Gabby arrived inVietnam in June1969. Rushing nicknamed “Alabama” (most of the guys never knewthe others first name) arrived in Vietnam in September of 1969. They were inthe 1st Air Calvary Division, 2/8 Echo Company, Mortars. Rushing and about 12other Troopers were transported by helicopter to Firebase or Landing Zone (LZ)Ike to replace the wounded or dead. LZ Ike was attacked the night beforeRushing arrived, with heavy mortar fire and sappers. (Suicide soldiers of theNorth Vietnamese army (NVA) with explosives strapped to their persons orcarrying explosives in a bag.) Gabby received a head wound and was evacuatedalong with others to the rear area for treatment. As new Troops they werecalled cherries or fresh meat. Rushing did not meet Gabby for 8 day’s. The 1stAir Cav. 2/8 moved off LZ Ike a week after Gabby was wounded. Echo Company’sMortars and Heavy weapons were flown by helicopter to a bridge on the Song BeRiver. The mission was to guard the bridge, send out patrols and set up nightambushes. The two saw each other for the first time at the Bridge. “Gabby sawme and I guess he felt someone needed to look after me because I weighed only110 pounds at that time. He had taken me under his wings and called me LittleBrother. He was determined to see me through the war at least until he returnedto the world in June of 1970.” But through a twist of fate, Rushing was the onethat helped save Gabby’s life. “The next six months were filled with constantmoving from LZ to LZ. The weather was always a problem. It was either hot anddusty or raining. Most Firebases were named; LZ Mary, LZ Carolyn, LZ Becky, LZGloria, LZ Ellingsworth but many had no names. Theses places were set-up for aweek to10 days, called jump LZ’s. We were always on the move, always very closeto the Cambodia border.” In December of 1969 at LZ Mary, Rushing was infectedwith malaria (both strains). HE was sick three weeks with chills and highfever. A Sergeant First Class was in charge of sick call and would not let theMedic send him to the rear for test and treatment. Gabby made a move thatprobably saved his life. “I did not know this for 25 years. I was airlifted tothe rear area and received medical treatment This was six more weeks ofsickness.”

“March of 1970 The1st CAV. 2/8 mover to Firebase St. Barbara, in the shadow of the Black VirginMountain. Gabby had always been next to me along with a lot of other great guysto whom I grew close to. About nine of these guys and myself have been meetingonce a year in different location for seven years.” LZ St. Barbara was an OldFrench Base built in the 1950s when France occupied Vietnam. IT set in a primelocation, supporting troops and firebases on the Cambodian border and alsotroops at the bottom and top of the Black Virgin Mountain. The NVA owned themiddle of the mountain.  Becausethe Base had been there for so long, the French army and the U.S. Army hadplaced thousands of mines around the outer perimeter for protection. “Thiswould be the reason for my 32-year search for my friend Gabby.” Gabby had 90days left in country (SHORT) the name given to guys with 100 days or less. Thiswas the time that he felt really good about making it home alive. He wasgetting out of the field, going on R & R to Australia for two weeks. Whenhe returned he was to report for a rear job and kickback and enjoy his lastthree months of the war. The day was March 26th, 1970 a day the two men willnever forget. Gabby had already packed all of the belongings in his life in 1rucksack with a pair of flip-flops tied to the top. He had bought two pair thatmorning and gave Rushing one and he kept the other pair.  As fate would have it THE Captainwould not let Gabby on the last helicopter leaving for the rear area thatafternoon. “I already said my good bys and he had given me a piece of his mindon how to stay alive for the next six months.” Rushing said. That was themorning of the 26th.

That same afternoonaround 2 p.m. a group of guys including Rushing were stringing Constantine wirein an area outside the perimeter. This area was supposed to be cleared of mines.  They were told which area was clearand which area was not. They had been out about three hours and out of the bluethere stood Gabby. “ He was there to relieve me and I asked why? (WHY? was myfavorite word in THE NAM.) He said THE Captain would not let him leave. I askedWHY? That was the wrong word at the wrong time.”

Gabby was an E-5Sergeant that was (SHORT) mad and did not want to be outside the perimeter. Hesaid the captain would let him leave on the 27th A.M. “In a very nice (NAM)Voice he told me TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HIS FACE. I thought it was bullshitthat he was out there but I knew it would do-no good to argue with him. Iwalked the path that was cleared of mines back to the Perimeter. When I reachedthe berm (a dirt wall around the perimeter of the LZ about seven feet high) Iheard an explosion, turned and saw Gabby lying on his back covered in dirt anddust. He was about 100 yards away from me.”  Rushing risked his own life by runningthrough a field that was not cleared of mines. “Itwas the shortest distance to Gabby. I was not thinking, I heard no sounds, sawno sky, no people, nothing. I remember him trying to push himself up with hisarms behindhis back. I knew at that moment, time was our enemy. I had to reach him asquick as possible. Reason was not working in my mind. I believe that shock orfear or LOVE of aBROTHER had taken over. The other guys were frozen in time, not knowing if theareathey were in was clear of mines. When I reached Gabby all I could do was holdhim,not knowing what to do or say.  Ihad no medicine, I had nothing. I was telling him thateverything would be OK, just hold on. He then asks me to straighten his legs. Ididn’tknow what to say, I was a 20 year old kid, just married, in a GOD FORSAKEN landthat INEVER liked in the first place. What do you say? I held him close and told himthat his Legs were gone. He then said WHY ME? “Alabama” WHY ME? I had no Words,butthrough the tears, blood and dirt, I told him that GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HIM!  but I didn’t know why. I could not understandwhy this happened to him andnot me. I had been walking in the area for over three hours and made it throughtheOpen field. I don’t remember how long it was before the Helicopter arrived. Itcouldn’ttouch down in fear of landing on a mine. It was about three feet from theground andhovering above us. The Medic dropped on top of us, in fear of mines around thisarea.  During this time Gabby never lostconsciousness. The Medic opened his bag handedMe a rubber hose and told me to tie it around Gabby’s right leg to stop theBleeding.  He knew the leg was completely off so it waseasier for me to work with. Hewas working on the left leg because it was somewhat hanging on. He then gave meaHandful of needles and said start sticking him. I said where? He said anywhereyou seeskin. We each had about 4 needles and soon the morphine started to work. Gabbystabilized and the bleeding slowed. The Helicopter had moved away from this areafor its own protection, but was motioned to return. It again hovered aboutthree feetabove us making it easer to lift Gabby inside. The Medic and I placed the leftleg onGabby’s chest and lifted him up to the doorgunners inside the chopper. TheMedic wasnext in the chopper. I picked Gabby’s right leg up and handed it to the Medic.My last words to Gabby that afternoon were that I loved him, and to hang-on,YOU’LL beOK and back soon. Knowing part of this was not true; I MAY NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN.HeAlso knew that he wasn’t coming back to THE NAM! I also knew he would never Walkagain, at least not on his own Legs. Even worse I wasn’t sure he would livelong enough to reach Saigon.The Medic then reached out for me to get in, but I refused.He asks my name. I said “Alabama“no your world name. I told him, and asked WHY? Ineed to know whom I’m writing up for The Silver Star. I said “JUST KEEP HIMALIVE.” Iguess it got lost in the mail. (I NOW HAVE Gabby.) Over the years I wish I hadflown withhim, but at that moment I didn’t want to see him die. Neither He nor myselfknowsthe Medic’s name. I consider that moment in time my 15 minutes of HELL! Thatday Iwalked away unhurt but changed For life. Over the years I have often questionedmyself just how close all of us came that day of stepping on the wrong piece ofground? Maybe one inch or two inches, we will never know. I do know one thing,Gabby would never wear his pair of FLIP-FLOPS!”

After the accidentGabby flew to Saigon and was treated there for five days. Then he spent 28 daysin Japan, unconscious all that time. When he awoke he asked the doctor where hewas and how long had he been there? “You are in Japan and badly hurt, this isyou 20th day. He also said they had lost him three times. Gabby said that thelast thing he remembered was the hospital in Saigon, the night of March 26th1970. “He was too tough and mean to die.” Rushing said. After returning to theUnited States he went through eight months of rehabilitation. He and hisbuddies in rehab were running the nurses crazy. THE HOSPITALS staff could notkeep Gabby and his five friends from sneaking out. Legs or no legs this groupof WAR VETS. were out and FREE looking for (partytime USA)the big city of HOUSTON.He returned home, married had two sons, now 30 and 27. Rushing and his wifeRobin have no children, but they do now. Rushing began looking for Gabby about12 years ago. “Until then, I was too scared of what I may or may not find.” Thesearch was especially hard, as Rushing never knew Gabby’s first name because hewent by his nickname from childhood. Ironically, as Rushing was looking forGABBY, he was looking for Rushing by putting advertisements in war magazines,but to no avail.  Rushingfinally found Gabby’s phone number through a  friend that had served with him,Lieut. Mike Russell, but had no idea how he found the number. “When I calledGABBY almost 18 months ago I was so nervous, I could hardly  pick the phone up. That nervousness isthe reason I waited three months to call. When I finally heard his voice myemotions went wild, the tears and joy were on both ends of the line. We talkedabout family and friends and how our lives had changed over the past 30something years. Gabby asks me what I looked like?  I was still 5’7,weighing in at170-lb., my hair was white, a big change from THE NAM. He said he was 175-lb.dark hair and stood 4’6. At that moment I KNEW his life was good.” When the twosaw each other for the first time, in 32 years (almost to the day) on Fridayafternoon, March the 22nd 2002, they both hugged and cried with JOY in therehearts. They said it was if they had just seen each other yesterday. The eventstarted with a fish fry at RAM’S a local establishment. Gabby did all thecooking, crab cakes, all different fish, and hushpuppies. After closing THE RAMa group of friends and family went to THE OASIS club. “Gabby is the mostamazing person I know. His character, his out look on life is unbelievable. I’mamazed at the way he works his wheelchair and drives his SUV. He fishes on hisboat, or off the sandy beaches in the water, in his wheelchair! The VA peopledo not understand why his chairs are rusty and corroded. I heard he wasfishing, in the water, off the beach, when he hooked something big. It pulledhim out of his chair through the water to the second sandbar before he couldcut the line. I don’t believe anything can stop him.” He coached little leaguebaseball and football for 16 years as his children were growing up. He is aservice to his community and a landmark in Bay City. “Gabby has in one weekendhelped me with the agony and guilt that I felt over the years. He is aninspiration to my life, and living proof of a true survivor!”  “This weekend has been an emotionalroller coaster. I cannot explain it but I can feel it. I feel as if a missingpart of my life has been filled,” Gabby said.

“I’m happy to be inBay City—-everyone has been so hospitable—-and to be with Gabby again,”Rushing said. “Gabby’s brother had a cookout at his home, Sunday afternoon. Imet his two brothers and one sister, his mother, and more family and friendsthan I could count.  The ONEmoment I will never forget is when I met his mother, Mrs. Luna. She hugged me,cried and thanked me for helping her Son. I’m thankful that you      both are home together again. Withtears in my eyes I hugged her tightly. Gabby’s family has veterans from WWII,Korea, Vietnam and The Gulf War. That’s a lot of WARRIORS in one family.”  Rushing and his wife Robin weremarried during his tour in Vietnam. She says that Gabby has been apart of herlife over the past 32 years because of the story she has heard. “When Charlesand the other guys started meeting seven years ago, Gabby was one of the maintopics of conversation. He is a wonderful

man. I have love forhim, his two sons, his family and friends. I’ve grown close to them all

in a short time.(Especially Roland Zarate who I Nicknamed Matthew.” ) This trip is one of thehigh points of my husbands LIFE.” A trip for Gabby, his sons and friends toAlabama has already been planned and the two vow to stay in touch.  “I have found my lost “LITTLE BROTHER.”  He has been in my heart all theseyears, and we will never lose one another again,” Gabby said. 

 THE BEGINNING