With love, from Sri Lanka

What follows is an email from retired Air Force Master Sergeant Robert Gubash. Although Gubash retired after serving 22 years in the United States Air Force, he was called back on Jan. 2 to assist in the tsunami relief efforts. He sent this email to his sister, who is currently enrolled at Metropolitan State University.

Hello Guys,

I have been busy here doing my old job and my new job. I really enjoy making a difference in both advising the young flight engineers and the helicopter maintainers. I have never felt so vital in the things that I am able to give back to the people I’m working with. It seems like they appreciate it, too (in some instances, anyway).

I have won friends and influenced people locally as well. One of our bus drivers lost his whole village to the tsunami. Not the people, just the homes. 39 out of the 42 homes were lost. However, because of him and a taxi driver, they were able to warn the village and save its inhabitants. He told the story very nonchalantly after I asked the right questions to extract his fabulous but modest description of the events.

He is Buddhist, and December 26th is a Buddhist holy day. He and his eldest son attended temple that morning, and as he returned a taxi driver came yelling his name. “Boodi, Boodi, look—the sea!” pointing out to sea and the wall of water approaching. He ran back to his house yelling for his wife to gather up the children and come running. He pushed them onto a passing bus and sent them to high ground.

Then he rushed back to warn the remaining people. He told me he could not even speak for two days afterwards because his voice was so strained. He stayed in the town rescuing people and helping them escape. He is a good swimmer and was an avid scuba diver until all his worldly possessions, including his scuba gear, were lost to the tsunami.

He saw many people who did not survive the wave. He had worked as a bus driver for tourists from all over the world. And for 13 years he had worked to build his house on the beach. All was lost in a matter of minutes.

He is such a modest man. He never bragged about his brave and selfless efforts to save his town and the other victims of the tidal wave. He shows no bitterness at the loss of his home and 13 years of toil. He was left with nothing but his family and the clothes on his back. He still has a smile for me every morning, and is so grateful that I took time to talk to him and show him the helicopter. He makes me look at life from a new perspective. He makes me thankful for the important things in my life and not sweat the unimportant things.

If no one else was impressed with America and Americans coming to help Sri Lanka, this man was!

I was very impressed with his deep appreciation. I’ll keep you all advised of how things proceed here. I miss and love you all, especially my honey, Jane. Thank you for letting me go. I think our small sacrifice will make a big difference here.

Love,
Bob

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