HonoringtheService ofVeterans’ Families
Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.
One Year
He was gone one year. He left on our anniversary, July 2, 1969, and came home on our anniversary, July 2, 1970.
When you say he was gone one year, it doesnt seem like a big deal.
When you say he was gone 365 days, it sounds a little worse. How about eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours? Worse yet, how about fivehundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes? Or yet, thirty-one million five hundred thirty-six thousand seconds? Regardless of how you say it, it felt like a lifetime.
Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.
We drove to the airport early in the morning. The radio played Leaving on a Jet Plane. We looked at each other with tears in our eyes, knowing we were entering an unknown territory. The hugs were tight, the words few.
Theplane left and I watched my hero go. I drove home to our 3-month-old daughter with tears in my eyes. I had to be strong for her. I held her and begantheprocess of talking to her about her Daddy.Thedoorbell rang. Already tense, I slowly openedthedoor, fearing what was ontheother side. I was surprised by a dozen roses. As I burst into tears, our long-time housekeeper, who basically raised me, comforted me saying, Honey, he sent them because he loves you, not to make you cry.
Ted Minnick holds his daughter Kimthe day beforehis departure to Vietnam.
Life went on. Our daughter was my life support. I volunteered attheAir Force base hospital in town to pass some time. I worked at a church as a secretary for a while. Our daughter, Kim, and I spent lots of time playing, reading books, taking walks and missing Daddy.
Ted was able to call me once in a while, and it usually came at noon, so I parked nearthephone at that time. Heaven forbid if he should call and I wasn’t there! I would not forgive myself for that.
It was quite an experience learning how to talk. Saying over after every sentence was tough. Ted sometimes would quickly say,Hurry! You have to say OVER!
After six months, I met Ted for R&R in Hawaii. It was as beautiful as I had imagined.Themen were bussed tothewelcome center. We all lined up as they exitedthebus and walked toward us on a red carpet.
Upon Ted’s departure, Joy made a point of telling lots of “Daddy stories” to their infant daughter, Kim.
I saw Ted, but he walked right past me — I had lost weight since the baby and he didn’t recognize me. I reached out and grabbed him.
It was a great reunion untilthenext morning when we were awakened bythepounding of a jack hammer at a construction site nearby. As soon as it started, Ted grabbed me and we hitthefloor. It was a while before we could breathe again.
Other than that,theweek was like a fairy tale. Memories we will hold forever.
Then, back to reality. Six more months of watchful waiting, viewing horrific news reports. Good Morning America received several letters from me asking why they only reportedtheterrible events. I’m not sure what I thought theyshouldreport, buttheletters made me feel better.
Kim had her first birthday without her Daddy, but he sent her a letter in a card and made one of the OVER phone calls. Somehow, we both survived those 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes. We loved, we wrote, we talked, we cried, we laughed, and we survived. That was one year out of our now 58 years together.
TheMinnicks have served their country for more than half a century.
Top Photo: A happy family reunion: after a year’s separation, Ted, Joy, and Kim are reunited.
Editor’s Note:thefollowing essay was written by Joy Minnick, wife of Vietnam Warveteran Lt. Col. Ted Minnick, USA, Retired.