Lieutenant Dan, 1969

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Nothing seemed to get Forrest Gump down. The sky was blue and the gulls had invaded his boat in search of fry, and today Forrest was determined to bring at least a hundred pounds of shrimp back to the dock. What was there to stop him? It wasn’t like he was back in ‘Nam anymore, running through the jungle like a man possessed to save his fellow marines. He had spent much of his life running, and Forrest Gump was fast on his feet. “Run, Forrest! Run!” Jenny had urged him when the other boys bullied him at school. Where was Jenny these days? Forrest Gump adored Jenny. She was his oldest and dearest friend, and he’d never been mean to her. “I’ve always been sweet to Jenny,” murmured Forrest Gump as he turned the helm, wondering if there might be more shrimp over yonder. If only his friend from Vietnam, Bubba, could be there with him for the adventure. Promises were important to Forrest; promises were to be kept for life. But Bubba had died in Vietnam, and Forrest Gump knew it was his duty to keep Bubba’s dream alive. Thoughts and memories raced through his mind. In Vietnam, Forrest had taken orders from Lieutenant Dan, and he had saved the lieutenant’s life during a VC attack. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Dan had lost both his legs in Vietnam. He’d wanted to die in the jungle, but Forrest refused to leave him behind. Where was Lieutenant Dan these days? Forrest often thought about him. It must be hard living without legs. How could you make love to a woman with no legs? If Jenny knew Lieutenant Dan was living with that handicap, she would no doubt take pity on him. Forrest Gump pulled in his nets. A handful of shrimp fell out; better than nothing. Forrest was beginning to feel crabby, but told himself to be patient. He started to pray. Prayer could make anything happen. It had been his prayers at church that got the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company off the ground. Forrest Gump returned to the helm and banked to the left. Back on the dock, he saw a man in a wheelchair sitting in the sun. Who could that be? Forrest squinted hard trying to see through the bright afternoon sun. Sure enough, it was none other than Lieutenant Dan, staring out over the water. “Lieutenant Dan!” he cried. “It’s me, Forrest!” Forrest was a smart man, and wondered how quickly he could turn the boat around. Memories flooded back to him of saving Lieutenant Dan’s life. Forgetting the boat, Forrest Gump dived into the water and swam straight to the lieutenant as if he were running. He remembered Jenny’s words: “Run, Forrest, run!”

                  “Why did you save my life?” Lieutenant Dan asked him. “I lost both my legs fighting the Vietcong. I’m a cripple. I got no money. And here you are, richer than Rockefeller.”

                  “Lieutenant Dan, it’s me, Forrest! You used to give me orders, and I saved your life because you were my Lieutenant.”

                  “Forrest, you better listen up. I only got one dream now, Forrest – to have a friend like you.”

                  “Yes sir, Lieutenant Dan, I’m your friend!” replied Forrest, taking the veteran’s words as an order.

                  “Forrest, I wish I could swim like you.”

Forrest did not hesitate for a second. He popped the brakes of the wheelchair and pushed it into the water. The Vietnam veteran began to scull through the water, as Gump watched on in amazement. “Anything’s possible, lieutenant! Only God can work miracles!” cried Forrest, delighted to have his Lieutenant back. Lieutenant Dan floated on his back, his expression pensive. “Forrest, why did you save my life?” he asked again, sternly. Forrest Gump did not answer.

Suddenly they were interrupted by the din of Forrest’s boat crashing into the neighbouring dock.

Alan Alfredo Geday