Morning meeting at 06:00 at the Meridian Agriculture Pavilion. Breakfast was provided and there were left over baked goods from last night’s desert. I ask for some of the peach cobbler, the nice lady laughed at me and broke it to me gently that the cobbler is the first desert gone. My taste buds cried! After all normal functions we took off, like a heard of turtles, for Tuscaloosa. We stopped at the Pilot Truck Stop at US11 and Skyland in Tuscaloosa to fuel and then headed to the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center. There we were able to interact with patients and staff. The Veterans were so glad to see us and have us greet them and give a handshake or a hug. Leaving the VAMC I rode with the “Mission M 25” to experience and learn about what they do. When they get a report of a Rider tapping out it is first determined if they need help and what kind. If the Chase truck is needed “Puff Daddy” assigns a team which consists of a truck with trailer and two motorcycles. The motorcycles stop behind the rider and the Chase truck in front. Makes sense to me. After an assessment they will get the Rider back on the road or load the vehicle onto the trailer. I felt it important to share what this team does for all of us. Mission M 25 provides many services. They provide 1-Hydration truck, trailer, driver and staff, 2-Missing Man Formation Chaplain, 3-Three Chase Team trucks, trailers and drivers and also all of the Platoon Chaplains. I never knew that this much was provided, THANK YOU!!! Next stop was in Gadsden at the Petro Travel Center. There was ample time to get a restroom break and refreshments. All the refreshments at this stop were provided by the Marine Corps League. Lets just say they had ample supplies and could never have taken everything they tried to get me to take. Off to Lightning Harley in Chattanooga!! This is one of our dreaded legs as we have gone through the the northeast side at rush hour without LEO support. Thanks to the efforts of our Road Guard “Unplugged” we are told we will have LEO support but no idea of how that will look. OMG!!! We had LEO support so GREAT that we had a clear #1 Lane and relatively easily made it through. Thank You to Tennessee State Troopers and any other agency involved. Sorry I don’t know who if any other agencies were involved but I was pretty busy looking at all the cars and trucks around me.
WELCOME HOME Colonel Roy A Knight
After dinner I got the pleasure of meeting Bryan Knight. Bryan and his Mother took Col Knight to Love Field in Dallas when he was deployed to Vietnam. Col Knight was an A1 Skyraider Pilot out of Udorn Thailand. Col Knight was shot down and MIA in 1967. Bryan followed his Father’s footsteps and became a Pilot in the Air Force flying F117s and A10s. After his Military service he proceeded to fly for Southwest Airlines becoming a Captain. His Father’s remains were identified in 2019 and returned. When it was time for his Father to come home Bryan made a request of Southwest asking if he could fly his Father home. He was granted that request and Bryan was able to bring his Father home, after 53 years, to Texas and specifically to Love Field where he saw his Father leave for Vietnam! The unfortunate part of this is that Bryan’s Mother passed prior to ever learning of her Husbands fate.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 