Sleuth, we've got an ole boy who comes in to the restaurant for dinner a couple times a week... just a 79 cent burger and a cup of water. This past week he brought in one of his two purple hearts and his sabres to show us... quite a character. (I believe he said he just turned 86...)
Tells everybody who'll listen about his 2 purple hearts and a story or two... amazing to see young men (20 and 30 somethings) flock to his table to listen. He brags that he has more medals than Mac Arthur... but he earned his!
Sweet ole guy... God love him. Wears a wool cap his brother got for him in Russia... MANY years ago. (During the war...)
Just an old pensioner, sat in the bar, sipping his bier in the afternoons. I worked as the bartender, weekends, in exchange for free bier. After a year or so, I got in the habit of making sure his glass was never empty.
One slow, lazy, saturday afternoon, I grabbed two biers, walked over to the dark corner of the pub where he liked to sit and think, and opened a conversation.
I introduced myself, as the crazy american GI that had been his bartender for the last couple of years.
He introduced himself as Rommel's Sergeant Major.
Never checked, but I sort of believe him.
My WWII veteran father passed away last month at the age of 81. I waited 45 years for him to talk about his service and he finally did near the end.
The hospice nurses who cared for him in our home during his last days were army-reserve nurses and I made sure that I thanked them profusely for their service. And they made damned sure they thanked dad for his.
The Chaplain who conducted dad's funeral service was a Colonel and broke protocol to salute him in his casket during the funeral. I've never weeped so hard in my life.
I don't deserve to be protected by these profoundly patriotic soldiers but I will sincerely thank them ever chance I get.
That is a wonderful story...and I am very glad the young men gather around and respect his stories..