DEFEAT RACISM: READ REBUKE RESIST

 A hitchhiking dog? You may not believe it. My wife doesn’t believe it. No friend in years has believed it, but it is true. My shipmates and I once had a dog that would hitchhike whenever he chose.

It was like this. I was part of a security detail of a Navy communications compound on Monkey Mountain on the south side of Da Nang harbor. There were five compounds on the mountain and we were third from the top. The Air Force occupied the highest elevation, then the Marines, and then us, We had a lovable shaggy dog named Charie, first name Victor.

Well Charlie liked to go, on occasion, to the base of the mountain and visit friends. When the urge occurred, he would stand outside our perimeter on the only road serving the mountain and, before long, someone would pick him up.

Later, a vehicle would stop outside our gate, the driver would wave, and out would hop our canine shipmate. Most everyone on the mountain knew him by name, Charlie, first name Victor.

Once, when he had been below for an afternoon, a Marine deuce-and-a-half came roaring by like it was trying to outrun an AK 47 round. A few minutes later we heard it grind to a stop and shift into reserve. Soon, it backed up to our gate.

Yep. A door opened and out jumped Charlie. He wagged thanks and trotted in with his “ready for supper” look.  The driver, a newbie, explained that he thought he was rescuing a stray and was going to make him a Marine until he passed our compound whereupon Charlie began to express his displeasure in the best of nautical terms. The driver even asked us what an “effing fenderhead” was.

Home is the sailor, home from the sea. I think we operate under conflicting urges, one to seek adventure and one to come home when the adventure is done. I learned that from Charlie, first name Victor. America is on an adventure now and we can only hope she chooses to come home soon. If a dog can, America can.

Why will people believe Donald Trump and Elon Musk are decent human beings but won’t accept this lovable bit of history? I guess if a Fox entertainment pundit told it, they would.