By Alanna
Quillen
NBC DFW
Two Texans who served their country
together have reunited after more than 50 years apart.
Delbert
Johnson of Conroe, near Houston, and David Anderson of Navarro County both grew
up in small Texas towns.
“Two guys
who had never traveled much out of town,” said Johnson.
They first
met in their late teens during basic training at Fort Hood in 1966. Johnson was
drafted with several other men from his town but never went through service
with any of them. Anderson was the only person he stayed with through to the
finish.
“We
went through basic training together and all of the different other trainings
that the Army put the new recruits through at that time,” said Anderson. “Then
we went to Vietnam together, we were assigned to the same battalion, the same
company and the same squad.”
A powerful friendship formed as they
both fought to survive.
“During this
time our friendship strengthened. We were both just trying to survive,” said
Johnson. “I would describe David during this time as funny with an incredible
laugh but also quiet. He seemed to just sit back and take everything
in."
Both men eventually made it back home to
Texas. However, they lost touch over the years.
“Some years
back, I started wondering whatever happened to some of the guys I served with
in the Army. For some reason, I don’t know exactly why but the memory of
Delbert stuck with me more than most,” said Anderson.
Once the age
of computers began, Anderson said his kids helped him get in touch with
Johnson. They made intentions to meet up, but life got in the way.
“I kind of
got busy living and raising kids. Fast forward some twenty plus years and for
reasons I don’t know why, Delbert got on my mind again. It has now been better
than 52 years since I had seen Delbert,” said Anderson.
Both Johnson
and Anderson said they thought often of their friendship and experience in the
war together. All of these years, they lived hours apart, with Anderson in
Duncanville and Johnson in Conroe.
“I thought
I’d better try to see this guy before we’re done,” joked Anderson.
Now in their
70s and with a pandemic presenting another year of uncertainty, the men said
they couldn’t wait any longer. They decided to reunite – masks and all – over a
steak dinner with their wives this past week.
“I don’t know how to adequately describe
that feeling, seeing him after more than 52 years and remembering some of our
shared experiences we had. I can tell you I enjoyed the heck out of it,” said
Anderson.
The men
spent several hours talking about their families and their time together.
“I am 74
years old and I can't remember when I have been so excited about
anything. I felt like a kid, all smiles and butterflies in my stomach,”
said Johnson. “It was great to have someone to talk to about your time in the
military that truly understood your thoughts and feelings because he was right
by your side through it all,” said Johnson.
Link at
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