Mercguy04
05-23-2011, 02:53 PM
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. He then turned back to the old man. 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; he 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 I told the old man that I would
be right back. I drove to the station and went I inside. I saw three attendants
working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old
man had with his car. I 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. 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 was
written: '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 and still serve, and to all of those who supported them,
and who continue to support 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 that 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;AND PLEASE
PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS, WHO ARE
DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. AMEN
This prayer is so powerful. Pass this prayer to the people who serve
Russell Youngblood USMC Ret.Gunner Sargent.
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. He then turned back to the old man. 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; he 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 I told the old man that I would
be right back. I drove to the station and went I inside. I saw three attendants
working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old
man had with his car. I 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. 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 was
written: '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 and still serve, and to all of those who supported them,
and who continue to support 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 that 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;AND PLEASE
PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS, WHO ARE
DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. AMEN
This prayer is so powerful. Pass this prayer to the people who serve
Russell Youngblood USMC Ret.Gunner Sargent.