Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Today I Met The Finest.
self | 11/10/07 | timydnuc

Posted on 11/10/2007 1:54:57 PM PST by timydnuc

Today my wife talked me into going to our Veterans Center for the annual breakfast. Senator Norm Coleman and our Governor, Tim Palenty, were scheduled to speak. I agreed that I should go to meet and gripe at my republican legislators.

I arrived at the breakfast to find a large group of people, old and young. There were young Marines and soldiers in their dress blues. All ranks and all services serving the people that were there. There were many old gentlemen in their American Legion dress. I was served by a strong tall Marine who thanked me for my service (I had my Nam Vet hat on, that my son bought for me). I told him, "No son! I thank you". The tears started there.

I found a seat with a group of "old men" that were decked out in red. I didn't know what that stood for. Well, I learned real quick. They were prisoners of war during WWll. On their caps they proudly wore the name of their Stalag. They welcomed me and we talked of their adventures. It seems that they escaped three times, only to be recaptured. They laughed, laughed mind you when they told me that they thought they were closer to a border than they really were. When I asked them what happened to them when they were recaptured, they all stopped, looked into their coffee for a moment then changed the subject.

I met three old Marines that were members of the Chosin Few. Survivers of the battle of the Chosin Reserviour in North Korea. Look that battle up on the Web and you'll find a story that will break your heart.

I met a man in a wheel chair, he had no legs. He was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He was aboard the USS Hawk, and was blown overboard. I met a tall white haired man, dressed very well. He had but one thing on that was of military vintage. It was an Army Air Corps officer's had, that had a 50 mission crush. He was a bomber pilot in the war. I met two old sailers that served the entire war aboard the USS Yorktown. The ship that the Japanese couldn't sink. Their pride shined through their wrinkled faces.

There were a Gathering of Eagles there as well. Nam Vets all. We talked and I admired their bikes and we stopped to remember those that were not there.

One old Vet came up to me and said he was sorry. Sorry because he and his didn't stand up for me and mine after Viet Nam. I told him that we had stand on our own, we had our war and we had to defend it ourselves. I thanked him for the thought. He was still sorry. That doesn't matter.

As I stood in that hall I realized that I was in the company of real greatness and I didn't bring much to the table. I saw a young Marine, in his blues, head held high, body straight and strong. He was walking with a crutch, and couldn't talk very well. He got hit in the head in Iraq. You could see the scars. But you could also see the pride in his deep brown eyes. I told him "Thank You", he looked at my hat and struggled out...Thank You. I lost it!

There was a very good orchestra. Military music. When they got to the Marine Corps hymn the injured Marine struggled to his feet, none of his Marine buddies would help him, he wouldn't have taken help anyway. They all sang the words to the entire hymn, at the end they gave a rousing UH RHA!

The politicians spoke and as I sat there I wanted to jump up and say, "Don't you pander the these brave men. Don't you ever. Can you see the price that has been paid for our libery in the room? Can you ever be as brave as these men? I don't think so".

This is the first time I ever went to one of these things. It won't be the last. There are great men out there that fought to save this country. I am proud of what I fought for in Viet Nam, but these guys saved the world. When they are asked why they did it, they gave the same answer that my father did when I asked him that question...."somebody had to do it".

Tonight I'll drink a toast to all the men that I served with, to my father (101st, D-day +1) and all the brave men I met today, and to all the brave men that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Look at your greeter at your local Wal-Mart he just may have an old uniform shoved back in closet somewhere with a Metal of Honor stuck on it. These "old men" saved the world and never asked anything for their service but a job and a chance to be back home. Dear God, let me be as great and as humble as the fine Americans.

I saw a cartoon yesterday. There was a little boy standing next to his father watching a parade. The parade had some old men in American Legion dress marching, some on walkers. The little boy asked his dad, "who are those old men daddy"? His father replies, "Heros son"! That is the truth.

Thank your nearest Veteran. Freedom, it isn't free and it's brought to you by the ordinary American Hero, and I'm proud to be a member of that brotherhood.

God bless America, and God give us the courage of our fathers.


TOPICS: Editorial; Miscellaneous; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: veterans; veteransday
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

1 posted on 11/10/2007 1:54:58 PM PST by timydnuc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

I don’t really know what to say- your post made me cry.

We can never be grateful enough for what you, our fathers and our sons and daughters have given.

May God bless you all.


2 posted on 11/10/2007 2:00:27 PM PST by 13Sisters76 ("It is amazing how many people mistake a certain hip snideness for sophistication. " Thos. Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

Thank you...


3 posted on 11/10/2007 2:01:14 PM PST by Red RN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

A misty eyed Thank you!


4 posted on 11/10/2007 2:02:50 PM PST by alice_in_bubbaland (Ron Paul is nutcase, plain & simple.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

You made my day.

Thank you very much.


5 posted on 11/10/2007 2:04:04 PM PST by dadgum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ASOC; AirForceBrat23; ...

Big box of kleenex. Big box.


6 posted on 11/10/2007 2:04:24 PM PST by freema (Proud Marine Niece, Daughter, Wife, Friend, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Mother, and FRiend)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red RN

Don’t thank me, thank them. I met the real heros today. I ain’t got jack on them.


7 posted on 11/10/2007 2:04:57 PM PST by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

Thank you for your post. It should be on every editorial page in the country!


8 posted on 11/10/2007 2:06:58 PM PST by Vermonter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 13Sisters76
Everything in this story, everything, is the reason why America remains the country that she is. To know that we have all walked among these heroes that have given damn near everything they have, for us, is too inspiring for words.

They have made sacrifices that we could not ever repay. This is what our enemies fear.

They fear well.

9 posted on 11/10/2007 2:11:03 PM PST by tenthirteen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc
I told him "Thank You", he looked at my hat and struggled out...Thank You. I lost it!

Your the reason.. Excellent Post.

10 posted on 11/10/2007 2:14:32 PM PST by eyedigress
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

Thank you for your service, and for posting this. And, yes, thank you to all our of our Heroes for their service. You are all Heroes in my book!


11 posted on 11/10/2007 2:15:12 PM PST by Red RN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

Thanks for the post.

As a former Army enlistee, I never miss an opportunity to show my respect and appreciation to our service men and women regardless which branch of service. Lately I have had several occasions to step in and pick up the check for people in uniform who were purchasing food at the mall. Not long ago, after paying for two guys in desert camo, I went and got some food and joined them for lunch. What a great time of fellowship! Wouldn’t trade it for anything.


12 posted on 11/10/2007 2:17:55 PM PST by Tucker39 (I pray that God will give the USA one more huge revival before the Great Tribulation comes to pass.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc
Thank you for sharing that

I met three old Marines that were members of the Chosin Few. Survivers of the battle of the Chosin Reserviour in North Korea. Look that battle up on the Web and you'll find a story that will break your heart.

Summary: 27:November:1950

A column of Marines and armor of the 1st Marine Division moves through Communist Chinese lines during the successful break-out from the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.

The Marines were besieged when the Chinese entered the Korean War on 27 November 1950, sending 200,00 troops against United Nations forces.

Surrounded by Chinese and heavily outnumbered, 10,000 marines battled their way to safety down 40 miles of winding mountain roads in sub-arcticv weather

Veterans of the campaign have called themselves the "Chosin Few" ever since.

The fighting withdrawal from 27 November to 9 December 1950, is considered one of the greatest moments in the history of the Marine Corps and Navy.

The isolate 1st marine Division managed to decimate 10 Chinese infantry divisions in the Marines' assault westward to the North Korean port of Hungnam, where the Marines were redeployed by Naval Ships of Task Force 90.

Along the way, the Leathernecks received critical close air support from the Carriers of Task Force 77.

14 marines and 2 sailors later were awarded the the Medal of Honor.
13 posted on 11/10/2007 2:19:07 PM PST by stylin19a
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a

And I had the honor of meeting three of those Marines. Thank you God for today.


14 posted on 11/10/2007 2:29:22 PM PST by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

A neighbor of mine had a “Chosin Few” sticker on his car. My 7 yr old son asked me what it meant. Wow. Quite an awesome story.


15 posted on 11/10/2007 2:40:32 PM PST by dadgum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

Thank You for your service!


16 posted on 11/10/2007 2:43:10 PM PST by JRios1968 (Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will. - Ben Stein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a
"Good night Chesty, wherever you are!"

Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller earned more awards than any Marine in history: five Navy Crosses, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit with "V" device, the Bronze Star with "V" device, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Chesty Puller requested to return to active duty to serve in Vietnam, but was turned down because of his age. He died 11 October 1971 in Hampton, Virginia, after a long illness. He was 73.

Quotes of Chesty Puller:

"Our Country won't go on forever, if we stay soft as we are now. There won't be any AMERICA because some foreign soldier will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race!"

"They are in front of us, behind us, and we are flanked on both sides by an enemy that outnumbers us 29:1. They can't get away from us now!" When the Marines were cut off behind enemy lines in Korea and the Army had written the 1st Marine Division off as being lost because they were surrounded by 22 enemy divisions. The Marines made it out inflicting the highest casualty ratio on an enemy in history and destroying 7 entire enemy divisions in the process. An enemy division is 16500+ men while a Marine division is 12500 men.

"there are not enough chinamen in the world to stop a fully armed Marine regiment from going where ever they wont to go"

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things.

Semper Fi


17 posted on 11/10/2007 3:02:11 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc
A big heartfelt thanks for your service and your post. This will be forwarded to all the Vets on my e mail list.

God Bless You.

18 posted on 11/10/2007 3:11:49 PM PST by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

God Bless you sir and a teary eyed, goose bump thank you

Semper Fi

Marine Mom


19 posted on 11/10/2007 3:13:07 PM PST by Kimmers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232; ConorMacNessa
From ConorMacNessa on the Canteen....
20 posted on 11/10/2007 3:14:45 PM PST by eyedigress
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson