Last Friday on our weekly grocery shopping trip, I noticed a gentleman wearing a "World War II Veteran" baseball cap.
I set aside my normal timid self and approached him to extend a word of "Thanks for serving our great country". I also noticed a globe and anchor gold pin attached to the hat, so the words that came out were, "Thank you for serving our great country, Marine."
I received a warm smile and thank you from him. Found out that he served on Iwo Jima among other south sea islands. He reflected that Iwo Jima was "Bad - real Bad!" but he was grateful for the Navy Corpsmen who were there as well.
I was wearing my USS PIEDMONT hat and told him it was a Destroyer Tender. He then shared about his times spent aboard Navy vessels and how great the Squids treated the Marines. Literally gave them the shirts off their backs when a change of clothes was needed and the mess cooks gave em whatever they wanted to eat.
I'll be looking for him at future shopping trips and will extend a greeting each time I see him along with any others who may cross my path.
Awe Dave, that is wonderful.. there are not too many left.
I recall out of College going to parades etc & there were just a few of the WW1 patriots left.
Now 40 years later it is the same with the WW2 folks.
Diver Dave, what an excellent experience, sharing your service stories with one from the Greatest Generation..
This gives me the opportunity... can't resist it ... to say that last year, the day after D-Day, I was shopping at Trader Joe's and saw a man come in pushing the shopping cart wearing his WWII hat. SORRY I can't remember the name of the ship, but he was there at Pearl Harbor. I also dropped my inhibition (which I have less and less of) and approached him with a "Thank you."
This launched into his story of how he was there, indeed, and then immediately went to medical school upon discharge. He still practices medicine and must be in his 80s. He was shopping for Christmas gifts for his office staff.