This morning, a bright, warm North Florida day, myself, Mrs. Cut, and her parents took a drive up to Amelia Island, just north of Jacksonville. The In-Laws are in town on vacation, and were up for some sightseeing. My father-in-law, like me, is something of a history buff.
We stopped at the Fort Clinch monument, which is a coastal fortification dating from the Civil War, and is being beautifully restored. While the ladies enjoyed some rest, the men explored the Fort.
Upon entering, we were approached by an elderly gentleman in a Union Soldier's uniform(several volunteers participate in the restorations and act as tour guides and info sources). He had a big , warm smile and was quite spry despite his years. Since we were about the only ones there, we paused to chat.
He was full of information about the Fort and its times, and seemed to delight in being "in character", as it were. When he found out our military status(my father-in-law was Army back in the '60s, and I'm active duty Navy) he smiled, gave a little laugh, and showed us a little newspaper clipping he had.
It featured a photograph of him, only a year or so younger, in a different uniform-one of an Army Soldier, circa 1945. he was, the story said, recieving a Bronze Star with "V" device, for heroism during the Battle of the Bulge, which he qualified for but did not recieve at the time due to a hardship transfer to the States after that famous battle.
I looked at the small, still-smiling old man with his mischevous twinkle, and suddenly, my 6-foot 3-inch frame felt a bit smaller. I reached out and shook this Hero's hand, as did my father-in-law. It doesn't end there, however.
The old Soldier and we chatted about the current war, and we found that his spirit still had wings of eagles. He had, since 9-11, been personally responsible for locating two separate individuals ("in MAH Fort") photographing the entrances to the bay, and more importantly the OHIO-class nuclear submarines that sometimes sailed past. Neither had proper I.D.'s, and both are now in the hands of the F.B.I., courtesy of one little old man who knew what to do when you see suspicious activity during wartime.
I was honored to have met him. If you're ever there, stop in and say hello. If you are a young lady, watch out, for he still keeps his clear eyes out for "pretty wimmen". Shake his hand, for this is what a hero can look like.
