The old man.

[DalesCarpentry]

I received this in a email and thought I would share it with you. Dale

The Old Man...

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart  of groceries  towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of
his car  up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.

The old man was looking at the engine.  I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early  twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the  old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him.  I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something.

The  young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand  new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and  I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, 'You  shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.'  And then with a wave of his hand, he got  in his car and peeled  rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.  He then went to his wife and spoke with  her and appeared  to tell her it would  be okay.  I had seen enough  and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like  you're having a problem.'

He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me.  Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that  I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars.  I approached one of  them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back  down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us, he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman.

When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a
Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'

He had mentioned that he served with the first  Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo  Jima and Guadalcanal .  He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood.  They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the  bill on my AAA card.

He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket.. We all
shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife.  I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station.  Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man.  I said I wanted  to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.

One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name....... 'Congressional  Medal of Honor Society.'

I  sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of  us needed help.  He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America . Thanks to those who served...& those who supported them.

America  is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war.  America  is at the Mall. If  you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front  of them!

Remember, Freedom isn't "Free" -- thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.

[Sweetwater]

Good one!! (how quickly we forget)

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Oldshooter]

Good Post and good read Dale, Thanks

Randy

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

Thanks for that one Dale.
It just makes me even prouder of my first born grandson, who just recently became of the the few, the proud, the USMC.


Bill

[DalesCarpentry]

Thanks for that one Dale.
It just makes me even prouder of my first born grandson, who just recently became of the the few, the proud, the USMC.


Bill

You must be proud!!!!!! He looks like a ladies man for sure. Dale

[Spanky]

Thanks Dale



Spanky

[Oldshooter]

Bill I am sure you are very proud as you should be! Thank him for his service, for me, when you talk to him again.

Randy

[slim rem 7]

 thank you dale.. we can not be reminded enough ,,who pays freedoms price..

[LONGTOM]

Very good indeed!
And people wonder why I take the time to help out someone in need.
You never know.
Just makes you feel good that you could help in some small way.


LONGTOM

[Carl l.]

Good post Dale. I really enjoyed it. Carl L.

[Hodr]

My father was a psychology student when he had to go back home and help save the family farm.  Like all his brothers he was in the military during WWII.  Due to training he was made a combat medic.  Towards the end of the war he was assigned to Presidio of San Francisco to treat battle shock.  One of my godfatherers was with Merrill in Burma.  The other was a Fourth Marine Raider.  Dad helped treat both of them. I grew up listening to stories by a Raider of what really happened.  My younger brother is still married to his daughter.  That was the toughest man I ever knew.  On his deathbed in 2004 I swear I was still thinking he might get up and take down any threat in the room.  I am proud to have known him and still have stories written downf rom Tarawa, Rabul, and Iwo Jima that never made the press.  He also made Aleutian raids but his mind would shy away and he could not speak of them.  He was on Ford Island In Hawaii when it started and recieved his first decoration there.  It caught up to him On a hospital ship in San Diego harbor after Iwo.  I was never in the Corps.  Like my father before me I was a Ranger in Viet Nam era.  I only stayed one hitch but have been fortunate enough in life to be able to pick up the tab anytime I see a uniform or Old Farts cap in a restraunt.  Two weeks ago here where I live I asked for the manager of a place to give me the tab for a Marine and his family.  The man refused, said I was the fourth one to ask for the tab but it was his son and this time he was buying.  I left enough to cover the tab anyway and told him to use it for the next time a uniform came in.

Cinderella had a firy godmother with a magic wand, I had two godfathers who taught me to be good with my hands

blindhari
Absent Companions

[magooch]

The story reminded me of a great country western song; I think it is "You don't owe me a thing", or something along that line.

[Hodr]

Yeah we don't owe him a thing, we owe them everything.

blindhari

[stubshaft]

These fine men and women are the backbone of our great nation.  It's a crying shame that the media does'nt pay them the homage and honor that they of all people truly deserve.