safe passage from an arab angel
authored by:
bradley chapline
Contact
BradChapline@hotmail.com
BradChapline@hotmail.com
In 1973, Turkey and Greece were engaged in war. The United States had sided with Greece. This severely strained relations between the Turk’s and Americans. There were reports of injustices being committed against Americans living in Turkey. I was a nineteen year old Marine Private First Class with less than a year in the Marine Corps. With sandy blond hair, blue eyes, and a golden tan, I was the epitome of a young “gung ho” Marine. I had a distinct distaste for Arabs. My father was a medic in World War II who fought the Germans in northern Africa. As a child, my father reinforced within me that Arabs were the “true savages of the Earth”. As a Marine, our deployment to the Middle East was based on a show of force to thwart Arab aggression in the region. I received a message from the Red Cross while I was on board ship that my father was near death. I was granted emergency leave to return to the states to be with my father. Our ship was positioned in the Aegean Sea approximately 100 miles off the coast of Izmir. My commanding officer informed me that I would be flying via CH-46 Marine helicopter into the port of Izmir, Turkey. That upon my arrival, there would be a U.S Embassy Liaison Officer there to meet me. He would take me to the U.S. Embassy where I would be processed for transportation back to the continental United States. At approximately 11:30 at night the Marine helicopter landed in the Port Authority complex of Izmir. I was in my full dress uniform. As I departed the helicopter, moments later, I began to experience severe anxiety. I watched as the Marine helicopter flew away from my location. The Port Authority appeared to be abandoned. Not a person to be seen anywhere. Then, suddenly, all building and street lights were turned off. I was standing alone, in total darkness. I followed the orders of my commanding officer and waited for over two hours at the Port Authority complex. Still, there was no movement whatsoever. I knew at this time that there was something terribly wrong. I took my sea bag and hoisted it up to my shoulder and began walking in the direction of where I saw lights in the far off distance. I had walked several miles on the side of this potted road in total blackness. I was frightened, and at times, I silently wept. Then, suddenly, car lights come about, and I see this vehicle approaching me. The driver was speeding, and weaving back and forth, recklessly. As this small, old, deteriorated vehicle passes me, it came to an abrupt stop. The vehicle then backs up alongside me. I stopped walking, and had laid my sea bag down. This man gets out of the vehicle and begins yelling at me in some type of Arab dialect. My body began to shake uncontrollably as this man approaches me. He violently grabs my sea bag and throws it into the back seat of his car. He is still yelling at me. I still cannot understand anything that he is saying. I remain frozen, unable to move, riddled with fear. This Arab man now gets in my face. Viciously, he pushes me into the passenger side of his vehicle. We sped away.
There was no doubt in my mind that either I had been taken hostage, or, I was going to be killed. Or, I thought somewhat logically, both. As this Arab man continued to yell at me like a maniac, we had now left the city of Izmir. We were now in a completely desolate area of Turkey. Seemingly, hours pass by with no signs of civilization. My views from this vehicle had been of nothing but darkness. And then, relief, as minutes later I see lights of a city in the distance. I was still confused as to where I was being taken, and for what reasons. I discovered years later that this city we came upon was named Bursa. It was located at the base of Turkey’s northern mountains. Quickly, we passed through this city. Moments later, we were back out in a deserted region. I was now doing my best to emotionally prepare myself for whatever evil acts this Arab man had in store for me. But, a couple of hours later, once again, I see lights off in the distance. My fears and anxieties once again, begin to subside. I am hoping that I’ll be given a chance to stay alive. Approximately fifteen minutes later we approach a large airport. He parked his vehicle out in the main terminal. This Arab man then grabs my sea bag from the back seat of his car. He opens up the passenger door. He motions for me to get out of the car and follow him into the airport. I was debating whether or not I should run. But, I well remember being briefed that the Turkish authorities and police had brutal customs. Moments later, the Turkish man took me to a ticket counter. I watched as he bought a plane ticket. I was shocked. He put the plane ticket inside of my Marine dress jacket. Again, this Arab man now motions me again to follow him. Next, we arrive at a customs checkpoint. I see many uniformed and armed Turkish guards. They appear to me to look, mean, nasty and violent. My anxiety levels began to significantly increase again. But, the customs guard’s actions were quite to the contrary. They were all very polite, and thoroughly searched my belongings in a very respectful manner. Next, I gladly followed this Arab man who led me down the corridor to a gate where I was to board a plane. I still at this time had no idea what city I was in. And, I had no idea of where I was flying to. As I took several steps in the direction of the plane I was to board, I turned and looked back at this Arab gentleman. I now felt extremely bad with all my thoughts and fears of this man who had done nothing more than to put his life on the line in protecting me. Then, for the first time, I approached this Arab man. We shook hands and gave each other a light embrace. I then boarded the plane. I still had no idea of where I would be flying to. One more time I turned around to say goodbye to this Arab gentleman. But, this time he was gone. I then boarded the plane.
Upon getting settled, I discovered a stewardess who spoke English. I asked her what city I was in, and where we would be flying to. The shocked look that I received from the stewardess prompted me to immediately explain to her all the circumstances that had taken place. She then politely explained to me that we were in the city of Istanbul, and that we were flying to Athens, Greece. She further explained that this plane, because of the war was the last mode of transportation leaving Turkey for Greece. The stewardess also told me that she heard a mass demonstration took place earlier in the day at the U.S. Embassy. At first, I wondered why this Arab gentleman seemed so panicked to ensure that I made this last flight from Istanbul to Athens, Greece. Then it dawned on me, there is a U.S. military base right adjacent to the Athens international airport. So, this Arab gentleman not only ensured my safe passage out of the country, he also ensured that I would be back in the hands of the United States military. I couldn’t help but to keep wondering who this Arab man was. I initially thought maybe he was somehow connected to the U.S. Embassy in Turkey. But, upon my arrival at the civilian airport in Athens, the stewardess on my plane somehow made contact with the U.S. base authorities. These authorities apparently were not interested in what she had to say concerning my situation. The stewardess then informed me of the directions to take from the Athens airport to the U.S. military base. I walked approximately seven miles, with full gear, to the main gate of the military base. I checked into the base and was told that I would not be able to fly back to the United States for several days because of the war going on between Turkey and Greece. The base authorities offered me a private military style barracks room. I gratefully accepted the offer. After two days of staying in this barracks room, the base authorities informed me that it would probably be much longer before I could get a flight out from the U.S air base in Athens back to the United States. But, I was offered a flight to a U.S. military base in Germany. From there, it was assured I could get a flight back to the United States. I accepted this offer. It had been three days since I left on that CH-46 Marine helicopter from my ship landing in the Port Authority of Izmir, Turkey. Unknowingly to me, my family had contacted their /Senator’s office concerning my whereabouts. No one knew. Senator Paul Sarbanes from the State of Maryland put out a world-wide search for me. I was waiting on the U.S. military base in Germany for just over a day hoping to get a flight back to the United States. There was a hard knock on my door. It was a full-bird Colonel. He asked me if I was PFC Bradley Chapline. I stated, “Sir, yes Sir, I am.” This Colonel stated to me, “Where the hell have you been? Do you realize that there is an “all of God’s creation” search for you? Nobody had any idea of what happened to you.” I took the Colonel’s words to heart. I now knew for sure that the Arab gentleman who cared for me was in no way connected or obligated to the U.S. government. He was just a nice man who cared about humanity. I learned from this man that stereotyping ethnic groups is wrong. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the Arab people. Isn’t it absolutely wonderful that an Arab stranger not only afforded a stranded American soldier safe passage out of the country which, in the end afforded him the opportunity to go home and see his father before his death. Sadly, my father was a hater of Arabs. Nothing would change his views. Not even his son walking out on him and never speaking to him again. I’m sorry it ended this way between me and my father. I didn’t attend his funeral. But, this choice that I made was the only one I could live with.
There was no doubt in my mind that either I had been taken hostage, or, I was going to be killed. Or, I thought somewhat logically, both. As this Arab man continued to yell at me like a maniac, we had now left the city of Izmir. We were now in a completely desolate area of Turkey. Seemingly, hours pass by with no signs of civilization. My views from this vehicle had been of nothing but darkness. And then, relief, as minutes later I see lights of a city in the distance. I was still confused as to where I was being taken, and for what reasons. I discovered years later that this city we came upon was named Bursa. It was located at the base of Turkey’s northern mountains. Quickly, we passed through this city. Moments later, we were back out in a deserted region. I was now doing my best to emotionally prepare myself for whatever evil acts this Arab man had in store for me. But, a couple of hours later, once again, I see lights off in the distance. My fears and anxieties once again, begin to subside. I am hoping that I’ll be given a chance to stay alive. Approximately fifteen minutes later we approach a large airport. He parked his vehicle out in the main terminal. This Arab man then grabs my sea bag from the back seat of his car. He opens up the passenger door. He motions for me to get out of the car and follow him into the airport. I was debating whether or not I should run. But, I well remember being briefed that the Turkish authorities and police had brutal customs. Moments later, the Turkish man took me to a ticket counter. I watched as he bought a plane ticket. I was shocked. He put the plane ticket inside of my Marine dress jacket. Again, this Arab man now motions me again to follow him. Next, we arrive at a customs checkpoint. I see many uniformed and armed Turkish guards. They appear to me to look, mean, nasty and violent. My anxiety levels began to significantly increase again. But, the customs guard’s actions were quite to the contrary. They were all very polite, and thoroughly searched my belongings in a very respectful manner. Next, I gladly followed this Arab man who led me down the corridor to a gate where I was to board a plane. I still at this time had no idea what city I was in. And, I had no idea of where I was flying to. As I took several steps in the direction of the plane I was to board, I turned and looked back at this Arab gentleman. I now felt extremely bad with all my thoughts and fears of this man who had done nothing more than to put his life on the line in protecting me. Then, for the first time, I approached this Arab man. We shook hands and gave each other a light embrace. I then boarded the plane. I still had no idea of where I would be flying to. One more time I turned around to say goodbye to this Arab gentleman. But, this time he was gone. I then boarded the plane.
Upon getting settled, I discovered a stewardess who spoke English. I asked her what city I was in, and where we would be flying to. The shocked look that I received from the stewardess prompted me to immediately explain to her all the circumstances that had taken place. She then politely explained to me that we were in the city of Istanbul, and that we were flying to Athens, Greece. She further explained that this plane, because of the war was the last mode of transportation leaving Turkey for Greece. The stewardess also told me that she heard a mass demonstration took place earlier in the day at the U.S. Embassy. At first, I wondered why this Arab gentleman seemed so panicked to ensure that I made this last flight from Istanbul to Athens, Greece. Then it dawned on me, there is a U.S. military base right adjacent to the Athens international airport. So, this Arab gentleman not only ensured my safe passage out of the country, he also ensured that I would be back in the hands of the United States military. I couldn’t help but to keep wondering who this Arab man was. I initially thought maybe he was somehow connected to the U.S. Embassy in Turkey. But, upon my arrival at the civilian airport in Athens, the stewardess on my plane somehow made contact with the U.S. base authorities. These authorities apparently were not interested in what she had to say concerning my situation. The stewardess then informed me of the directions to take from the Athens airport to the U.S. military base. I walked approximately seven miles, with full gear, to the main gate of the military base. I checked into the base and was told that I would not be able to fly back to the United States for several days because of the war going on between Turkey and Greece. The base authorities offered me a private military style barracks room. I gratefully accepted the offer. After two days of staying in this barracks room, the base authorities informed me that it would probably be much longer before I could get a flight out from the U.S air base in Athens back to the United States. But, I was offered a flight to a U.S. military base in Germany. From there, it was assured I could get a flight back to the United States. I accepted this offer. It had been three days since I left on that CH-46 Marine helicopter from my ship landing in the Port Authority of Izmir, Turkey. Unknowingly to me, my family had contacted their /Senator’s office concerning my whereabouts. No one knew. Senator Paul Sarbanes from the State of Maryland put out a world-wide search for me. I was waiting on the U.S. military base in Germany for just over a day hoping to get a flight back to the United States. There was a hard knock on my door. It was a full-bird Colonel. He asked me if I was PFC Bradley Chapline. I stated, “Sir, yes Sir, I am.” This Colonel stated to me, “Where the hell have you been? Do you realize that there is an “all of God’s creation” search for you? Nobody had any idea of what happened to you.” I took the Colonel’s words to heart. I now knew for sure that the Arab gentleman who cared for me was in no way connected or obligated to the U.S. government. He was just a nice man who cared about humanity. I learned from this man that stereotyping ethnic groups is wrong. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the Arab people. Isn’t it absolutely wonderful that an Arab stranger not only afforded a stranded American soldier safe passage out of the country which, in the end afforded him the opportunity to go home and see his father before his death. Sadly, my father was a hater of Arabs. Nothing would change his views. Not even his son walking out on him and never speaking to him again. I’m sorry it ended this way between me and my father. I didn’t attend his funeral. But, this choice that I made was the only one I could live with.
Return To Main Page
www.bradleychapline.com/
www.bradleychapline.com/
"Safe Passage From An Arab Angel" Is A True Story