Terry Housely

On Sundays I have a tradition to write about individuals that we can look up to and admire. Terry Housely is such an individual.
From ganjingworld.com:
In an emotional reunion, Terry Raymond Housley, a retired U.S. soldier, was reunited with Kanchana Milkevitch, a woman he helped raise as a child, after 48 years apart. The touching reunion took place in Buriram Province, Thailand, marking the end of a journey that spanned nearly five decades.
Terry, 72, had been stationed in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand, during the Vietnam War nearly 50 years ago. While there, he met Suphaphorn, a young woman who was pregnant with Kanchana. Although Terry was not Kanchana’s biological father, he formed a deep bond with her and helped care for her during her early childhood. Unfortunately, Terry had to return to the U.S. after the war, leading to their separation for nearly five decades.
Despite the separation, Terry and Kanchana kept in touch over the years.
Reflecting on her childhood, Kanchana said, “My biological father rejected us and left my mom when she was pregnant with me. I felt like my real father was Terry, who helped take care of me until I was a toddler.”
Although their plans to meet again were delayed by the pandemic, Terry finally arrived in Thailand on July 31. He took a bus to Buriram, though his journey was not without difficulty, as he got lost along the way. With help from hotel staff, he was able to meet Kanchana. Their long-awaited embrace marked the start of a new chapter in their relationship.
Terry Housely … a good man in the 1970s and still a good man in the 2020s.
4/20/25