Friends reunite at 2010 USBC Open
April 03, 2010
RENO, Nev. - The last time Edward Hayes of Visalia, Calif., and Richard Lockman of Lincoln, Neb., saw each other, they were minutes away from boarding a plane that would safely return them home from the Vietnam War.
As they stood in line waiting for their ride back to freedom, they were excited about what the future would bring and never imagined not being friends. And then, without warning, they were split up and put on different planes back to the United States. The pair had not exchanged contact information.
The two were stationed together for a year from May of 1967 until Memorial Day of 1968, and their friendship grew into brotherhood. Given the circumstances and uncertainty of war, most soldiers did their best not to get attached to one another, but the bond between Hayes and Lockman was instant.
The bond was strong enough to withstand both time and distance, however, as Hayes carried around a picture of them for more than 40 years. During that time, he tried hard to find Lockman, an effort that included sending letters to a list of nearly 40 Lockmans and turning to a private agency. Finally, the Internet turned out to be the most effective tool, and he was able to find his long-lost friend about four years ago.
"We hadn't seen each other since we left Vietnam, and I told my wife I was going to find him before I died," said Hayes, who recently celebrated his 62nd birthday. "It was such a relief to finally find him and even better to talk to him."
Hayes and Lockman, 67, both had happy and successful lives and have had the chance to catch up over the phone since finding each other. Although Hayes is not a bowler, he was ready to meet up with Lockman at the 2009 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas. When Lockman ended up not making the trip, Hayes asked that he let him know the next time the tournament would be near the West Coast.
"He called me to tell me he was going to be bowling in Reno, and the minute I hung up the phone, I told my wife we were going to be there no matter what, but I wasn't going to tell him," Hayes said. "Even though my wife had never met him, it was like she already knew him. There was no question we were going to make the five-and-a-half-hour drive to Reno."
Hayes knew where his friend was planning to stay and made sure he was there waiting in the lobby when Lockman arrived to check in.
"I walked right by him and didn't even recognize him," said Lockman, who made his 23rd Open Championships appearance and shot 536 in singles, 528 in doubles and 472 in team for a 1,536 all-events total this year. "Things like this you can't put into words. I'm a grown man, over 60 years old, and it was amazing to see him standing there. My eyes filled with tears and my heart was overrun with joy. I could only shake my head and smile. At that point, I told my team that no matter what happened on the lanes, my weekend was made."
Except for the time Lockman was on the lanes, he and Hayes were inseparable. Hayes and his wife plan to make the trip again next year for the 2011 Open Championships, also at the National Bowling Stadium.
Even though it had been 42 years since they last saw each other, it was like no time passed at all. They were still the same two guys from the picture that Hayes carried with him.
"I am just as happy as I can be right now," Hayes said. "It meant everything to find my friend again. I thought about him every day, and I carried that picture with me everywhere I went for 42 years. Now, he can carry it with him for the next 42."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
As they stood in line waiting for their ride back to freedom, they were excited about what the future would bring and never imagined not being friends. And then, without warning, they were split up and put on different planes back to the United States. The pair had not exchanged contact information.
The two were stationed together for a year from May of 1967 until Memorial Day of 1968, and their friendship grew into brotherhood. Given the circumstances and uncertainty of war, most soldiers did their best not to get attached to one another, but the bond between Hayes and Lockman was instant.
The bond was strong enough to withstand both time and distance, however, as Hayes carried around a picture of them for more than 40 years. During that time, he tried hard to find Lockman, an effort that included sending letters to a list of nearly 40 Lockmans and turning to a private agency. Finally, the Internet turned out to be the most effective tool, and he was able to find his long-lost friend about four years ago.
"We hadn't seen each other since we left Vietnam, and I told my wife I was going to find him before I died," said Hayes, who recently celebrated his 62nd birthday. "It was such a relief to finally find him and even better to talk to him."
Hayes and Lockman, 67, both had happy and successful lives and have had the chance to catch up over the phone since finding each other. Although Hayes is not a bowler, he was ready to meet up with Lockman at the 2009 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas. When Lockman ended up not making the trip, Hayes asked that he let him know the next time the tournament would be near the West Coast.
"He called me to tell me he was going to be bowling in Reno, and the minute I hung up the phone, I told my wife we were going to be there no matter what, but I wasn't going to tell him," Hayes said. "Even though my wife had never met him, it was like she already knew him. There was no question we were going to make the five-and-a-half-hour drive to Reno."
Hayes knew where his friend was planning to stay and made sure he was there waiting in the lobby when Lockman arrived to check in.
"I walked right by him and didn't even recognize him," said Lockman, who made his 23rd Open Championships appearance and shot 536 in singles, 528 in doubles and 472 in team for a 1,536 all-events total this year. "Things like this you can't put into words. I'm a grown man, over 60 years old, and it was amazing to see him standing there. My eyes filled with tears and my heart was overrun with joy. I could only shake my head and smile. At that point, I told my team that no matter what happened on the lanes, my weekend was made."
Except for the time Lockman was on the lanes, he and Hayes were inseparable. Hayes and his wife plan to make the trip again next year for the 2011 Open Championships, also at the National Bowling Stadium.
Even though it had been 42 years since they last saw each other, it was like no time passed at all. They were still the same two guys from the picture that Hayes carried with him.
"I am just as happy as I can be right now," Hayes said. "It meant everything to find my friend again. I thought about him every day, and I carried that picture with me everywhere I went for 42 years. Now, he can carry it with him for the next 42."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.