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THE OLD MAN

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Topic: THE OLD MAN
Posted By: Preston
Subject: THE OLD MAN
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 19:11

To all of you have served our Country, we are thankful!!   

 

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.  
 



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"I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace."
Thomas Payne, Revolutionist



Replies:
Posted By: billyburl2
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 19:53
SEMPER FI! And thanks fore the reminder Preston.

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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?


Posted By: Sgt. D
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 20:07

Some see things like this and are inspired and some see it and simply don't get it. I wonder which one fits obama. Actually I don't wonder, it just depresses me to no end to know that he doesn't get it and or doesn't care.

I know you posted this to inspire appreciation, but for me these things seem to magnify the sorry state of our current gov. To see his statment that since our current military is made up of volunteers then why don't soldiers take care of their own medical needs. I have known he would go this route, but seeing it happen is hitting harder than I expected.
I served and sacrificed to honor those very people addressed in your post. I am proud of them and honored to be counted with them. But what can be done to make or help those who are indifferent to "get it" or even give a ........
 
You honor those who set the standards, you honor me. Thank You, You are worthy of the same Honor.
 
 


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Take care of Soldiers, Show em how its done and do it with em, Run to the Fight & and hold your ground! I die my men go home! If you're a NCO and this ain't you. GET OUT! GOD BLESS AMERICA!


Posted By: Preston
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 20:28
Thank you

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"I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace."
Thomas Payne, Revolutionist


Posted By: helo18
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 21:12
SEMPER FI!!!!      Salute

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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

GEORGE WASHINGTON


Posted By: Kickboxer
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 23:17
It is an honor to stand in the presence of those who wear the uniform.  Too bad the 'commander in chief' does not understand that honor or the honor of his role...

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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living


Posted By: Urimaginaryfrnd
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 23:36
Marines  God bless out Troops especially our Snipers.

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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger


Posted By: mike650
Date Posted: October/12/2009 at 23:46
Excellent    Excellent    Excellent    Excellent    Excellent    Excellent    Excellent    

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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear


Posted By: Preston
Date Posted: October/13/2009 at 02:44
American Flag

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"I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace."
Thomas Payne, Revolutionist


Posted By: bugsNbows
Date Posted: October/13/2009 at 07:32
ExcellentExcellent Very nice. Great post. Thank you. 

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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
               Anomymous


Posted By: 8shots
Date Posted: October/13/2009 at 08:03
Thanks for that. I am not an American, but was a soldier once. In our country the youth do not do military duty and it shows!


Posted By: 467
Date Posted: October/13/2009 at 22:36
semper-fi........To all my brothers old and young.God speed to you all.
 
 
usmc.86-94    1/5 0311


Posted By: SamC
Date Posted: October/17/2009 at 11:56
Semper Fi to that older gentleman. I did two tours of duty in Viet with the 5th Marines and I remember the less than enthusiastic welcome I received coming home from the young hippie types who probably now run the NY Times, network news and the Democratic Party.
Sam

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Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
Winston Churchill



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