[gitmo]

I've posted this story before. But I got a lot of mail about it, and think it bears repeating.

It was 1962. I was in the 5th grade in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mr. Shaw's class.

A naval officer came into our room, and told us that there were buses waiting for us outside. We were to get on the buses and get off directly in front of our houses. If we went ANYWHERE besides home, we would be left behind in the ensuing war with Castro.

We always kept an evacuation bag packed just for such an emergency. But my 9 year old brother and I had long outgrown anything with long sleeves or long pants. We left home within minutes and were whisked to an awaiting ship to evacuate from our home.

We left our dog tied outside in the hot Cuban sun, hoping some sailor or marine would come by and take care of her. She was a wonderful Schipperke.

I could see my dad's office from the ship. He was waving goodbye. Probably forever. At least, I thought that was Dad. Could have been some other Chief. There was a shipload of coffins being unloaded next to us. I guess they didn't use body bags in '62.

The ship my mom and us boys were on was heavy-laden with old ammunition. They had loaded the ship up to dump the ammo at sea. There was no time to unload it.

There were enough bunks to give us dependents (civilians) a few hours each day in bed. The sailors all slept on deck. The galley was feeding people 24 hours a day. I think the sailors got one meal a day. Those men were incredible.

A Russian submarine tracked us the entire way to Norfolk, VA.

It took forever to get to Virginia, because our ship was so overloaded. It was late October when we got there, and it was unbelievably cold. Especially to kids who'd spent years in Cuba, and were dressed in shorts and T-shirts.

The Navy put us up in some barracks in Norfolk. The Salvation Army came by and told us about some huge warehouses they had stocked with clothes, household items, toys, and anything else. They told us to take everything we thought we could possibly use. Not what we needed, but what we could use.

We had to set up housekeeping on virtually no money. The Navy wasn't able to get salaries to the dependents that were scattered across the US. Looking back, I don't know how my Mom made ends meet. We had no transportation, but somehow survived in the sticks of NC. I know the folks at our (previous) home chuch helped out a lot. That was Mt. Carmel Baptist in Chapel Hill. My dad had been stationed years before at UNC-Chapel Hill in the NROTC program.

Now I have 2 boys of my own, a thirteen year old and a nine year old. I make them suffer through this story whenever we see a Salvation Army volunteer asking for funds. We put money in the pot, and I make sure the volunteer hears what I'm telling. Those bell ringers were Jesus when my family really needed Him.

[narses]

What a story. Like almost all such stories the SA shows well. I note, en passant, that the Red Cross played no part in your story and rarely (if ever) have I heard good of them from veterans. To honor your father's service and your families sacrifices, I will seek out a bell ringer this year.

[Nowhere Man]

Good story, Gitmo, I've read it before but I always enjoy reading it over and over again.

[scripter]

Thanks. I think it was January 1982 when the Salvation Army was there handing out sandwiches when we helped a small town (Soquel, CA) recover from a flood. I asked how many sandwiches I could have from the box he was carrying, and he said as many as I wanted.

Since pushing wheelbarrows full of mud was hard work, I grabbed four or five sandwiches and looked back at the Salvation Army volunteer. He just smiled and moved on. The sandwiches were gone before he was out of site, but the memory of that Salvation Army volunteer walking from person to person will stay with me forever.

We, too, will seek out some bell ringers and donate again. And we're boycotting Target.

[PleaseNoMore]

I heard a similar story at my son's graduation dinner. It was told by 80 something yo Col. Eugene Watts (Ret. AF). He spoke of being a young boy of about 17 and leaving to join the military. He was alone in NY. He had no money, no place to stay, no family and how the Salvation Army helped him in a like manner. They fed him, clothes him, gave him shelter and provided him with bus fare to NC. He spoke of them with endearment; as if they were family. He went on to serve this country in the Air Force for many many years until he retired in the 60's and he said that he gives to them faithfully so that others may be helped.

[RaceBannon]

Outstanding Story!

[murphE]

Good story! Thanks.

[STONEWALLS]

......great story!....made my Thanksgiving Day even brighter.

[Scales]

My dad tells the story of help from the Salvation Army when he was a kid and suffered through a fool in Illinois. He said that the SA was the one that helped him and my grandparent when the Red Cross wouldn't.

As far as helping the Boy Scouts. Look in the white pages of your telephone directory or go on line and find the local BSA council office. Become a Friend of Scouting (FOS) by pledging a contribution for the year. They are in desperate need of money all the time. They get no federal or state tax support. It is all strictly contributions. Even if the local UW hasn't cut them off completely, they have certainly cut back.

[happygrl]

Yes, I've read your story before.

No, I never get tired of reading it.

Thanks.

May God continue to bless the work of the Salvation Army through those who continue to give.

And God bless us every one.

[RobbyS]

Great story. My Dad always contributed to the Salvation Army pot in front of the Post Office. He refused to give to the Red Cross. In the New London (TX)School Explosion in 1937(?)he had been drilling an oil well nearby when he heard the explosion. He shut down his rig and went with his crew to help.
About two hours later, as they were working, often with bare-hands to free the hundreds of children and teachers buried by the explosion, the salvation army truck from Shreveport, La showed up and started handing out blankets etc. for the victims and quickly set up shelters. Soon they were handing out coffee and sandwiches for the rescue workers who came from miles around.

Late in the evening someone--I think that mayor of the town-- asked my Dad if he would drive over to Tyler to pick up a Red Cross official at the airport. He agreed to do so and took the official to greet the Red Cross official
They met the plane and the Red Cross man got in and assuming that my Dad, who was still in his work clothes was just a flunky talked freely. My Dad
got an earful. The Red Cross would come in only if $x000 were raised first. The "mayor" said he would see what he could do, and sure enough the money was raised. But my Dad never forgot these events. That is why he always gave generously to the Salvation Army and not a dime to the Red Cross.

[Osage Orange]

Great story..!!

Thanks for sharing it.....

FRegards,

[opus86]

Thanks for sharing that - just one more reason for me to give to the Salvation Army. BTW have you ever sent your account to Reader's Digest? I could see them publishing something like that.

[First_Salute]

Bump.