Posted on 11/02/2008 3:21:05 PM PST by Rapunzel
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 The Old Man 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 round 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 "
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!
Vote smart or don't bother. If you're just watching the news to get your knowledge, you're not informed enough to vote.
Urban Legend or not, good story.
I didn’t see it on snopes. True or not, it’s a good one
This story is perfectly timed for Veteran’s Day coming up soon. Thanks for posting it. We need reminders like this every once in a while. ;)
it’s raining on my keyboard.
dang roof.
*sniff*
This is beautiful.
Lord help us, I pray that good prevails.
Working to get out the GOOD vote.
My urge is to find out who the punk was and go beat the hell out of him.
Nice Story! I liked it!
The story continues. I understand the Escalade had a serious accident minutes later and a young driver in critical condition managed to crawl out and barely raise his arm hoping help would come. It never did come as car after car breezed by unconcerned about the anquish of another. I understand that no one ever claimed the body either.
raining here too
My Father, a Marine of 25 years was 89 when he fought his last battle. Although he never received a prestigious medal he fought on those Islands in the Pacific and then in Korea. When he retired in 1963 he was recruited by an old officer buddy of his to join him (U.S. State Department) and a selected few others to go to Laos and help supply and advise the Laotian Army and Air Force. He stayed there with his family doing his duty until 1973.
At my Fathers age I could see him in the predicament of the old man in this account.
Just made me think about him ... great Father and man.
It sounds like your father truly was a hero, and a wonderful man. You definitely should be proud! :-)
The original story is beautiful ~ it helps to hear positive stories in what seems to be a heartless world sometimes.
I am extremely proud to call them heroes and great men of their times.
I see some great young men and women serving our country today. I only can only hope after this election there will be young men and women who will do the same.
I'd type in more... but I got the other hand trying to open a box of tissues.
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!I don't care if it happened or not -- it's still a true story. Thanks Rapunzel.
McCain/Palin win in a LANDSLIDE.
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