Marine's Coming Together

[thedrifter]

posting for SSgt Ramsey


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 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 "

[SSgt Ramsey]

Thanks Ellie...much appreciated.

I don't know why it screwed up on my end with the copy/paste...but it doesn't matter...it's posted regardless.

[Rocky C]

OUTSTANDING story. I got goose bumps all over.
Thanks Ellie for reposting for SSgt Ramsey.
I gotta read it again!!!!

[SSgt Ramsey]

I found that posted on the Patriot Guard Rider's forum which I just joined the Capitol area group myself.

I can't claim that the story is true or valid, but I thought it deserved to be posted here regardless.

I've had the pleasure to meet and shake hands with a MOH recipient, Col Wesley Fox USMC Ret at a PME at Camp Lejeune. It was a humbling experience to stand next to greatness.

Our older Veteran's ARE our national treasures...not the gold in various vaults, not our nuclear arsenal, not our politicians on Capitol Hill....these men and women paved the way for us, as we did the current generation of Marine's...as they will for those who succeed them.

[Rocky C]

Are you calling me old??? HAHAHAHA......
I just went and poured another cup of coffee and came back and read it again

"I've had the pleasure to meet and shake hands with a MOH recipient, Col Wesley Fox USMC Ret at a PME at Camp Lejeune. It was a humbling experience to stand next to greatness."

Man, that must have been a Great Feeling.
I'm gonna go read it one more time!!!!

Rocky

[SSgt Ramsey]

Citation for Col Fox:

FOX, WESLEY L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 22 February 1969. Entered service at: Leesburg, Va. Born: 30 September 1931, Herndon, Va.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox's company came under intense fire from a large well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire, he personally neutralized 1 enemy position and calmly ordered an assault against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox's heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

[ameriken]

Both stories gave me tears. Thanks Ellie and SSgt Ramsey......