Château Pontet-Canet
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
The buzzing of my ear drums after jumping out of the chopper in the jungle had hardly subsided by the time I saw Harper go down. He was only a boy, hardly 19 years of age, yet his hopeful exuberance drained from his eyes as he collapsed in my arms, covered in blood as the rest of the troop began to return fire. We had shipped out to Vietnam only one week prior from Fort Hood; our boots, not to mention our battle acumen, had not even yet been put to the test. But LBJ needed us there. I dragged Harper to the nearby brush as quickly as I could, returning fire with one hand, not even looking where I was aiming - my only objective was to bring Harper to safety. I didn't look at him once we got cover, the sound of bullets whizzing by and anguished cries from other soldiers fighting the Viet Kong. I didn't need to. He was dead. And I was going to have to live with the knowledge that it could have been me, that God damnit it should have been me, the rest of my life. I tore off Harpers dog tags, determined that he should not have died in vain. His family deserved better than this. His little girl back in Charleston sure as hell deserved better than this. I reloaded my weapon while holding back tears before running back into the open again. There was no turning back now. I reached into utility belt to grab a grenade and flung it into the jungle fortress the Commies had set up when everything went blank. The next thing I remember, I woke up gently and confused in a medics tent about five clicks away from where we landed. "You're a goddamn fortunate sonnabitch, ain't ha boy" I heard from the corner of the room. It was Gen Franks; I tried to rise to salute, and all of a sudden I realized I was missing both my legs. "You're a national hero, honest to Christ. that grenade you threw singlehandedly wiped out the Kongs top sniper, allowing us to take the fortress. We'll have a tactical base that will allow us to run the entire war, making Vietnam our bitch." I was shocked. I hadn't been called a hero before. I was just doing my duty in Nam. And yet, all I could think of was the look on Harpers face when he was shot, and the look that was going to be on my young daughters face when I came home with no legs and even less hope from an invasion a half a world away.
The Chateau Pontet-Canet Bordeaux 1996 vintage was rich and flavorful, and the tannins weren't too strong. A bold and beautiful wine, this could probably use a few more years sitting on the shelf.
Sitting. Like I will be doing. The rest of my life. Thanks Charlie.
The Chateau Pontet-Canet Bordeaux 1996 vintage was rich and flavorful, and the tannins weren't too strong. A bold and beautiful wine, this could probably use a few more years sitting on the shelf.
Sitting. Like I will be doing. The rest of my life. Thanks Charlie.
James Hinckley
James had this 10 years ago