Hello
Larry:
Hope you enjoy this short little story about Sgt. Lau, over
the years I have often thought about it and it always brings a chuckle. I
do believe that down deep, Sgt. Lau actually had a heart but I don't believe
that he wanted every one to know it. I actually got to the point that I really
did like the guy and have thought about him quite a bit over the years.-Alan Rossman
Some
time during the summer of 1967 I was in down town Honolulu checking out different
Bars and having a beer here and there. I don’t recall the names of any of the
Bars but in one of them I ran into Sgt. Lau.
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He was
sitting with some other folks but he did notice me sitting at the bar after
awhile and gave me a friendly smile and nod of the head.
They
were laughing and joking around and having a good time, and for the very first
time since I had met Sgt. Lau in May of that year it dawned on me that this
rough and tumble, gung–ho soldier actually had a human side to him.
Back at
Schofield Barracks a few days later Sgt. Lau asked me if I frequented that
particular Bar and I said no, that I just happened in there by chance. He seemed
in a better than usual mood and started telling me that it was one of his
favorite hang outs on week-ends and he mentioned a few other places he liked to stop in at on
occasion.
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The
next time I ran into Sgt. Lau down town was in a different bar and he was
sitting by himself and invited me to join him for a beer so I took him up on his
offer. As we talked over a few cold ones I began to realize that Sgt. Lau could
actually be a pretty nice guy when he wanted to be. He actually asked me where I
was from and about family and girlfriends and such. He even mentioned a girl
friend of his a time or two and how difficult women could be at times.
After
an hour or so I told Sgt. Lau that I needed to get going as I wanted to check
out a few more places and then the “U.S. Army Gung–Ho Soldier Sgt. Lau”
reminds me that what I do on my time is my business but come 5am. My young ass
belonged to him and that I had better not show up for reveille with a hang over.
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Any how
every so often I would run into Sgt. Lau and have a beer with him and he started
opening up more and more to me. He was a very private person but on occasion he
would tell me a few things, and would ask me what I thought. Well I ran into him
one after noon and he was all down in the dumps over two girlfriends, seems as
though they had found out about each and that both had given him the ultimatum
of dumping the other one. Sgt. Lau was having a difficult time with this, as he
liked them both.
I said
it all boils down to which one you like the most. He said he already knew
which one that he cared for the most but he just didn’t want to give up the
other girlfriend.
I asked
him what so special about the other girlfriend that he was willing to lose both
of them by not choosing one. Sgt. Lau took a quick look around and looks back at
me and whispers “it’s the cute little voice she uses when she calls me
Hum-Duck”.
I
immediately broke out laughing and our rough and tumble, gung–ho soldier Sgt.
Lau realized he shouldn’t have told me this bit of information. He immediately
informed me that if I ever told another sole this bit of information that I
would probably cease to exist. So I promised that I would keep his secret and
until now I have kept that promise. That is, I never told any one that ever knew
him.
On
occasion when no one was with in hearing distance and it looked like he could
stand some humor I would say “what’s the matter Hum-Duck” which usually
got a smile out of him.
The day
I left Liz for Bronco to start processing out, I looked Sgt. Lau up to say good
by and all he said to me was to get my draft dodging ass out of his sight, but
he at least smiled and shook my hand when he said it. I guess in his view if you
weren’t a military career man then you must be a draft dodger.
I never
did find out if he chose one girl or whether he kept seeing both of them.
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