests.

One elderly ex-POW didn’t have much on his plate. He wanted what everyone else was eating but, according to his wife, he was on a special diet and wasn’t allowed to eat very much. So, I got a plate and put a little of everything on it: meat, potatoes, squash casserole and bread pudding. I handed it to him and said, “Today is YOUR special day. Eat what you can.” He was so thrilled that he couldn’t stop thanking me. His wife on the other hand…

The next couple didn’t have tickets. I said “Follow me.“  They followed me to the gal taking tickets.  In a matter of seconds the couple was filling their plates.

After everyone was served, I found a table with a vacant chair and sat down.  Five people were already seated and very quiet. Well, no one’s ever accused me of being shy, so I went around asking everyone their name. Before long, everyone got to talking about where they were from. I really enjoyed listening to them. The ex-POW’s all had a story. One couldn’t wait to tell his story as soon as someone else was through. One escapee told of how he tunneled his way to freedom.

It was really a pleasure meeting these people.

The Missing Man Table Ceremony, which honors our nation’s POW/MIAs, was the focal point of the evening. The single round table with six empty place settings symbolized Americans from each of the five services – - Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard – - and civilians who could not attend but in spirit only.

The following video, done by the Illinois Women Veterans, is a good example of the Missing Man Table ceremony.

Editor’s Note: We want to hear from you! “The Ride Home” in Andersonville, Georgia is a huge, inspirational event that touches so many people. If you attended and are interested in sharing your memory(ies), please submit a post in the Comments section below or send an email. Thank you for reading our blog.

[To be continued. Part 3 coming soon.]