(PHOTO: The soldier will have a few more days on his HBL in the Detroit area before heading back to this base at Fort Drum, N.Y.)
By JOHN ANDERSON
While we may never know the complete “identity” of the soldier who was helped by local residents to get home from Fort Drum to Detroit, his story ends as it began — humble and grateful.
On Christmas Eve, a soldier who had just enough time to drive home for Christmas, crashed his vehicle on County Road 15 in Allen around 5:47 a.m. and was taken to Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville. The vehicle was totalled.
The Army soldier, Jaylen, was offered money from residents all over the area for everything from a flight to money toward a new vehicle.
He was appreciative, and declined. He also declined an interview as he isn’t up to talking about the accident and trying to process everything while making his way back to Fort Drum.
He did say he is trying to enjoy what is left of his HBL (Holiday Block Leave, usually around 10 days at Christmas for those in active duty).
(Story continues after this follow up on the initial crash)
The Angelica Fire and Rescue Squad not only helped him at the scene with MTS, but two members drove him to the airport.
Michelle Miller, who has a son in the military, was able to help Jaylen with luggage and was in contact with him.
“He is a nice kid, I think he was very overwhelmed,” Miller said. “He is very polite. The entire ordeal was overwhelming. He just got released from the hospital and had to find his way around. At the airport, he wanted to Venmo Trisha (Dopson) and I money for everything.”
Miller talked to him after Christmas.
“He texted that he landed safely and was fortunate to have been in such a generous community and that he didn’t want any money,” Miller added.
(Our initial reporting)
