Jim Spiri in Iraq

It is a kind of "comeback" for me.

A few days ago, I received some correspondence inviting me to witness this "comeback" phenomenon of the McCain campaign. I had about thirty minutes to make a decision. It took me much less than that to decide to make a journey to the "low country" of South Carolina. I called my friend Mike (Mac) McAvoy who lives in the Charleston, South Carolina area and asked if I could stay at his home for a week or so. He and his wife readily replied, "YES", come on down!

So a couple of hours later I was on my way to the airport in Albuquerque explaining to my wife Candi how to handle everything while I'm gone as she was stuffing clothes into my always half packed carry on suitcase and tidying up last minute details. She's always ready for my spur of the moment adventures and once again she prepared me and took me to the airport. We kissed, I disembarked the car, we prayed, and off I went to South Carolina.

Don't worry, I'll comeback, safe and sound. It's not Iraq.

I arrived in South Carolina at around 10:00 PM on Thursday evening, the 11th. By 11:30 AM, the following morning, I was standing in a parking lot of a restaurant in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina in the midst of about a thousand people or more, watching the arrival of what is called, "The Straight Talk Express", which is the campaign bus the McCain camp operates. I was given pretty much a free reign to "do my thing" as the crowd began to swell. The first bus preceding the bus carrying Senator McCain, arrived carrying all the "big media" folks. For some reason, I seemed to have a much better vantage point than they had. I guess it was the sports coat I was wearing and the two cameras slung around my neck that made me look "semi-important". I had been interviewing some WW2 vets in the crowd for about an hour prior with my digital audio recorder.

It's been a while it seems since I've taken some photos and done some audios. These were not the streets of Iraq. I was on the streets of South Carolina, USA, but I found myself seeking "comrades" to speak with. I found them in the crowd. There were lots of veterans. They were older and the youth of years past had passed them by. They were soldiers once, and young, but now, it was obvious, they were older. However....it was also very obvious that they were/are still soldiers/marines. This was very clear.

At one point I had come across a man named Mr. Calligan. He is from South Carolina. He is about in his mid forties. He was wearing a bracelet on his wrist, the kind I have of a soldier lost in battle. We struck up a conversation and I was soon to learn that the bracelet he wears bears the name of his son-in-law that was killed in action in Afghanistan less than one year ago. We talked at length as both of us teared up. He showed me his vehicle which has a painted memorial on the back end of it in honor of his son in law. He broke down at one point telling me how he struggles with his loss and the years ahead of him. He told me about his grandchild and the suffering that seems never ending. I told him, from my own experience, "I know". I wanted to tell him, "this too shall pass", but I know it never completely does.

His son-in-law will not comeback.

As Senator John McCain walked off the bus, I was there snapping some photos. There were many other dignitaries including Senator Lyndsay Graham of South Carolina, the local mayor, the speaker of the house for the state legislature in South Carolina, and many others. But it was Senator McCain that the crowd had come to see and hear what he had to say. As he made his way up the podium I positioned myself as best I could, right up front and off to the left a bit. The crowd had pressed completely forward. I began to watch McCain as the others spoke. I looked at this man and could not help but think of the years he spent in the "Hanoi Hilton". I looked intently at this mans stature. They tell me he is 71-years old. But as I looked deeply into this mans being, I could not help but think about the time he spent in prison in North Viet Nam. It just brought back to me the years I remember about all the POW's in Viet Nam. I never thought at that time they would ever comeback.

Today, I saw a warrior that had been bruised, beaten and tortured, but also had comeback.

As I listened to his speech he made many references not about himself. Rather, he chose to mention mostly about the warriors of today's battle. He spoke clearly and eloquently with sincerity about how he intends to truly support the troops. One particular line in his speech stood out among all the rest. He mentioned about how his stance on the War in Iraq concerning the previous failed strategy brought him at odds against his own party. He told the crowd how the Rumsfeld approach had severely hurt the mission and more importantly caused the troops to suffer. At that point he told the crowd how others in his party told him it was political suicide at that time to go against President Bush. Senator McCain spoke firmly at this point and made is very clear to the crowd that his own political ambitions were inconsequential in comparison to his "duty and service to his country" and that it was his obligation at any an all costs to care for the best strategy that would insure the best outcome for those currently serving in harms way. This one statement sticks firm in my being and I find that no one else has said or could even say with such emphasis as Senator McCain was able to speak it today. He has been there, he has done that, and at this time, he speaks with sincere passion about supporting the troops and implementing a strategy that indeed protects those in harms way.

During this time, McCain spoke highly about General David Petreaus. He, (McCain) is considered the one major force that pushed for General Petreaus, whom he says, "wrote the book on counter-insurgency" and all now agree that this move was correct. The crowd agreed. The event continued and eventually drew to a close. As Senator McCain was departing, I was able to introduce him to Mr. Calligan, the one who lost a son in law last year in combat in Afghanistan. The two embraced. I snapped a photograph of it. It was a moment that humbled the crowd. It was hard to take the picture but I had to.

Later that evening I was invited to attend a gathering at the home of man that had been an ambassador to Tanzania. It was one of those events that the "big media" do not get invited to. For some reason, I was chosen. It was at an old plantation on about 150-acres out in the country. It was a beautiful home and had many pieces of art from Africa. It was one of the times I'm glad I had brought one nice set of clothes just in case I needed it. I needed it. Once again I was given a free reign and snapped many photos of people with Senator McCain, all who of course who wanted a copy. I will give them away once again for free.

Many said to me, "please come back".

At the end of the night, I gathered my things and departed the plantation. It was raining and I had about an hours drive back to "Mac's" house. That's Mike McAvoy's house. My good friend who is retired Air Force. He asked for a McCain sign to be placed in his yard. I had saved one for him. He placed it in his yard with much pride. "Mac" is typical of those here in South Carolina, very patriotic. Although he does not agree with all of Senator McCain's positions, he feels he can only support someone who truly supports the troops. On the way home I stopped at a pay phone and called my wife Candi and told her about the days events. She told me she saw me on a news clip briefly today and recognized me with the camera front and center as Senator McCain stepped off the "Straight Talk Express" bus. I told her all that transpired. She asked me how it was and told me of an email I had received from a Captain whom I covered in the area Southeast of Baghdad. It was a beautiful email.

I told Candi that although the events of today and tonight were very good, I was more eager to hear about the letter from my friend the Captain. I had heard all day on the campaign trail about "supporting the troops". But it was not until the phone call late at night and hearing of the email from the Captain that I had received, that I was able to put it all into perspective. I wept for a while after I hung the phone up. Today I had seen a warrior that had come back. Three months ago I was with a warrior in Iraq, who today emailed me and said thanks. I am a bit overwhelmed by it all. But there is one thing I know for sure.......

The "Comeback Warrior" title belongs not to just one man. It belongs to an entire nation of warriors, who sometimes do not comeback. However, most of the time, they do comeback, and when they do comeback, it is with a strength of character that is beyond measure.

Sincerely,

Jim Spiri
in the "low country" of South Carolina, USA