"Just Thought" Column continues in La Prensa of SA, 8-23

Just a Thought: Does lightning strikes twice?

By Steve Walker

There is an old adage that says: ‘Lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place or the same person.” From personal experience I can say I wholeheartedly disagree.

Lighting struck me, so to speak, 38 years apart plus one week. Some might even call it “déjà vu” all over again. Well I can attest to an incident happening to me, August 11th in 1970 in Phu Bai Vietnam that literally occurred again August 15^th, 2008 in San Antonio. The similarities were remarkable.

Both incidents included at least one two & a half ton truck and me as a major player in the two similar accidents involving them. During the second occurrence, I momentarily experienced a flashback to my first encounter with the two & a half ton truck driven by our adversaries the Viet Cong.

I was riding in the passenger seat armed with my M-16 as my buddy drove our two and a half ton truck back to Phu Bai from Hue the capitol city of the northern area of South Vietnam. We were transporting nationals to work on our compound that included “hootch” maids, mess hall workers and various other jobs. Our eight man huts were affectionately dubbed “hootchs.”

The second accident involved a driver from a construction company who was waiting for a green light at the intersection of Babcock & Wilson to turn right. I had just almost cleared the intersection when the driver of the truck abruptly turned into me thus spinning my car around forcing me to the curb with oncoming traffic coming quickly toward me. My adrenalin soared as I thought I would survive the truck hit but would die by multiple cars crashing into me as an encore.

Crawling out of my car which was later declared totaled, I made my way to the curb after staggering around and looking at what was left of my vehicle. I will admit I was somewhat disoriented at the time. When I arrived at the hospital emergency room they checked me out, took some tests and discharged me with a headache and a few bruises. In my stupor as I crawled out of my car I grabbed my camera which was always with me and actually took photos of what was left of my car and the immediate surroundings. I do remember muttering, “Thank you Jesus for allowing me to live.”

In my first accident I was thrown forward into the windshield and hit my forehead on the medal windshield wiper. Fortunately it threw me up and not straight forward. That was a blessing for it would have done severe damage to my face.

Having survived being hit by one truck got my attention. Surviving two hits by a two & a half ton truck, I consider myself very blessed. I remember also saying out loud to the Lord in 2008, “If you are trying to get my attention and tell me something, could you use some other less painful way to do it?”

I figure if He decides to hit me again with a two & a half ton truck 38 years from the 2008 incident I will be a hundred year old. I figure that will be His way in welcoming me home!

Anyway, as always, what I write is “Just a Thought.”

Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran, former Judge and Journalist.