Yesterday in the late afternoon the phone rang, i was busy taking a siesta and was totally unaware of the situation. When i awoke a couple hours later my wife told me my nephew had called and came and took my son (his cousin) out to get a bite to eat. When they returned later in the evening, i was sitting here at the computer as i am alot these days, viewing our little home away from home and reading the archives. My nephew poked his head in on me with a great big grin and hearty hello! I jumped up and bear hugged the guy whom i had watched grow from little bean sprout into full fledged warrior/combat medic. When this young man first told me he was being sent to Iraq, amid the fatherly talks and gentle cajoling i was giving him ,the talk turned to weaponry and eventually to khukuri (as often happens with me anymore) and i told him i'd appreciate it, if he found any, that he grab one for me.
He never found one in Iraq and was soon given orders to report for duty in Afghanistan after a few months home with his family. That was about a year ago and now, with his tour of duty over, he is back with us again.
After much hugging and how are ya's he handed me a package and said i got something for you Uncle Alan....and waited for me to open it up.
When i opened up the package there were a matched pair of village Dhankuta style khukuri in there One about 9" and the other about 12", with engraved dragon on the blades and i was very surprised. They are not H.I quality but that matters not to me, the simple fact that i was thought of in the midst of all this brave young man has been thru in the last couple years means more than anything to me. I was grinning from ear to ear amidst welling up in tears that my nephew had done so well with little knowledge of what he was looking at and that he had returned to us in great spirit and health. The stories he told of his tour and the videos and pics he brought back spoke volumes, as we all did last night. It was a very good night.
To all our brave servicemen, active and inactive, Young or Old... you have my heartfelt thanks for all you've done for your country and all of us. I pray for your well being and raise my glass in your honor.
Khukuri from Afghanistan.
He never found one in Iraq and was soon given orders to report for duty in Afghanistan after a few months home with his family. That was about a year ago and now, with his tour of duty over, he is back with us again.
After much hugging and how are ya's he handed me a package and said i got something for you Uncle Alan....and waited for me to open it up.
When i opened up the package there were a matched pair of village Dhankuta style khukuri in there One about 9" and the other about 12", with engraved dragon on the blades and i was very surprised. They are not H.I quality but that matters not to me, the simple fact that i was thought of in the midst of all this brave young man has been thru in the last couple years means more than anything to me. I was grinning from ear to ear amidst welling up in tears that my nephew had done so well with little knowledge of what he was looking at and that he had returned to us in great spirit and health. The stories he told of his tour and the videos and pics he brought back spoke volumes, as we all did last night. It was a very good night.
To all our brave servicemen, active and inactive, Young or Old... you have my heartfelt thanks for all you've done for your country and all of us. I pray for your well being and raise my glass in your honor.
Khukuri from Afghanistan.
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. It is the ones like this that top off my day!
