Honoring the Service of Veterans’ Families
Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.
One Year
He was gone one year. He left on our anniversary, July 2, 1969, and came home on our anniversary, July 2, 1970.
When you say “he was gone one year,” it doesn’t seem like a big deal.
When you say “he was gone 365 days,” it sounds a little worse. How about eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours? Worse yet, how about five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes? Or yet, thirty-one million five hundred thirty-six thousand seconds? Regardless of how you say it, it felt like a lifetime.
Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.
We drove to the airport early in the morning. The radio played “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” We looked at each other with tears in our eyes, knowing we were entering an unknown territory. The hugs were tight, the words few.
The plane left and I watched my hero go. I drove home to our 3-month-old daughter with tears in my eyes. I had to be strong for her. I held her and began the process of talking to her about her Daddy. The doorbell rang. Already tense, I slowly opened the door, fearing what was on the other side. I was surprised by a dozen roses. As I burst into tears, our long-time housekeeper, who basically raised me, comforted me saying, “Honey, he sent them because he loves you, not to make you cry.”
Ted Minnick holds his daughter Kim the day before his departure to Vietnam.
Life went on. Our daughter was my life support. I volunteered at the Air Force base hospital in town to pass some time. I worked at a church as a secretary for a while. Our daughter, Kim, and I spent lots of time playing, reading books, taking walks and missing Daddy.
Ted was able to call me once in a while, and it usually came at noon, so I parked near the phone at that time. Heaven forbid if he should call and I wasn’t there! I would not forgive myself for that.
It was quite an experience learning how to talk. Saying “over” after every sentence was tough. Ted sometimes would quickly say, “Hurry! You have to say OVER!”
After six months, I met Ted for R&R in Hawaii. It was as beautiful as I had imagined. The men were bussed to the welcome center. We all lined up as they exited the bus and walked toward us on a red carpet.
Upon Ted’s departure, Joy made a point of telling lots of “Daddy stories” to their infant daughter, Kim.
I saw Ted, but he walked right past me — I had lost weight since the baby and he didn’t recognize me. I reached out and grabbed him.
It was a great reunion until the next morning when we were awakened by the pounding of a jack hammer at a construction site nearby. As soon as it started, Ted grabbed me and we hit the floor. It was a while before we could breathe again.
Other than that, the week was like a fairy tale. Memories we will hold forever.
Then, back to reality. Six more months of watchful waiting, viewing horrific news reports. Good Morning America received several letters from me asking why they only reported the terrible events. I’m not sure what I thought they should report, but the letters made me feel better.
Kim had her first birthday without her Daddy, but he sent her a letter in a card and made one of the “OVER” phone calls. Somehow, we both survived those 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes. We loved, we wrote, we talked, we cried, we laughed, and we survived. That was one year out of our now 58 years together.
The Minnicks have served their country for more than half a century.
Top Photo: A happy family reunion: after a year’s separation, Ted, Joy, and Kim are reunited.
Editor’s Note: the following essay was written by Joy Minnick, wife of Vietnam War veteran Lt. Col. Ted Minnick, USA, Retired.