Semper Fi

[navyhmc]

I am not one who usually posts things like htis, but please bear with me:

Semper Fi


These don't come along too often

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 gentleman 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 hi m. 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 o n 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 and 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 alright, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence.

America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall.

[WAHMof2]

Very good story, thank you!

[newways]

That's a great story, I read it twice

[robjoubert]

Navy,

thank you for posting this. I am not an American (yet) but I will get my citizenship as soon as I am eligible.

I think that if the youth were conscripted into some sort of community service, we would have a lot more respect in our society and, yes, I did serve in my country's armed forces - 2 years initial service and 30/60 days a year for 10 years.

[pyre24]

Good story from a fellow Marine. 1st FSSG, 1st Med Bn. from Camp Pendleton. I keep toying with the idea to go back.

[Taigin]

We are certainly a Brotherhood.

Sgt, 15th MEU CE, Camp Pendleton
I separated last year, going back is always in the back of my mind.

[MLenyo]

that's so crazy! what are the odds?

[Dark Wolf]

Semper Fi.

And thank you for posting that. I have been out since '92.

DW

[Suther2136]

Thanks Navy, I pass this along to a friend who was in the corps.

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by Taigin

We are certainly a Brotherhood.

Sgt, 15th MEU CE, Camp Pendleton
I separated last year, going back is always in the back of my mind.

I spent time at Camp P with I-MEF Surgeon in '03. Though most of my time was at Al Hillah and Camp Commando. We may have hewed the same dust.