Rolling Thunder XVIII

By Darrell Bowman

Introduction

In the late 1980s some Vietnam veterans were angered over the lack of action, by politicians, over finding our missing in action (MIA) and prisoners of war (POW). These veterans decided to dramatize the point by riding motorcycles through the Capital on Memorial weekend. Peaceful demonstration is the true purpose of Rolling Thunder. But those who do not understand the POW*MIA issue have, in heartfelt concern, added patriotism, and honoring veterans to the purpose.

An organization called Rolling Thunder has developed from the once a year demonstration. Indiana Rolling Thunder promotes the POW*MIA purpose of the National organization. Indiana Rolling Thunder planned an annual ride to Washington, DC to participate in the demonstration ride. In 18 years the ride has grown to an estimated 300,000 bikes. Indiana Rolling Thunder held several, required, orientation sessions for riders. Safety was the prime concern.

My motorcycle was a Kawasaki Vulcan 750. I spent a month preparing for the trip; a windshield, highway pegs, etc. I anticipated the trip for months with eagerness and anxiety. I wondered how difficult group riding would be. I wondered about my experience level. I was concerned about the visit to the Wall. The Wall has become the shrine for veterans of the Vietnam era. 

Thursday 26, May 2005

I packed with my Vulcan the night before. My son-in-law, Jeff, loaned me a very night bike pack that fit over the passenger backrest. We needed to be at Indianapolis Harley Davidson by 0830. We had been organized into squads of 12 bikes, led by a squad leader. I arrived at my usual 30 minutes early at the dealership that was hosting our start. Soon bikes arrived. One person was particularly friendly, Chuck. Chuck has a zest for life and I appreciated him throughout the trip.

Steel Horse is a popular local motorcycle tv show. Steve, the host, arrived and was soon followed by a special guest. The POW bike, built by Orange County Choppers, was brought to the dealership by Steel Horse. A few minutes before we were to begin our journey, Indiana Rolling Thunder held ceremony honoring those MIAs who have been returned home and those still unaccounted for. I was pleased that our mission is foremost and this would not be an excuse to party. Right on time we were told to mount up and we headed onto the street, with police escort. We pulled out onto 96th Street in two, long staggered columns of motorcycles. When you ride in a safely organized group of bikers it causes your adrenaline to rush and your pulse to increase. We cruised with our police motorcycle escorts onto the freeway. The first few miles we worked to adjust our spacing. The police kept other traffic from breaking into our group. We were about 50 bikes stretched out for about a mile.

At the county line our escort left us and we were finally on our way to Washington, DC. This was exciting. Riding a motorcycle has been described as "like flying". Since I am a pilot I can tell you that flying is more technical. But riding a motorcycle gives the same feeling of freedom and the same partnering with the wind. Many people in cars waved to us and some saluted us. We are mostly veterans and some who saluted were honoring veterans' service. Some were saluting fellow patriots. In America we patriots can love our country and countrymen and freedom but we do not necessarily love our Government.

We arrived at the first rest stop about 75 miles into our journey. When we arrived at a gas station the size of our group took over. I gassed up and bought water. My Vulcan has a range of about 125 miles at 55 mpg so I always fueled up at rest stops. The next leg was 88 miles. The last 40ish miles were on I-275 around Cincinnati. People drive insanely when they are on city freeways. They are aggressive and dangerous. I hate city freeways. We struggled to keep our group together. Riders had to be alert to maintain 2 second spacing and watch for the aggressive or ignorant driver. Our lunch stop was at Bavaria, OH. It was great fun chatting with the other bikers at the stops. The frequent breaks, every 60 - 88 miles, were perfect because we rode before we got too tired.

US 50 in Ohio is not interstate but it is a divided highway and there was a lot less traffic once we got away from Cincinnati. The road curved and rambled through the hilly southern Ohio countryside. So far the weather was perfect with sunshine and 75 degrees. This part of the ride was terrific. After another rest stop we arrived in Athens, OH about 5pm. Athens is an old college town. This would be our home for the night. The mileage for the day was 271. I was tired but happy.

Friday 27, May 2005

Friday morning we formed outside the hotel. We were in for another perfect day of weather. The ride from Athens to Parkersburg was about 30 miles. Another police escort met us in Parkersburg. Hundreds of people watched us ride through and applauded. When we got a few miles from Parkersburg the terrain became gradually hillier until we were in West Virginia mountains. I was in the back of our squad which presented a minor problem for me. If I allowed myself to fall back too much I would have to do 75+ mph to catch up. That was pretty fast on curves and downhills. I was being challenged and when we arrived at our first stop of the day, I was ready.

 Steve, our squad leader, moved me up to the front after the break. I loved being near the front and was easily able to keep my spacing. The next legs of the trip were effortless and just plain fun. We saw other groups of bikers as we neared Washington.  Our tightly spaced group seemed to fly through the traffic on I-66 as we closed in on our hotel at Tysons Corner, VA. It was about 5pm when we arrived at Double Tree Hotel. The hotel was excellent. They blocked off the covered parking floor for motorcycles. We all rested for the next few hours.

 At 11 o'clock I got ready for the midnight ride to the Wall. We gathered bikes and bikers, in front of the hotel. The familiar rush began to sweep me. But the rush soon was tempered by emotion at the prospect of seeing the Wall. I wondered how I would feel when I saw the names of buddies, some who fell in an awful battle on 21-23 November 1967 in the A Shau Valley of Vietnam.

Soon we mounted up and Zeke and Skeeter led us onto I-66 toward DC. The night was clear and warm and quiet; quiet until our bikes roared. The ride to the Wall seemed too short. We were there. We parked in a long row along the curb and shutdown the engines. It was immediately quiet; no it was silent. As we walked to the Wall the silence was a solemn silence. When we spoke we spoke with a hush. The Wall rose from the ground. Dim lights illuminated the walk. I realized that I needed to look up SFC John Ponting, B Company in the book near the Wall. I found panel 33 and carefully searched for familiar names. I was transported to another place when I saw John's name, my buddy. My heart paced and I remembered soldiers who sacrificed themselves. Our group prayed and remembered fallen and unaccounted for buddies. After a few minutes it was time to head back to the hotel.

Saturday 28, May 2005

The Indiana Rolling Thunder schedule called for us to go to Arlington Cemetery Saturday morning. We formed up outside the hotel at 0800 hours. Although we arrived at Arlington Cemetery early in the morning, the cemetery was crowded. We parked in the garage. Our motorcycles were not allowed in the cemetery but the main Run to the Wall group was allowed. We walked about 3/4 of a mile or more to some recent graves. We held an interment service for two soldiers whose remains were recovered this past year.

I left our group to walk and meditate. It was hot and humid. Chuck and I joined up at the garage and decided to go for a ride and do some sightseeing. We rode city streets back to Tysons Corner.

Sunday 29 May 2005

At 0730 we began assembling with our motorcycles to prepare for the ride to the Pentagon parking lot. We left the hotel parking lot, riding in formation. It was exhilarating to ride surrounded by dozens of roaring motorcycles, traveling on a city freeway at 55 mph.

When we arrived at the Pentagon parking lot there were already thousands of motorcycles there, even though it was just after 0800. Every kind of motorcycle made was the. Every kind of person was there. There were biker-types, non-biker-types, unusual people and weird people. It was entertaining to watch the people and their bikes. We had to while away hours until Rolling Thunder was to begin. I walked around the huge lot and took pictures. I mused over the purpose of Rolling Thunder. I was reminded that Rolling Thunder is a demonstration to our Government that we have not forgotten our military people who are prisoners of war or who are missing. I wondered how many of the more than 250,000 riders knew why we were riding.

After hours of waiting we were finally starting our engines. It took an hour from the first bike out before it was our turn to leave the lot. I had my camera around my neck and throughout the 30-minute ride I steered with my right hand and took pictures with my left hand. Thousands of people lined the streets and cheered the riders and some people waved flags. It was clear that Americans love their country. I believe that most of us love our country but tolerate our Government. We military people do not serve our Government we serve our country. There is a difference.

I was awestruck when we rode past a Marine, in dress uniform, standing at attention in a median, holding a salute. The Marine symbolized diligence and faithfulness. We rode to a large grassy field near the Washington Mall. Our Indiana Rolling Thunder chapter became separated as soon as we left the Pentagon. I walked from the field to the Mall. A stage was erected across from the Lincoln Memorial. People were everywhere. Speakers talked about how our Government was failing to support the military that needed it. A Rolling Thunder color guard performed a ceremony in front of the Vietnam memorial. I snapped dozens of pictures because I didn't know if I would ever get to return to DC and I wanted to save these memories.

I found Chuck and we agreed to meet at the Olive Garden in Tysons Corner. After an hour or so at the Mall, I mounted up to head back. I got lost leaving DC because heavy traffic kept me from taking the familiar route. I later  found out Chuck got lost also. I ate dinner alone at the Olive Garden.

Monday 30, May 2005

Monday morning we packed our bikes and left the hotel about 0800. I was sad to leave DC but excited about the ride home. We rode easily through the freeway traffic into the Virginia countryside. I had earphones on under my helmet and listened to music stored on my iPAQ. It was great riding. In Maryland we stopped at a rest area that had a small memorial to those Marylanders who served in Vietnam.

The ride toward home was pleasant and uneventful until a few miles into West Virginia. It began to lightly rain. It never rained hard but for about 75 miles we got a little wet. At our last stop before Athens, OH I advised my squad leader and those around me that I would leave the group after Parkersburg. I was going to spend the night with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law in Little Hocking. I would rejoin the group in the morning.

Tuesday 31, May 2005

The next morning an intense fog greeted me. I left the house before anyone else awoke. My in-laws live on OH 555 which is about 10 miles of twist and turns. I could barely see 50 feet in front of me and windshield was totally fogged over. I rode 30 mph until I made it to SR 50. The fog continued all the way to the hotel in Athens.

We left Athens about 0800. It was again, a rush as we rode out of town together. The rest of the ride home was just plan fun. Sadly our group shrank in numbers as we neared Indianapolis. At I-465 Steve and I left the group and rode West. Then I was alone, headed home the last few miles.  I missed the group already. I became very aware that my adventure had ended, when I shut down my Vulcan outside my garage. I am grateful to the new brothers I have, Skeeter, Chuck, Terry, Dave, and Zeke and more. Thank you Indiana Rolling Thunder.