Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person – someone who is well-known, successful, and/or influential, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”
By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services
He was 20 years old, more than 7,000 miles from home, and perched on a mountain top, shaking from the freezing cold.
“Everybody needed me because I could see everything at night. I never really got any sleep, because everybody was always, ‘Weatherall, Weatherall, Weatherall, Weatherall.’ Everybody’s needing me because I can see thermal images. I can see through huts. I can see in caves
He was smart, therefore chosen to learn and operate a fancy piece of equipment which allowed him to see what his naked eye could not.
“One night, one of the guys said, ‘Hey Billy, come over here and tell me what you got.’”
Billy had his sights on a hut, 300 meters to his north. He could see movement but couldn’t see who was moving. Billy notified his Lieutenant and first Sergeant.
“Ya’ll watch it until morning,” Billy was told. “If someone comes out, shoot them. But if not, wait until first light and then we will shoot it.”
The sun came up, and “We shot it up. I could see (people) drop, drop, drop.”
Billy’s fellow soldiers who had pulled their guns’ triggers went down the mountain to see who they had killed.
“They go in this hut, and then they come out. The black guy was white. (Another guy) had his weapon down. (Another guy) had his weapon down.”
No one was celebrating.
“They’re not answering on the radio. ‘Hey guys, give me a sit rep (Situation report). Give me sit rep.’ They’re not saying anything. They’re just walking up the mountain.”
The soldiers reached Billy and told him what they found.
“We just killed nothing but women and children. That was a safe haven for those kids.”
43-year-old Billy Weatherall, Army veteran and owner of Christ Fit Gym in Bossier City, told me that story, several other war stories, and his story, during lunch at a place he chose, Sushi Gen. Billy had Fried Dumplings, and Hibachi Style Steak & Shrimp, a Coke, and water. I had the Chicken Teriyaki plate, and water with lemon.
“Not really that bad,” Billy said when I asked how he took the news. “It was just war.”
Born in Bossier City, Billy was raised by his grandparents, who made sure Billy was in church Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday evenings. They adopted Billy – and eventually his two younger siblings – when he was just three years old, after Billy’s parents separated.
“I remember my mom was a hustler. She was always working. It was just really hard for her to maintain three kids.”
At Airline High School, Billy played football his first two years. But his grandparents weren’t big on sports. In fact, they weren’t big on education.
“They were just old school. They cared more about me working and less about school. I can’t remember a time they asked, “How’s your report card?”
But they did tell Billy if he wanted a car, he would have to buy one. So, Billy got a job. Not a part-time job. A full-time job. While in high school.
“When you start working 40 hours a week at Pizza Hut being 17 years old, I just got in with the wrong crew. I started hanging out with people, doing drugs, and went down a real bad path.”
But Billy had always wanted to be in the military. So, while still in school, he joined the Army through its Delayed Entry Program. Then, In June 2000, the day after Billy returned from a senior trip to Mexico, he was off to bootcamp. A few months later, on the heels of the 9-11 terror attacks, Billy was on a plane, off to destination unknown.
“Everybody is wondering where we are going. The commander got up and said, ‘We’re going to Uzbekistan, and we’re looking for a guy named Bin Laden.’ That’s all he could tell us.”
After a couple of months training, Billy and his fellow young guns – part of Operation Anaconda – climbed into a Chinook helicopter bound for Afghanistan’s Shah-i-Kot Valley. For them, the war was about to get real.
“My hands were shaking. I will never forget it. One of the guys sitting by me bumped me and said, ‘Bill, I think I just pissed in my pants.’ That’s how scared we were.”
Remember when you turned 21? So does Billy. But your memories and his are likely very different.
”I just remember crying. I could be at home, eating Taco Bell, and in a warm bed. Hanging out, sleeping around with women. Going to college. What have I done? It was a crucible moment. Anytime I look back, life can’t get any worse than that. There’s no possible way. It was the lowest you could ever be. You’re hungry. You’re tired. You’re surrounded by death. It was a lot. It was a lot.”
After six years of active duty, (“I was part of a lot of killing. A lot of killing.”) including tours in Africa and Iraq, Billy’s time in the Army was done, and not a moment too soon.
“I literally tore off the rear-view mirror of my car. That symbolized ‘I’m never looking back at this place.’”
But Billy, like many of those who have fought in war, had trouble adjusting.
“I was miserable. I tried to get a job in construction. The guy comes up one day – I’m cleaning up a house – and he just yells at me. Just tears me up from top to bottom. I’m just shaking, I’m so mad. I’m thinking, ‘Do you know who I am?’ In my head, I’m thinking, ‘Dude, I come from operating multi-million-dollar equipment. I’m a war hero.’ I’m thinking, ‘F-U.’”
Billy moved in with his sister, but that didn’t keep him from, well, being Billy.
“I get home and it’s just party central. I’m going out. I’m bringing strippers to the house. I hear my sister on the phone one night. ‘Mom, Billy is losing it. I’m very concerned about Billy. Please pray for him.’”
Billy convinced himself he was a burden to those who loved him. So, he made a plan. And Billy always went through with his plan.
“What a piece of crap I was. I was going to kill myself in the house. I had everything ready to go. I had a Jimenez 9 mm pistol. I was going to drink a 12-pack. Then, I was going to end it right there. I was sitting on the futon. I had the gun right there. I had a camouflage bible I used as a coaster. Here I am, a kid who used to go to church, and I am so pissed off at God. I’m just angry. If God is really real, I’ve got a lot of questions for him.”
But for the first time, Billy didn’t go through with his plan.
“I’m drinking one last beer from the 12-pack. I put the beer on the bible. I pick up the Jimenez 9mm pistol and put it to my head. I just look at the bible. I’m not joking with you – I’m maybe a half pound of pressure from squeezing the trigger, and I just broke down and started crying. I said, ‘Lord, if you’re real, I will give you my life. I will never do drugs again. I will never touch another drop of alcohol. If you’re real, save me. If you save me, I will devote my life to doing whatever you want me to do.”
Eventually, Billy felt the Lord wanted him to open a free, Christian gym. But Billy didn’t have the money. He didn’t have a business plan. All he had was faith.
“He just laughed in my face,” Billy said of the man who owned the building Billy agreed to rent for $2,500 a month. “He said, ‘Tell me how this is going to work?’ I said, ‘If God is for me, who can be against me?’”
Billy’s faith was tested early, when he was, oh, $2,500 short the first time rent was due. So, Billy did all he knew to do. Billy called into his office a co-worker who, despite being a non-believer, agreed to pray with Billy.
“God, I have done everything you’ve asked me to do. I have gotten rid of everything. I have sold everything. I have done exactly what you’ve told me to do. Now, you’ve freakin’ left me. It’s the last day of the month. I promised this guy I would give him $2,500 dollars. I’ve been faithful with my money. What the heck? I need $2,500 dollars, and I need it now! Amen.”
Before sundown, a man walked into Billy’s office.
“Billy, God put this on my heart. I just want to give it to you.”
It was an envelope – with a $2,500 check.
And that non-believer who prayed with Billy? He was convinced he had seen a miracle, and right then and there, gave his life to the Lord.
Christ Fit Gym, a non-profit which relies on donations, has led Billy to owning a thrift store, moving company, and recycling company. With all that responsibility, I thought it best I let Billy get back to work. So, I asked my final question. As always, what has he learned in life that might be helpful to others?
“Jesus is who he says he is . . . . Open up God’s word and search. It says if you search for the Lord with all your heart, you will find him. A lot of people feel like in giving up that life of drinking and drugs and sex and lust, they’re going to lose something. I didn’t lose anything. In order for you to gain your life, you must first lose it. I didn’t truly start living until I gave my heart to the Lord.”
Do you know someone with a story? Email SBJTonyT@gmail.com.
The Journal’s weekly “What’s Your Story?” series is sponsored by Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers.