to 160 degrees below zero. To the layman that would seem sufficient.
Many of the planes under Corporal Giacomo’s care saw wind chill of less than 200 degrees below zero on a winter night flight. Aircraft maintenance personnel fought the ice and the cold weather decay just as hard, or harder, than they did the sand in the summer.
Corporal Giacomo had noticed Chelsea from a distance, but had never had a chance to strike up a conversation. Today, when he saw that she was struggling with the philanthropic task before her, he rushed over to help. He shouldered the heavy blankets and got the line moving in a smoother fashion. After delivering 200 blankets to the freezing masses, Chelsea and Timothy had a chance to catch their breath. They worked together to bring the canvas back on the truck down and fastened securely.
“Hi, I’m Tim Giacomo,” he said, holding out his hand. “I work in the garage on base and thought that you needed a hand.”
Chelsea laughed as she noticed the rank insignia on his arm, “Well, hello Corporal Tim Giacomo. I’m Chelsea Bannister. As you can see,” she said indicating her attire. “I’m a nurse on base.”
“I have seen you, but our paths haven’t crossed at least until today. So…where’s our next stop?”
Chelsea glanced at the route sheet printout that was on a clipboard on the side wall of the truck. “The Artreaton Senior Center,” she read aloud. Then Al-Aquiffa School, and we will be done.”
“Okay, I’m in,” Tim said, leaning back against some of the blankets that were going to the senior center.
Chelsea smiled. “I appreciate the help, but you must have been on your way somewhere. People don’t just walk around taking the air on a day like this.”
Tim said, “Well, Chelsea, I’ll allow that what you say is true. I was going back to my hotel where a cup of hot chocolate and a good book was waiting for me. But then I saw you folks, and what you’re trying to do and I remembered what another good book had to say. In the real Good Book, it says, “When I was hungry you fed me and when I was naked you clothed me.” Well these folks aren’t naked, but they might as well be. I think I will help y'all rather than drink hot chocolate.”
It took the better part of the next two hours to finish distributing blankets at the next two stops. During that time, Chelsea and Tim Giacomo got to know each other. She told him about her nursing school and how the loss of a good friend and the determination of another had-brought her to this point in her life. He told Chelsea about his wife Anne, and their two children Josh and Maranda. He told her about his twin brother Gerald, who was also serving in Afghanistan, but as an infantryman. Tim and Chelsea became good friends faster than good friends can be made under normal circumstances. When they parted later that afternoon it was with a promise to get together soon for coffee on base.
“The coffee there is pure swill, but I can put up with it if you can,” Tim said with a laugh as he jumped off the truck and headed up the street to his hotel.
As the frigid days of January and February gave way to the only slightly less chilled days of early March, Chelsea and Tim became close. They discovered a shared interest in art, both creative and performing versions. They listened to similar music, though Tim preferred his music with more of a country flavor than did the city-bred Chelsea.
Chelsea and her roommate developed a close friendship as well. Long forgotten was the first impression that Chelsea had of Lisa Glenn. The often irreverent Boston native of Italian extraction provided a sense of fun that lightened the mood, whether in the CHU or at work. Deep down and under the gum-snapping, wisecracking exterior, Lisa had a true heart for her wounded patients and a healthy distaste for war in general.
Far from the gung-ho days of early enlistment, combat nurses often develop an intense disgust for the activities that provide
Many of the planes under Corporal Giacomo’s care saw wind chill of less than 200 degrees below zero on a winter night flight. Aircraft maintenance personnel fought the ice and the cold weather decay just as hard, or harder, than they did the sand in the summer.
Corporal Giacomo had noticed Chelsea from a distance, but had never had a chance to strike up a conversation. Today, when he saw that she was struggling with the philanthropic task before her, he rushed over to help. He shouldered the heavy blankets and got the line moving in a smoother fashion. After delivering 200 blankets to the freezing masses, Chelsea and Timothy had a chance to catch their breath. They worked together to bring the canvas back on the truck down and fastened securely.
“Hi, I’m Tim Giacomo,” he said, holding out his hand. “I work in the garage on base and thought that you needed a hand.”
Chelsea laughed as she noticed the rank insignia on his arm, “Well, hello Corporal Tim Giacomo. I’m Chelsea Bannister. As you can see,” she said indicating her attire. “I’m a nurse on base.”
“I have seen you, but our paths haven’t crossed at least until today. So…where’s our next stop?”
Chelsea glanced at the route sheet printout that was on a clipboard on the side wall of the truck. “The Artreaton Senior Center,” she read aloud. Then Al-Aquiffa School, and we will be done.”
“Okay, I’m in,” Tim said, leaning back against some of the blankets that were going to the senior center.
Chelsea smiled. “I appreciate the help, but you must have been on your way somewhere. People don’t just walk around taking the air on a day like this.”
Tim said, “Well, Chelsea, I’ll allow that what you say is true. I was going back to my hotel where a cup of hot chocolate and a good book was waiting for me. But then I saw you folks, and what you’re trying to do and I remembered what another good book had to say. In the real Good Book, it says, “When I was hungry you fed me and when I was naked you clothed me.” Well these folks aren’t naked, but they might as well be. I think I will help y'all rather than drink hot chocolate.”
It took the better part of the next two hours to finish distributing blankets at the next two stops. During that time, Chelsea and Tim Giacomo got to know each other. She told him about her nursing school and how the loss of a good friend and the determination of another had-brought her to this point in her life. He told Chelsea about his wife Anne, and their two children Josh and Maranda. He told her about his twin brother Gerald, who was also serving in Afghanistan, but as an infantryman. Tim and Chelsea became good friends faster than good friends can be made under normal circumstances. When they parted later that afternoon it was with a promise to get together soon for coffee on base.
“The coffee there is pure swill, but I can put up with it if you can,” Tim said with a laugh as he jumped off the truck and headed up the street to his hotel.
As the frigid days of January and February gave way to the only slightly less chilled days of early March, Chelsea and Tim became close. They discovered a shared interest in art, both creative and performing versions. They listened to similar music, though Tim preferred his music with more of a country flavor than did the city-bred Chelsea.
Chelsea and her roommate developed a close friendship as well. Long forgotten was the first impression that Chelsea had of Lisa Glenn. The often irreverent Boston native of Italian extraction provided a sense of fun that lightened the mood, whether in the CHU or at work. Deep down and under the gum-snapping, wisecracking exterior, Lisa had a true heart for her wounded patients and a healthy distaste for war in general.
Far from the gung-ho days of early enlistment, combat nurses often develop an intense disgust for the activities that provide
Similar Books
