Ride Report posted for Spike
This mission came about in a very awkward way.  Mama J and I bought a car from a local dealership here in town.  I (Spike) came by a couple of days after to sign papers with one of the finance officers.  I noticed his hair cut and asked “are you a Veteran”?  He responded by saying “yes”.  So, we started to chit chat and I found out he was a Sgt. with 528th Special Op’s Batallion Airbourne Rangers.  He made a jump into Afghanistan and injured his lower spine.  The Army gave him a medical release and gave him 33% disability.  Looking into this man’s eyes, I could tell off the bat that this did not sit well with him.  I questioned him about his VA benefits and then asked about how he felt about the whole situation.  He stated he was bittered and more or less “pissed off” because he was released.  So now, the mission is born…
I came back to the dealership a couple of days later to speak with his boss, Jerry the Manager.  I explained to him who I am and what the WWR does for our heroes.  I also informed him that I felt there was a need to honor Thai for his service to his country and hopefully lift his spirits and morale.  We staged about two blocks from the dealership on a beautiful and sunny Saturday afternoon.  We had 22 bikes, the POW/MIA Corvette, Bryan Welden in his ’57 Ford Pickup (sorry if I have this wrong Bryan) and two other cages.  Approximately10 minutes prior to KSU, I sent Mama J and Heidi ahead to recon and set Thai up for our arrival.  Tailgunners were placed and we rolled.  The dealership has several driveways but I picked the first one that brought us into the service area, a couple of  hundred yards away from the front doors of the main showroom where Thai’s office is located.  As I made the left hand turn into the driveway, all I could see was a never-ending line of cages and bikes.  Snapshot was in her vehicle “snapping away”.  Now mind you – this is an auto dealership with customers there in the service area and to buy cars and in rolls 22 motorcycles and 5 or 6 cages.  The salesmen and staff ran outside to catch the parade.  We parked right in front of the front door and dismounted.  Signs were pulled out and I went inside to get Sgt. Pham, asking him to come outside to meet some of my friends.  As he exited the building, we gave him the official mug & hug greeting.  We also found out that one of his co-workers was a Vietnam Vet, serving in the Army as an MP.  We have Pleasanton Military Families, Antioch Military Families, Lafayette Flag Brigade, Rick from our local newspaper.  We presented Thai with certificates, flag and coins as well as well-wishes and thank you’s.  We then turned and coined his co-worker.  Once we completed this mission, we discovered a customer that was watching in the crowd served for the US Navy so we coined him also.  Then, we found out a young man was in the service waiting room that was active Air Force with his young bride.  We brought him outside and BAM – coined him!  What a great day with a lot of firsts – first time we went to a business and the first time Bryan Welden of LFB was able to ride with the escort with us.  No matter where they are or what they are doing – we’ll get ’em and honor them with a proper and deserving Welcome Home.  On a last note, my friend Phil who is a service officer with the local VA sent me an email asking Thai to call him so he can review his case and make sure Thai is getting everything he needs & deserves.  Welcome Home Thai!