Bobby – The Aftermath

Margret hugged me. Jerry Lee shook my hand and said that I appeared to be angry. Chiang Mai John imparted, "We need men like you in Thailand." Papa Tuk disclosed, "When you get back to Thailand, we want to honor you, because half the funds raised by this event are going to the refugee children in Thailand." Either he knew something I did not know, or he was hoping I would return. There was a confused look on my face.

We finished our JC-130X3 training at Clark. General Gofourth announced that twenty-four crews were getting the new aircraft. Twelve teams and planes were to be transferred with me as a rescue unit in Chiang Mai, and the other twelve would remain at Clark with George Roth as their unit commander. I hated that George and I would be separated. We made a great team.

Gofourth specified that we could be dispatched to any part of the world where combat liberation squads were needed. In the meantime, we were to supplement regular transport units in picking up and delivery of cargo, mail and personnel. Even the everyday work had purpose.

He established that we needed continual instruction and practice in lethal FFF, as well as preparation in marksmanship and sniper training. The general did not leave anything to our imagination as to what our primary purpose would be. We were at war, and that meant sacrifice.

I knew that we might be sent on missions where we would have to fight. We felt proud of who we were. I was ready to fight for the right to be an American. It would soften my loss. The call to patriotism would influence my purpose. Either way I was ready.

Kulabta

My father informed me that Bobby hated me with a deep passion. Daddy explained that the curse I had inflicted on him had backfired, and I was to blame for the deaths of his mother and father, as well as his children losing their cherished mom and unborn baby in an accident. I was crying profusely, when my Great Aunt Mae Sua slapped me hard and shouted at me that bawling was not helping.

Cousin John made me review the security tapes. One tape obscured my view by a column and the background noise of a fan distorted the voices. My best friend and Bobby were discussing a present he had purchased for me.

The second tape, from a different direction, produced greater clarity both visually and audibly. My fears came true. Bobby and my cousin were telling the truth. I had informed her that I believed what she said, but I really did not.

It was clear that he thanked her for helping him find a present for me. He hugged her and told her he loved her like a little sister.

The next phrase he used was an American expression, "The amount I paid for this was like 'stealing candy from a baby.' It meant he got the gift at a good price." Oh my, how could I be so stupid.

I wrote and told him that I had made a mistake, and pleaded in the letter for him to forgive me. The letter came back that the recipient had moved without leaving a forwarding address. He had not written to me. Thus, I had no idea how to contact him. I was perplexed with what to do.

My Great Aunt Mae Sua happened to be present at the viewing. She grabbed my hand and declared, "I know you have been informed that I have the gift of seeing in the past or in the future. Perhaps we can discover why Bobby did not write you. Sometimes when I hold hands with someone they can see what I see." She instructed me to close my eyes and maybe we would share a vision.

I listened in on a conversation where Bobby was talking with an older man named Rufus. He shared with Rufus, "I have written her one hundred fifty times, and the only letter I received was to tell me that she did not love me. She hated me, and not to write anymore letters."

I told Aunt Mae Sua that is not true. She said, "let's continue the visions." We held hands again. I saw a vision of my Aunt Tela putting letters into a box. Then she placed that container under her bed. Aunt Tela was talking to herself saying, "If I hide these letters, Kulabta will not be hurt anymore. I love her and do not want to see her cry." How could I not see this was happening?

Aunt Mae Sua said, "Many times a caring person will do things out of love that has no reason. We cannot fault them for that. I know your angry, but your Aunt Tela thought she was helping." Anger took control of my thoughts at first. I realized what my aunt had told me made sense.

I inquired, "How do we get the letters from Aunt Tela without her knowing?" Mae Sua responded, "Send her on an errand, then retrieve your letters. She is very elderly and has already forgotten that she ever had them." The plan was simple. I perceived it would work without her grasping it. It was a good plan that Aunt Tela would not be aware of what is happening.

My great aunt revealed that there was more to share. We joined together one more time. In the vision, Bobby had read a note from Bert Kendrick. It stated I had gone wild and was a tramp. I was sleeping with a different man each night for a charge of twenty dollars. My rage burned deep inside me.

The resentment grew remembering how Bert had lured me in his room saying he had a letter from Bobby. He beat me until I had to be hospitalized. If two of the men in the detachment had not burst in the door, I would have been raped. Lying about my reputation, and remarks claimed in the letter were issues he lied about in court. He maintained that the baby I was carrying could belong to any of two dozen men. I have never met a worse lowlife!

Two other women testified at the trial that he had beaten and raped them. They did not bring charges against him, because he had threatened that he would have them and their families killed if they said anything to the authorities. Burt received a guilty verdict of thirty years in the Bangkok Central Prison. I believed justice was rightly served with him serving jail time.

Mae Sua disclosed she had one last vision that needed to be presented. It was of Bobby playing with a little boy and girl. The boy queried, "When is mama coming home?" He trembled and whispered, "She lives in heaven." The little girl cried, "I want to go to heaven and be with mama." Bobby faced the wall. The evidence of pain was on his face, and tears rolled from his eyes. My heart went out to him, yet I will never see his wonderful face again.

I felt his agony, aware that I contributed that pain. I knew down deep that I was at the center of his aching. What can I do to help him? My great aunt sensed what I was thinking. She said, "What we say cannot be taken back. From time to time we need help to overcome the bad words we issue. Praying to God for guidance is a start.

Centering on God will assist us in discovering better ways to communicate. He will not expose behaviors that are greedy or self-serving, but will uncover methods that will help people. It may not be revealed very easily. We call it unselfish love." I recognized I had been self-centered in my relationship with Bobby.

She gave me a perception that I had never understood. Only through helping others do we discover our true self. It is not what we get out of it. More importantly, what we contribute is of great magnitude.

Mae Sua asked me if I knew Rakha the Tuk Tuk chauffeur. I answered, "Yes, he is a great Tuk Tuk driver. He charges me less than any other." She divulged, "Did you know he is one of the richest men alive giving away millions of Bhat every day, but making billions in return?" Crediting he was a good man indicative of his generous nature.

Rakha is very humble while displaying a view of the world that is simple and caring. His shrewd and wise demeanor is neither cruel nor harsh. He assists young men with families to get a new start in life.

Rakha challenges these fledgling husbands to be better companions and fathers. They become loving, kind and sober under his leadership. Some might think his manner is foolish, but they would be wrong. He brings out the best in them.

Yet others try to take advantage of the person he is. Somehow, he changes their lives forever. If the world had more leaders like him, we would be at peace, and everyone would be fulfilled. I was amazed that such a man existed.

My aunt said, "Bobby Olander is such a man. He is humble and kind. His type of managing is based on concern for others. He sees potential in everyone. Like Rakha many people are open and reveal their personal secrets to him. They gravitate to him. They do not know what attracts them.

Sometimes a person will just talk and come to a solution because talking with him is easy. At other times, he will make a simple non-intrusive suggestion that will uncover the explanation to their problems.

One becomes captivated with him. He is charismatic, but not in a gaudy manner. His approach is similar to a big brother, or a perceptive preacher. You will not feel rushed or put off by him."

I knew that my rages ran him away.