Thank you girlangler for posting this.
What a beautiful & touching story ~ thank you so much for sharing it with us. He truly sounds like an amazing man...
“and something spoke to my heart and told me to go fish with him.”
I very much believe that was God talking to you....
Very moving girlangler. Thanks for posting.
Jack Leroy Stewart - 9th Inf. Div. 1943-1945
This Memorial Day ,2007 ,marks the passing of Jack Leroy Stewart, war hero, teacher, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. With his soul but a few feet above our heads, we remember his life and are grateful for it. I can recount many of his accomplishments, but the real marks of a man, are the memories that he leaves in the hearts of those he touches. My memories of Jack are filled with his quiet courage that must have carried him through hundreds of battlefields which we can now only imagine. If you talk to anyone who knew him, they will tell you that his love for his family consumed him. He knew how valuable life is, and he refused to waste a minute of it. He was always there, selflessly, for his family. We loved him for that.
He and God must have had a very special relationship. I bet there were many times when he said: Now God? I am ready to come home, and God answered: Not yet Jack, I have other work for you. On the cold, long nights in the mountains of North Africa when the outcome of the War was uncertain, he must have asked that question. On the cold spring night off the coast of England(Operation Tiger/Slapton Sands) when his landing craft was sunk from beneath him, he must have asked that question. When all of his friends lay dead and dying around him in Normandy(hedgerow country) and his blood graced the ground, I am sure that he must have asked that question. In the frozen rice paddies of Korea when the warm Georgia summer must have seemed a very long way off, again, he must have asked that question. But still his Country called him, and he became the adviser the King’s Guard in Thailand. That country was a fragile democracy and he worked against the communist guerrillas in remote jungles unknown to the rest of us. Could any man have done more in the defense of freedom? No one ever carried that blue badge, with the long rifle, on their chest with more dignity. The badge of a combat infantryman has never been more well-earned.
He knew what it took to keep us a free nation. Instead of putting away his uniform he entered another career, teaching children to become officers and inspiring them to lead men in times of war. He inspired his first born to follow after him, and Richard led with distinction in the air cavalry above Vietnam(slick pilot) and then on to a career in the Army. He inspired me to be a better man and to complete a career in the Air Force. How many hundreds of others relied on his strength and honor to serve their Country? We will never know; but there were many.
When Jack married Anne in England, they were both officers in an Army (9thInf.Div)that was preparing to embark on one of the epic battles of world history. They took time away from the challenges ahead of them to find a little church in the green hills of western England to begin the love that has lasted till this day, and will last beyond. When I visited that church many years later, I could still feel what they must have felt there. The Army nurse and the Company Commander must have had a lot of faith in God to make that leap into the unknown at that dark time in our history. Their faith was rewarded, and they lived to raise a fine family of three men and one fine lady, whom I have loved for almost forty years. They welcomed me into their family, and my life is richer for it. Our children and their children are blessed with the quality of Jack’s life that is passed on to them through our memories.
Anyone who can ask the question: Can a warrior enter into the Kingdom of Heaven? — Never knew Jack. He endured the deprivations of war, and the pain of its losses, tragedies and the tears. He put his life on the line so that others might live in freedom. This Nation owes him its gratitude and its love. This warrior has died, but he will not be forgotten. Today, God finally said: Jack it is time for you to come home now.
Col. Jack L. Stewart will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery next month ....
Rest in Peace sir
God bless your fishing buddy, and thank God He blessed us with wonderful people like him to protect our country! :*)
*BUMP*
My Dad was also a WWII vet, met my Mom while on maneuvers in TN before he shipped out overseas. They married right after the war in 1945, and stayed together “til death did them part.”
Dad passed away last September, followed by Mom in December.
Both of them loved to fish. I, however, was too hyper as a kid to get into it. I didn’t develop a love for fishing until about 8 years ago. Two years ago, I took my (then) new boat home and took Mom and Dad out fishing. It is a trip I’ll always remember. Mom took down sick shortly after, and then Dad.
Don’t know about bluegill and bass, never freshwater fished in my life. I grew up on the coast of NC (family has been there since the 18th century) and now live in Norfolk VA. I have a pair of pictures from 1961 when I was 2, I’ll put them in the next reply.
My Dad was a 22 year old LT (j.g.) in command of U.S. LCT 457 on UTAH Beach. He had bulldozers and TNT on his boat. A German round hit his boat, right in the little office he had. Luckily, he was not there at the time. His jacket, draped across the back of his chair, was shredded, and several cartons of cigarettes in the locker were 'turned to snuff'.
Beautiful story, girlangler. Thanks for sharing this.
I can’t decide whether you are more lucky to know him, or he is more lucky to know you.
Beautiful. Thank you FRiend.
What a great tribute! Thank your friend for us.
I love these type of stories that wrap up the heroic deeds of the common folk who serve in our military, along with the reasons that they served, be that for big stuff like freedom and liberty or the “little stuff” like the pretty girls in the hills and the right to enjoy the best fishing hole in the county. We are blessed to live in such an incredible country!
What a great geration of Americans. God bless them.