The Old Man

     As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of 
groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up 
and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.
   
   The old man was looking at the engine.  I put my groceries away in my 
car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet 
away.
   
   I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his 
arm, walking towards the old man.  The old gentleman saw him coming too 
and took a few steps towards him.  

I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something.  The 
young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac 
Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the 
old gentleman saying,

   'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.'  And then 
with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the 
parking lot.
   
   I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as 
he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.
   
   He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her 
it would be okay.  I had seen enough and I approached the old man.  He 
saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said, 'Looks 
like you're having a problem.'
   
   He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head.  I looked under the 
hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me.  
Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that 
I would be right back...I drove to the station and went inside and saw 
three attendants working on cars.  I approached one of them and related 
the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they 
could follow me back down and help him.
   
   The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and 
appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up 
and thanked me for my help.  As the mechanics diagnosed the problem 
(overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman.
   
   When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps 
ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine 
too.  I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve 
with?'   He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division 
at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal .

   He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war 
was over.  As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the 
mechanics lower the hood.  They came over to us as the old man reached 
for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put 
the bill on my AAA card.
   
   He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed 
had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket.  We all 
shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife.
   
   I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the 
station.  Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted 
their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man.  I said I 
wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.
   
   One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like 
the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me, then, 
that they were Marine Corps Reserves.  Once again, we shook hands all 
around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the 
card the old man had given to me.  I said I would and drove off.
   
   For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and 
took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. 
The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under 
his name...                    





'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
 
   I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and 
over.  I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and 
marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because  
one of us needed help.  He was an old man all right, but it felt Good to 
have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in 
his presence.  Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM  for America 
.  Thanks to those who served...& those who supported them.
   
    America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war.   America is at 
the Mall.  If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to 
stand in front of them!  Remember, Freedom isn't Free, thousands have 
paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.
   
   LET'S DO THIS  ~  JUST 19 WORDS

   GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES;  
AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY IN JESUS' NAME.   AND PLEASE 
PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE 
FREEDOMS.
    AMEN

AMEN BROTHER!!!

what a great story.

God bless the men and women of our military

 For those of you that are not God fearing, a moment of silence will do.

I would love to smack that piece of shit.

GREAT STORY.

I remember some years back i was in san diego. There is a san diego sports museum with a real good basketball gym next door.  So I go to play but the gym is not open for 30 minutes. I know there is a  small veterans musuem right down the road so I drive over. I walk in and I see the donation box I drop a 20 in and walk in the musuem. The docent, the guy that runs the musuem, notices me. The place is pretty empty. He can see I put a 20 in the box. The box is small clear and has a single or two with my 20. He asks me if I am a vet I say no just have respect for those who served. I am about 30 at the time. We talk he gives me a mini tour and we stop in front of a display about 6ft long and 3 ft high. The pics are black and white mostly from the 70's or 80's if I recall correctly. It is obvious the plane in the pics is an original version of the stealth bomber f-117a I believe is the correct name. It is not the steath bomber exactly but obviously by its shape an early version. There is a pilot in the majority of the pics,  he is the only person in the exhibit. The exhibit says this pilot is the primary flyer for the original stealth technology. It says Capt. Cardenas ( I still rememeber his name  almost a decade later) So we talk in front of the exhibit and after 3-5 minutes he points at the man in the pic and says do you want to meet him? I say who? He says "General Cardenas, he is in the basement". I laugh and say why is he in the basement?  The superbowl that year was in san diego. As many of you may remember the pregame had a salute to the vets type theme.  The amazing coincidence was the very day I was in the musuem they were coordinating the opening parade of soldiers. Who carried the flag, order of entrance, where each branch of military would be during the festivities etc etc etc. So TONS OF retired brass was downstairs having  a bit of a reunion and a get together. I of course waited and about 45 minutes later they all came up from the basement about 50 of em. It was like the freakin pentagon or a casting call for the movie patton with george c scott. Seemed like the lowest rank I saw was a colonel. They were all so nice and appreciated my reverence for them and their sacrifice. When I met general cardenas he was a small to average guy  very polite and nice. In my wildest dreams if I met him on the street I would have never imagined this was a guy who made a typical "topgun" pilot look like the co pilot schelpping degenerates from Los angeles to vegas for southwest airlines.

When he left I saw he got in a little toyoya with the plate CARDENAS . I thought to myself how men like this did so much for our country and received so little. The fact was not lost on me that leasing my car for a year cost more then the car this great man drove off in.

The next day there was a memorial service for a women whos husband was a vet who passed. I offered to come in the morning and help set up the chairs and speakers podium before the service. These men were all heroes but they were all old timers for sure. They accepted so I did. I stayed for the service and heard so many great stories from these guys about their lives in combat. They were not bragging like many soldier of fortune wannabees do. They were just talking about places they had been together and friends younger then I that never got to come home.

It was a truly awesome experience

Thank you for the two great stories.  Semper Fi (although I was in the Navy.  Marines are part of the Navy, you know, LOL.)

Semper Fi, Sailor

 Great Story, Johnny......Semper Fi...

 

 

 

Thank you.

Amen brother, 

Heres to the troops 

 Thanks Guys!!!!

If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to  
stand in front of them

 Because of the Troops and Veterans, like myself, you can amke that comment. But, I wouldn't make it face to face with either if I was you.

WOW great read

 

so scalabrine, you dont support our troops?

 

 

wtf is wrong with u?

 

 

scalabrine, you are a BLITHERING IDIOT!

You deserve to be elegantly punched in the face. I can only assume that karma will cause you much pain. As a true asshole, I am assuming you lead a sheltered shitty life. Don't bother with the "my life is great bullshit" because your attitude speaks otherwise.

This isn't about telling you what to do you little ignorant prick.

Now do what you do and kindly go fuck yourself

What an idiot.  Karmas gona get you fuckstick.

Great stories guys.

 

Fair winds and following seas 

To all the Troops, past and Present.........Semper Fi !!!!

Reminded me of what took place in Virginia Beach many years ago. A couple of young sailors were walking back to their barracks in the heavy rain, finished from shopping. They decided to skip out on taxi fares because they were short on cash and wanted to save for their future. Out of nowhere this old raggedy car came by and stopped by the side of the road. It was an old man driving an old late 70's wagon. He offered to take them back. They kindly thanked the old man and took him up on his offer.

Minutes later, the car approaches the gate. The couple thinking this would not go well, thanked the gentleman and was proceeding to head on out and walk on inside the compound with their ids at hand. The old man insisted they keep put. The car finally approaches the gate. The old man took out his military id and showed it to the guard. The guard looked long and hard at the id and the man. Realizing who he was, the guard dropped a mighty salute with a "proceed, Sir!."

The couple was confused and didn't get what the fuzz was all about. It was only until after the couples were let off when he told them he was a retired US Navy Capt (Korean War) that wanted to show his appreciation to the young youths of today for taking up the watch when his time was up.

That young couple then was my gf and me.

 Great story kickinA, THX