Col. Dennis Arinello, USMC, introduced me to Michael May of Houston, Texas. I have learn about Michael's wife Julia May and their Brave Warrior son Steve May, USMC. This is part three, the final chapter of Michael's heartfelt story written by Michael himself.

Julia and I waited, and waited for the knock on the door, ... but none came. We then realized, ... Steven was going to be safe now.

THE JOURNEY HOME;  Two phone calls from our Marine Warrior and we got the sense that "luck" wasn't doing justice in describing this situation. Not only from the horrors of the incident we came to understand, but also from the outcome of his personal injuries. The fact that Steve was still alive was a miracle!

He was being listed as "VSI," very seriously injured, by the doctors in Baghdad. Steven  injuries, as known to them, were two collapsed lungs, a broken clavicle, and a fracture in his lower spine. This was conveyed to us by the doctors and by Steven. He sounded good to us. His voice was stern. At that time, Julia and I came away with the belief that he was going to survive his ordeal in the Baghdad Hospital, and that he was OK, and going to be better soon. What a relief it was to talk to him ... whew!!

Leaving the Baghdad facility seemed as though it was a joke. The details were from scarce to none, although no-one was trying to be that way on purpose. It just looked that way from afar. We knew that the Marines did everything they could to get things rolling the right way, ASAP. According to Steven, the trip was memorable for him. He was put onto a transport to go to the "tent-city hospital" at Camp Anaconda in Ballad. There, he awaited the transport to Germany. Once in the transport, he found himself on the top-shelf with his face just 2- inches from the top of the Planes shell.  Other injured warriors were stacked 3-high on both sides. A "head-trip" for a 20-year old for sure, ... never to forget!!

GERMANY; NURSES!!! "Damn, they have fine nurses. I could stay here forever!"  or so Steven lulled himself into thinking at first. As things progressed, he found out that his lungs weren't inflating as was hoped for and he witnessed his 10 or so friends, who were injured with him, move-to, and sent to the states. Steven was being held-up behind until he healed up a little better as he watched his friends all head back home.

Steven finally came around to the point of the Marines having to send him back home to the states to get his other injuries taken care of. They flew him home with extra personnel on-board the aircraft, who could insert chest tubes if need-be, during the flight home. We were never certain at any time, that his flight was to Bethesda, Maryland. We struggled with for days as to how to proceed with flights and preparations prior to his arrival. I will say we were not happy campers but we survived. We took a guess, and went to Bethesda. That trip was ultimately delayed a couple of days, but Bethesda was where Steven ended up. 

BETHESDA, MARYLAND; What an AWESOME place to be, not to mention the AWESOME facility they have there as a hospital to take the greatest care of our wounded Military. Hands Down --- the best that can be!!

Withing hours of his arrival (Julia was there already waiting for him,) the doctors had already had him into every known scanning device they have, to find out everything there was to know about Steven's condition.  We found out about 2-broken ribs in his back.  "How could they have missed that in Germany?  I know they did everything they could for him over there. Well, at least my Marine got to view the FINEST NURSES in the world today!

All the Marines in Iraq seem to know this as a given. They just don't want to learn this the hard way, and certainly not anytime soon.

There were fine look'n nurses at Bethesda as well, waiting on him hand-n-foot, not to mention his mom, making sure everything was good with her son.  The attention she gave him, ... the company she provided, ... the food she managed to sneak in, all helped in his recovery Hummmmm; what a life!

Then there was "Miss Pennsylvania," Oh, and there was Mark Harmon, the TV actor from NCIS. Both Mark and Steven shares a photo shoot ---- lord only knows what our Marine and Miss Penn shared together, ... he's been pretty tight-lipped about that one for sure !! No pictures of that one either. I was there as she strolled the hallway ------ WOW !!!

THE HOMECOMING; Through the help of MANY, and with THANKS to the same, we managed to get the Marine HOME! Whew! What a trip. The news of his release went down-hill the night before, but for Steven, being up-and-around, seem to trigger off pain that was unbearable for a period of time. As things turned out, and at the last second of having this whole homecoming ordeal be canceled, ... he was released on Mothers Day.  Steven was raced to the airport, by a young woman LCpl who seemed to have a lead-foot and no-fear of high-speed cornering. The Marine, (and his MOM) needed Perkeset at the terminal when they both sat down.

The flight was bearable and they arrived at Bush Intercontinental on time. Once we got their luggage, we were off to see the crowd, unbeknown to the Marine.

Just prior to picking Steven and Julia up, I made contact with everyone and confirmed his arrival. Did I tell you that I lined up a fire engine from the local firehouse to escort us to our sub-division from the freeway. Our drive home on the beltway was fast for some strange reason, I seemed to deem it necessary to do 80+, but we got home safely. As I was approaching the exit to get off the beltway, I got a phone call from the captain of the fire engine. It seemed he pulled up to the McDonalds there at the exit to wait for us to turn the corner, and while he was waiting, a woman pulled up to them and told them she was in labor. He informed me that they were not going to get to escort us in. As we drove by them, they were head-over-heals in the car's back seat, ... doors wide open, ... doing there bit to welcome another life to the world.

THE FINAL Stretch; As we turned the final corner to enter our subdivision, we could see the 2000 flags stretching down the corridor. There were 2-patrol cars, one a State Trooper, one a Local HPD unit, sitting at the entrance. At this time Steven started to squirm, he had wondered why I honked the horn as we passed the fire engine, and now he managed to put it all together. We were almost home! I pulled up to the officers and rolled down the window on Steven side of the car. He was very uncomfortable at this very moment. 

I introduced ourselves to the officers, and explained what had happened to the fire engine. They both just about fell to their knees from laughing so hard, and our Marine lightened up then, and was "good  to go. "

From then on we followed the two patrol cars slowly down the street. Did I mention the 2000 Flags along that street? (Thanks Clarence Mendal!!)  There were also hundreds of neighbors out on the street corners, just clapping their hands and hollering chants of "Welcome Home Marine" and the sorts. It was AWESOME to hear that and watch that happen. It was awesome to feel the inspiration of the whole crowd as we passed them by. Then we got to the corner of our actual street, (did I mention the 2000 Flags ?????) there must have been a thousand down our street alone, the sight was jaw dropping! There were at least a hundred people there on that corner alone, all clapping and cheering as they followed us down the street to our house. We looked like we were part of a Presidential motorcade, lights a flash'n from the patrol cars and the security service cars behind us ----- 6 cars deep !!!

Our Marine, America's Marine, our son; Steven May, USMC got out of the car, ... put on his back brace and proceeded to go out amongst the crowd of "well wishers" and visited with them till they all decided to move along home. A picture purrrrrrrfect homecoming for sure!

God bless America, ... our son, our hero is home!

I promise to keep everyone updated on Steven's recovery. You can write to Michael, Julia and Steven May though Michaels email address and welcome them home together yourself. Write to; proamike@att.net