I was on a flight heading out of New York City. Just before takeoff, a gentleman boarded and sat down in the middle seat next to me. He began making small talk with the man sitting in the aisle seat beside him. He was returning home to Wisconsin after a visit to the Middle East. The man who he was visiting with was a middle school teacher. You're a teacher? I'd like to send you some books for your students, he said. Instead of asking him about the books, the teacher changed the subject. He clearly wasn't interested. Friendly, but not interested.
As they chatted, I closed my eyes to take a nap, partly to rest and partly to avoid conversation. I drifted off to sleep having made the assumption that my seatmate was a minister who was interested in sharing his beliefs, and that the books he was offering must be related to his religion. And honestly, that thought made me uncomfortable. Who knew what his beliefs were?
At some point, I was awakened by sunlight beaming in through the window. My seatmate was sitting forward in his seat, staring straight ahead to avoid the blinding light. The teacher next to him was fast asleep. I pulled down the window shade and apologized that he'd been having to sit uncomfortably for all that time. He just smiled and said that it was no problem. We began to chat. He'd barely caught our flight, which was the connecting final leg for him on a long trip home from the Middle East. He'd been traveling for something like 24 hours at that point and was looking forward to seeing his wife.
He asked me if I worked outside the home and I tried to explain what I do. He asked if I had children and we talked about his own. And then he told me that he'd love to send me a book for my children. Oh dear, I thought to myself. Here it comes, he's going to preach to me. About something crazy. What is the name of the book? I ask. A Gathering of Eagles, he replies. Oh no, oh no, oh no, I'm thinking. What's it about? I ask. He describes it as a book of stories and advice from 117 Medal of Honor recipients. I was taken aback and feeling bad that I had made an assumption about him and what he was trying to convey.
I learn that he's retired. What is your connection to the book? I ask. I'm a Medal of Honor recipient he replies. I'm Ken. Ken Stumpf.
You know how you feel when you realize you've been judgemental, and even worse, wrongfully so? I of all people should know this and speak of it often. You never really know someone's story.
Ken and I go on to have a lovely conversation, much of it with me wishing I could magically teleport my father-in-law Pete into my seat so that he and Ken can talk. They both served in Vietnam and I know they share a brotherhood that civilians like myself can't possibly understand.
After we land and stand to deplane, Ken and I say our goodbyes and I thank him for his service to our country. The teacher looks on quizzically and I feel sad that he slept through learning he was sitting next to an American hero, a man he could have talked about with his students on Monday. I could have missed it too, but fortunately, I saw the light.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The After Story:
I'm happy to report that my boys now proudly own their own copy of A Gathering of Eagles, a gift sent personally from Ken. And my wish came true: Pete and Ken are now in touch with one another.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
There are 79 living recipients of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed to any member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
Ken Stumpf is a retired United States Army soldier and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Stumpf joined the Army from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and by April 25, 1967 was serving as a Specialist Four in Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On that day, near Duc Pho in the Republic of Vietnam, Stumpf rescued three wounded comrades despite heavy fire and single-handedly disabled an enemy bunker. He was subsequently promoted to Staff Sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.
Stumpf reached the rank of Sergeant Major before retiring from the Army.
Staff Sergeant Stumpf's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SSG Stumpf distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader of the 3d Platoon, Company C, on a search and destroy mission. As SSG Stumpf's company approached a village, it encountered a North Vietnamese rifle company occupying a well fortified bunker complex. During the initial contact, 3 men from his squad fell wounded in front of a hostile machine gun emplacement. The enemy's heavy volume of fire prevented the unit from moving to the aid of the injured men, but SSG Stumpf left his secure position in a deep trench and ran through the barrage of incoming rounds to reach his wounded comrades. He picked up 1 of the men and carried him back to the safety of the trench. Twice more SSG Stumpf dashed forward while the enemy turned automatic weapons and machine guns upon him, yet he managed to rescue the remaining 2 wounded squad members. He then organized his squad and led an assault against several enemy bunkers from which continuously heavy fire was being received. He and his squad successfully eliminated 2 of the bunker positions, but one to the front of the advancing platoon remained a serious threat. Arming himself with extra hand grenades, SSG Stumpf ran over open ground, through a volley of fire directed at him by a determined enemy, toward the machine gun position. As he reached the bunker, he threw a hand grenade through the aperture. It was immediately returned by the occupants, forcing SSG Stumpf to take cover. Undaunted, he pulled the pins on 2 more grenades, held them for a few seconds after activation, then hurled them into the position, this time successfully destroying the emplacement. With the elimination of this key position, his unit was able to assault and overrun the enemy. SSG Stumpf's relentless spirit of aggressiveness, intrepidity, and ultimate concern for the lives of his men, are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
Staff Sergeant Kenneth E. Stumpf receiving the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Image: Scott Stumpf, via mishalove.
Recent Comments