the old man

[lilbill]

You never know what the person you are talking to may have given so we have the freedom we enjoy. God bless the troops and the fallen heros and there family's.

 

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 good-bye'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 FAMILYAND PLEASE PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS.

AMEN"

 

This prayer is so powerful.

 

Bill Hamilton #5 truck

[Blue Moon Motorsports]

Amen.

[HiTech]

i never got to join ..have a damagedl leg so they would not take me ........ .. we dont hear enough storys aboult this ..i have a soft spot for anyone who serves ..i am proud of all of our nations armed forces .. .... my dad fault in ww2 ..lost a brother in that war .......

 

 

 

JUST LAST WEEK .A YOUNG MAN OH MAYBE 25 ..CAME INTO THE STORE LOOKING FOR STOP LEAK TO TRY AND STOP A WATER PUMP FROM LEAKING ..I TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO FIX OTHER THAN REPLACEMENT ...WELL IT WAS AFTER 2 OCLOCK AND NO ONE COULD GET TO IT THAT LATE IN THE AFTERNOON ..... AFTER HAVEING TO GO IN AT 5 OCLOCK AM .AND WORKING TILL 3 OCLOCK .I OFFERED TO HELP HIM OUT ..TIRED AND WORN OUT .I DROVE ACROSS TOWN TO PICK UP HIS WATER PUMP FOR WE DIDNT HAVE IT ..... AT 4.. WE STARTED ON IT WHILE THAT MOTOR WAS HOT .. ....... I DROPED A WRENCH AND NOTICED HE HAD PURPLE HEART PLATES ....HE HAD JUST COME BACK FROM AFGANASTAN .WRONG SPELLING .......HIS PURPLE HEART WAS FROM A GRENADE ...TOOK ALOT OF PIECES THROUGH HIS BODY ..MAINLY A LIFE LONG DAMAMGED KNEE. .. HE WENT ON TO TELL ME ABOULT IT .AND I NOTICED HE WAS TEARING UP ..I TOLD HIM HE DIDNT NEED TO GO ANY FUTHER . ...HE SAID ITS ALRIGHT ..HE WAS SAD HE HAD TO LEAVE HIS COMRADS .. OR SHOULD I SAY MARINES BACK IN THE WAR ZONE ....HE FELT HE LET EM DOWN ...... MAN WHAT COULD I HAVE SAID ..OTHER THAN .. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO MEET HIM ... GOD SAVED HIM ... AND TIMED THIS WATER PUMP LEAK SO WE CAN MEET ....THIS MAN WAS FROM OUT OF TOWN ..... WHEN WE GOT DONE ..HE ASKED HOW MUCH ..I TOLD HIM HE HAS ALREADY PAID IN FULL ... HE DIDNT TAKE THAT . AND STUCK SOME MONEY IN MY SHIRT POCKET ........ I SUPPOSE IT WAS . .THE PROUD MARINE IN HIM .....

[Rosie]

Good on ya, Mike...

[KISS_Racing]

 

I love this... (I sent this to my dad and thanked him already!

 

Thanks to all who have served and fought... May God richly bless you and your families!

[wheelchair49]

God bless all who have fought for us and those who gave all for our freedoms.

[Truck99]

Bill, thank you for sharing that. Many times I fear that in this day and age, people who value the ideals represented by that story are shrinking in numbers. I hope that is not the case.

[lenny66]

Bill, Thank You for that story. This upcoming weekend when folks are hearing all about the Memorial Day sales on cars, clothes, furniture and the likes. It would do a person good to try and remember what Memorial Day Is really about. Thank you to all that have served and are serving today. Ex Air Force. Lenny66

[Blue Moon Motorsports]

Ex-Air Force....Panama and Desert Storm.