2 Years, 3 Months, 26 Days and 11 Hours (Part 4)

Posted on 02/17/2015

I dedicate this blog to Gunnery Sergeant Richard Mennifield. 

Gunnery Sergeant Richard Mennifield is the single most important person I have met on this level of existence.  I would not be the Sheldon Redditt, that I am today,  had it not been for this man.  I have been looking for this man since September of 2007.  I searched and searched and searched and I never could find him.  Part 4 was halfway written when I received word that Staff Sergeant Mennifield had passed in February of 2007.  He made Gunnery Sergeant before he retired from the Marine Corps.  The news of his passing hit me like a ton of bricks. I NEVER cry when people pass because I fully understand that is part of Life.  We all will pass on to the next level of existence, but I believe that on the next level, we continue to exist.  That being said, I took his passing really hard.  This was the man who saved my life. This man totally changed my way of thinking.  He ignited the spark in me.  He helped me to begin to see and judge people for who they are and not for the color of their skin.  You see, without Gunnery Sergeant Mennifield, there would be no Amy or Hayden because I hated white people at the time.  My life would be totally different if I hadn't met this man.  I know I am rambling but when I got the news of his passing, I had to rewrite Part 4.  Truly one of my biggest regrets in life is that I never got a chance to see you again, to thank you for all that you did for me and let you know all that you meant to me.  There is not enough time or paper to fully explain how much you meant to me, but I will try my best to honor you in my book.

Yokosuka, Japan 1994 

Today is the big day!  I am finally being released from this Japanese Prison.  I made it.  I am looking in the mirror shaving.  Wow I really made it.  I hardly recognize the man in the mirror.  I think this is the first time I have really looked at myself.  I am a fraction of the man I used to be, both physically and mentally.  I have lost 120 pounds, aged about 15 years physically, as well as mentally.  The tears come uncontrollably.  All the beatings, all the days of being so hungry that I thought I would die, the mental abuse was about to be over.  I get to go home today.  I get to see my son Ryan soon.  He is the only person that I care about anymore. Everyone else is dead to me.  I am still filled with a lot of anger.  I will be back on American soil real soon.  I will kiss the ground when I get back.  People can say what they want about America but I tell you what.  People have no idea how fucked up it is in other countries.  You have zero rights and you are guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around.  These are my thoughts as I am waiting for The Marine Corps to pick me up.  The Marine Corps arrived around 10:00 am to pick me up.  I was never so happy to see another human being or two human beings in this case.  I needed a moment to take it all in.  This was my first time outside of this walls in over 2 years.  The Marines had a ton of questions but I couldn't even talk.  I think at that moment it really hit me what all I had gone through and that I had survived it.  The mental scars would last for another 24 years but physically, I am FINALLY safe. 

Palm Beach Gardens, FL, February 17th 2015

I'm sitting in my office as I'm writing and I am thanking God for not only keeping me throughout that experience but also that I am not in a mental institution.  I now know that God was preparing me for that experience in advance.  I became a vegetarian about 2 months before I went to prison and still am to this day.  Becoming a vegetarian prior to my imprisonment, allowed me to have discipline when it came to food.  But what if God had not prepared me for that?  I would have surely starved to death. There were plenty of nights that I went to bed hungry because I knew that something was put in my food.  I would have rather starved than to drink piss or even worse.  I began to learn a lot about Religion and History prior to going in and that truly helped me.  The one positive thing about being in there was that they would let you read.  That was a LIFE SAVER.

Yokosuka, Japan, Day of Release, 1994

I am riding in the car with the two Marines that picked me up, just taking it all in.  One Marine asked me, "Lance Corporal Redditt,"  I haven't heard that title in awhile.  "Can I ask you just one question? Is it really as bad in there as they say it is?"  "It is much much worse.", I tell him.  "Imagine the worst thing you can imagine and multiply that by ten.  That's how horrible it was in there."  We arrive at base and I am immediately taken to the Commanding Officers' Office.  "Lance Corporal Redditt", he began to say, "I understand that you have been through a terrible experience."  "Sir, that is a understatement, but I just want to put this behind me and get back home.  So what time is my flight leaving today to get me back to the United States?"  His answer floored me.  "Lance Corporal Redditt, you still owe The Marine Corps time.  You see, you were only charged with misdemeanor charges, so you have to go back into the Marine Corps and not only serve the rest of your time, but you have to make up the time that you missed while you were locked up in the Japanese Prison."  My heart dropped.  I can't believe what I am hearing I know this mother..... didn't say what I think he just said.  "EXCUSE ME, SIR!  I know you are FUCKING kidding me right?  I know damn well you are not telling me that after 2 years, 3 months, 26 days and 11 hours in a fucking hell hole, that you are telling me I can't go home."  "Calm down Lance Corporal? Fuck calming down!  You need to get me a fucking flight back to America right the fuck now!  I can't believe that you would say some bullshit like that to me!  After I have....." Four Marines rush into the room.  In that moment, I knew I had really Fucked up. 

To be Continued.....

Copyright February 2015 by Sheldon Redditt

2 Years, 3 Months, 26 Days and 11 Hours (Part 3)

Posted on 02/09/2015

"Man!  This Jodeci CD is nice!  "Forever My Lady" and "Stay" are my favorite cuts."  I am talking to my boys; Parker, Heard and Yates.  We are sitting in Heards' and I room, talking about our girlfriends.  "I'm about to go call my girl right now", I remember Heard saying.  Minutes later, I hear a knock on the door.  Parker turned the music down so that I can answer the door.  It was Staff Sergeant Minnifield.  "What's going on Staff Sergeant?  What did we do now?"  The look on his face told me that something was seriously wrong.  "Redditt, the Japanese have decided to charge you."  WAIT WHAT?  "Charge me for what?  I didn't do shit!"  "Redditt, they are charging you with leaving the scene of a crime, resisting arrest, attempted assault on a police officer and disorderly conduct."  "You can't be serious Staff Sergeant."  But the look on his face told it all.  "Redditt, the Japanese also believe that you guys are a flight risk, so they want to take you guys into custody immediately."  "How in the hell did a day of listening to music in my barracks turn into this?", I remember thinking.  "The Marine Corps told the Japanese that we would take you into custody and that we would lock you up in our jail on Camp Hansen.  So I'm gonna need you to pack up some things, so I can take you up to Camp Hansen to jail."

Yokosuka, Japan, sometime in 1994 

Oh how my life has changed since that dreadful day.  I am in Solitary Confinement again for 30 more glorious days.  "This is it, God, I can't take it anymore.  You say you answer prayers. So, why the fuck aren't you answering mine?  I am sick of this bullshit!  Either you answer my prayers or tonight I'm taking this fucking sheet and I'm hanging myself."  These are my words, as I am sitting Indian style, facing and talking to the wall, the tears continue flowing down my face.  One of the prisoners committed suicide yesterday and Punk ass thought it was funny.  "Redditt San, when are we gonna find you hanging?", he says laughing.  "You are a Bitch you know that?  When I was whooping your ass you were screaming like a bitch but now you want to be tough in front of your goons?"  Damn!  I fall into his trap.  The trap that I said I wouldn't fall into again.  After the last 60 day stint, I decided that was it for me.  But here I am again for 30 days for disrespecting Punk ass. 

Okinawa, Japan, sometime in 1992

"1 year and 9 months of hard labor", the judge said.  I stood there in shock as the judge was rambling on for what seem like hours.  How the hell did 4 misdemeanor charges turn into almost 2 fucking years in prison?  These same charges in the US would have been dropped or I would have got a pat on the wrist at most.  Unfortunately we are in Japan and not America.  So for our "crimes", I got 1 year and 9 months.  My other buddy got 2 years for robbing the cab driver and my other two buddies didn't get charged at all, nor should they have.  I truly believe that the Japanese offered the Americans a deal.  I believe they said, "give us two and we will let two go.".  But, that is my opinion.  I have no proof of that.  The Japanese police took my buddy and myself into custody immediately.  As we arrive at the jail in Okinawa, the two investigators greet us.  "I told you, you would pay.  You are ours now."  A right hook to the face.  Damn!  What a greeting.   I'm here less than one minute and I'm already getting my ass whooped.  I see why they say the life expectancy for an American is less than 6 months.  "You were very disrespectful when we were interviewing you, Redditt San.  I promise you, we will teach you some respect here."

Yokosuka, Japan, 1994 

"Redditt San, your brother tried to visit you and we told him, "No!"."  Punk ass begins to tell me, grinning from ear to ear.  Unbeknownst to me at the time, my brother was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, in the Navy.  "Wow, my brother!", I thought.  I almost forgot I had a brother or family for that matter.   Let  me back up and explain.  You see, in Japan, you can't have personal visits and you can only write or receive 1 to 4 letters a month, depending on your behavior. Needless to say, I only ever received 5 letters the entire time I was locked up.  So, I was disconnected from my family and friends.  "Fuck him!  I don't want to see him or any of them for that matter!  I have been here for almost two fucking years and I haven't heard from them.  Only one letter from my Mom, two from my sister and two from my step mom.  So, they all can kiss my ass!"  I am angry at the world at this point.  "I just can't understand how everyone has forgotten about me.  Ok no, no don't go there," I tell myself.  "What is the goal? To get out of here alive!  So we have no time to dwell on what is or isn't going on in the outside world.  Stay focused.  I miss my son so much!  I haven't seen him in almost 3 years. He was 2 months the last time I saw him.  Now he is...let's see.  Wow!  He just turned 3.  I wonder what he looks like now.  I wonder if he is..." "Redditt San!"  My thoughts are interrupted by Punk ass.  "You know you aren't gonna make it out of here alive, right?  We are gonna wait until it's almost time for you to leave and than we are gonna kill you.", he breaks into laughter.  Punk ass being Punk ass.  He has being making these statements since I have been here.  They don't even faze me anymore.  Back to my thoughts, "if I stay focused and don't let him get to me, I will be out of here in about 5 months.  8 more days and I will be out of Solitary confinement."  Yesterday Punk Ass really tried to test me by bringing a picture of my son to me and tearing it up right in my face.  "Redditt San", he said, "you have mail!  It's a picture of your son!"   He stands there tearing it up, without even showing it to me.  "This low down motherfucker!  I haven't seen my son in almost 3 years!  I wouldn't know him from Adam if I saw him and the one picture that I do receive...this devil rips it up in my face!  Stay calm, Sheldon, this is only a test.  I tell myself, I will not let him get to me. 

5 months later.... 

Tomorrow is the big day.  I am finally getting out of here. 2 years 3 months 26 days and 11 hours. I am finally free. I am going home!"  Or so I thought... The bullshit that happens next..... To be continued....

Copyright February 2015 by Sheldon Redditt

I Refuse To Go To The Grave Without Telling My Story

Posted on 01/19/2015

I want to thank Angelo Parker for helping me find the courage to tell the world why and for providing me with the missing pieces to my story.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain

That is my absolute favorite quote of all time.  The purpose of life for every living being is to discover the reason for their existence.  We are all small in the grand scheme of things, but our presence could leave such a large impact that we are impossible to forget.  What better day to recognize this, than on Martin Luther King Day?  He walked the Earth for but 39 years, but his presence will live on forever.  I'm not saying that each of us will have an impact of that magnitude, but we can each, most definitely leave our mark on this world.

 I am so thankful that I discovered, WHY I AM HERE.  About 2 years ago, I began hearing the whisperings of the Universe.  I heard what has been repeated to me my whole life, starting with the voice of my mother.  She always told me that my way of speaking to others would someday allow me to touch the lives of a multitude of people.  Over the years, I have been told countless times that I have a gift for talking to people, whether it is counseling people, speaking to troubled youth or just talking to my friends and family.  Over the past 2 years, I have come to accept what so many have told me, but I didn't feel that I could be effective without sharing my whole truth.  My biggest fear has been that I would pass on or go to the grave without sharing my full story. 

Three weeks ago, I received a call from one of my old Marine Corp buddies, Angelo Parker.  I hadn't spoken to him in 24 years. Unbeknownst to me, for 24 years, Parker thought I was dead.  YES DEAD!  You see, he, along with the rest of my Marine Corp buddies, were told that the last night they saw me, would in fact be the last time they would ever see me alive.  They were told that undoubtedly, I would be dead in 6 months.  So, imagine his surprise when he found out I was still alive.  That first phone call with him was undeniably, the most emotional conversation I have ever had.  It's indescribable to hear and fully understand that I was supposed to be dead at 19 years old, but then realize that 24 years later I am still here and thriving.  It is truly a blessing.  I knew that The Marine Corps had sent a Staff Sergeant to my mother's house to let her know that her son would be dead in 6 months.  I remember that they tried to prepare me as best as they could, that I wouldn't survive longer than 6 months.  However, when Parker informed me that not only had they planned my funeral, but he had a role to play in it as well, I was floored.  Parker explained that when he arrived to his new command states side, his commander informed him that when I passed, he would be flown back to Japan to be a part of the security detail to escort my body back to America.  The 3 weeks since our conversation has been very turbulent emotionally for me.  I have gone back and forth about telling my story.  I have prayed and meditated about it, but most importantly, I spoke with my wife about it and we both agree that it is time for me to tell my story.  My journey in those 24 years has been nothing short of amazing.  I think I have lived my life, like I would die tomorrow.  I have most definitely lived.  No longer am I ashamed.  I am free.  So tomorrow I will joyously release, "2 Years, 3 Months, 26 Days and 11 Hours, My Journey To Death And Back, Part 1".  I started writing a book because I couldn't put all of this information into a blog series.  This will be my most honest truth.  I refuse to go to the grave without telling my story. This is my truth.  What's yours?