In Olive Drab and Crimson Red

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In Olive Drab and Crimson Red by Bob Miller

The weather worn face at the living room window starred at the postman, who sat in the jeep waiting for the torrential downpour to stop or at least taper off.

Ed had been delivering mail to 7200 Mocking Bird Lane for 24 years. He remembered when the young couple, Thomas and Terrie Hunt, had bought the never before lived in four bedroom home in the newest subdivision in a small city in the northwest corner of Alabama.

The Hunts received more than the usual amount of mail because of the different charitable organizations they volunteered their time to. Both of the Hunts were professors at a nearby teachers college. Thomas had served two tours in the Vietnam War and while he was sociable, he had a strangeness that kept one at arms length. Terrie was the exact opposite. If she didn't get a hug from you, she'd worry you to death with questions about had she said or done something to offend you. But that was never the case because everyone liked Terrie. She was as caring as she was beautiful.

The Hunts had only one child, but Richard Hunt, like his mother, was on everyone's invitation list. What Richard lacked in looks he made up for in personality. Not that he wasn't a nice enough looking guy, he was just a big boned, freckle faced kid who was perfect for the position of center on the high school football team, and then on the college team.

Ed thought, darn, the rain has stopped. I might as well get out and get this day behind me. Nothing's going to change things if it rains for forty days and forty nights except my old jeep might float away.

As he hand done more often than not, Thomas came out and met Ed about half way between the street and the house. "I'm guessing by your hesitation and face Ed, the mail is going to be bit rough to day."

"Well, it could be Tom, but not all these letters sent Special Delivery are bad news. And some are sent by mistake even."

"No. I can feel it in my bones. In olive drab and crimson red another man's son is dead. I would rather die than have to take that letter into Terrie."

Thomas Hunt had been right. Richard had been killed when the helicopter he was riding in had been shot down just a few miles from an Army airfield named LZ Betty near the city of Phan Thiet, Vietnam. A place Thomas, Richard, and Bob Miller should have never heard of, let alone, fought and died there.

Bob Miller was shot down twice in Vietnam (1968 and 1969). He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. Miller is a 100% service connected disabled veteran. Miller ran for a seat in the US Senate in 1992. He has written seven books including his bestseller, Kill Me If You Can, a Vietnam War Book.