papsolddually
12-07-2009, 10:08
Lets never forget these gentlemen.
i want to share just a small quick story with you guys.
about 6 yrs ago, while standing in line at a meijer store my 3yr sons starts to do the pee pee dance saying he "really has to go". i walk him across the isle way and it to one of the mens rest room. i am standing behind him with my cruise jacket on when i here this giggle behind me. now my son is standing here with his pants down to his little ankle wiggling his bare bottom for god and all to see. im wondering to myself "who the hell is giggling at my boy?!" i turn to see an older man standing the, i dont know, maybe 80 or so.
he giggles again and says, " im sorry young man but that reminds my of standing onboard my old navy ship takin a piss" so i kinda chuckle and say its ok. he ask me about my jacket and we end up standing in the bathrrom for a while chattin. after about 10 mins he says to me..."i got something for you out in my van. please walk out there with me."
ok. now thats just wrong, your thinkin. right? yeah me too. we walk out into the store and i send my son with the wife and say i'll be right over to the car. i'm thinkin OLD man here. whats he gonna do. as we walk out his wife meets up with us and we walk out together. we get over to his van and i notice a veterans plate on it. i asked the man when he served and he says,"thats what i want to give ya son. just hang on a min." ok, now im thinkin whats he doin? he turns around and hands me a blue folder and says " go home and read that sometime." as i start to open he reaches up and closes it and said again," read it at home son. your family is waiting on you over there."
so we get home, get all the stuff put away and the boy down to bed for the nite. i sat down on the couch and open this folder up to find a picture of this man many yrs ago. a young man in uniform. a navy uniform. all his information from now. his address and phone number. the are some pictures of medals and ribbons that were awarded to him.
it was his personal account of what had happened that day. Dec 7th. he had set down with his wife and told her everything he could remember from that day, and through the next 4 yrs of his enlistment. the first yr was very detailed. from the 1st planes he heard coming in the going acrossed the pond on the ship carrying our planes and guys going to get some payback.
i found tears wellin up in my eyes as i read through his account of what he had gone though. we all have read about it in books and seen the movies. but when a man who was there hands you something to read that he had literally written and wanted to share with everyone. it just seemed to reach a place that the movies dont. iwas sound glad i had ran into him that day. this past summer i got that folder out and sat down and read it again. when i finished it i called to see how the old man was doing. he seemed to be in very good spirts and health he offered to have the family over sometine for dinner so that he and i can sit down and talk.im a little scared to take our childern over to see him. we now have 2 boys. a 4 yr and 9 yr old. not sure how long they could sit and listen to this man, but i know i could forever.
i want to share just a small quick story with you guys.
about 6 yrs ago, while standing in line at a meijer store my 3yr sons starts to do the pee pee dance saying he "really has to go". i walk him across the isle way and it to one of the mens rest room. i am standing behind him with my cruise jacket on when i here this giggle behind me. now my son is standing here with his pants down to his little ankle wiggling his bare bottom for god and all to see. im wondering to myself "who the hell is giggling at my boy?!" i turn to see an older man standing the, i dont know, maybe 80 or so.
he giggles again and says, " im sorry young man but that reminds my of standing onboard my old navy ship takin a piss" so i kinda chuckle and say its ok. he ask me about my jacket and we end up standing in the bathrrom for a while chattin. after about 10 mins he says to me..."i got something for you out in my van. please walk out there with me."
ok. now thats just wrong, your thinkin. right? yeah me too. we walk out into the store and i send my son with the wife and say i'll be right over to the car. i'm thinkin OLD man here. whats he gonna do. as we walk out his wife meets up with us and we walk out together. we get over to his van and i notice a veterans plate on it. i asked the man when he served and he says,"thats what i want to give ya son. just hang on a min." ok, now im thinkin whats he doin? he turns around and hands me a blue folder and says " go home and read that sometime." as i start to open he reaches up and closes it and said again," read it at home son. your family is waiting on you over there."
so we get home, get all the stuff put away and the boy down to bed for the nite. i sat down on the couch and open this folder up to find a picture of this man many yrs ago. a young man in uniform. a navy uniform. all his information from now. his address and phone number. the are some pictures of medals and ribbons that were awarded to him.
it was his personal account of what had happened that day. Dec 7th. he had set down with his wife and told her everything he could remember from that day, and through the next 4 yrs of his enlistment. the first yr was very detailed. from the 1st planes he heard coming in the going acrossed the pond on the ship carrying our planes and guys going to get some payback.
i found tears wellin up in my eyes as i read through his account of what he had gone though. we all have read about it in books and seen the movies. but when a man who was there hands you something to read that he had literally written and wanted to share with everyone. it just seemed to reach a place that the movies dont. iwas sound glad i had ran into him that day. this past summer i got that folder out and sat down and read it again. when i finished it i called to see how the old man was doing. he seemed to be in very good spirts and health he offered to have the family over sometine for dinner so that he and i can sit down and talk.im a little scared to take our childern over to see him. we now have 2 boys. a 4 yr and 9 yr old. not sure how long they could sit and listen to this man, but i know i could forever.