Encounter With A Veteran
Earlier today I went to my Parkinson’s Exercise Group at a local athletic club. I wore my Coast Guard ball cap. In the hall at the same time an elderly gent (82) wearing a Korean War Vet cap and I spotted each other about the same time, We made our way to each other and, because I like to do so, I shook his hand and thanked him for his service. I was rewarded with this spontaneous story. It touched me and I want to share it with you. (But before he told it he admonished me that he was no hero; the 50,000 dead who did not come home were the heroes of that war.)
He was in the infantry. It was winter and he lived in a tent while temperatures reached minus forty (F). He was newly reported and in an outfit of combat engineers cutting a jeep trail parallel to the front line. They came under mortar attack. One round killed a nearby South Korean soldier. The next round he said, almost blew his head off. He was badly wounded in the jaw and evacuated to a MASH unit for treatment. There, as he initially recovered, a nurse told him his name was being put in for a Purple Heart, the U.S. medal awarded to those wounded in action against the enemy. But this gent begged his superiors not to put his name forward. He feared that learning of his wounds would frighten his mother to death. His request was honored and he was discharged without the Purple Heart medal to which he was entitled.
Recently, he went on, a buddy of his received a long delayed Purple Heart medal of his own. The buddy suggested that my new friend write and ask about his. He did and had only just received the medal honoring him as a wounded veteran, some six decades after the fact and long after his mother passed away, not knowing of her boy’s terrible war wounds. But this son who so loved his mom was no hero. I know. He told me so.
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Senior Chatters
i thought that was a lovely true tale , and i am so glad that man got his medals , he must have loved his mother very much , he was certainly a hero in my eyes , also glad you shook his hand and thanked him for all he has done well done old bull xx
This story makes me smile and shed a tear at the same time. I am so glad you shared it with all of us.
Thanks O B lovely,so many of you fellows were there doing things none of us know about, thanks for sharing this story xxxxx
What a great story, OB, thanks for sharing it with us. I’m so glad his well deserved Purple Heart medal was finally delivered. He sounds so typical of the men and women that served then, deflecting thanks to the ones who never returned.
A truly heartwarming story, OB. It has all the elements…love, sacrifice, humility, honor. Thank you for sharing it.
Very touching story. I, too, shed a tear or two, when reading. Glad he finally got his medal, though much later. But, sad for what he must have gone through, the pain and seeing the loss of so many being killed. In my eyes, he is a hero, and is a remarkable man. Thank you for sharing this with us OB.
It is unbelievable the many stories of strong young men who went to war. This was great to share. Glad you did. There are many more for you to write about. Keep up the good work.
Yes I agree , you should keep up the good work ,peg xx
A truly beautiful story, touches one’s heart, a very good reminder to us all about what our military faces for us to continue to have our freedom – something that is easy to take for granted sometimes. Thank your for reminding us all.
I’ve never met a hero who claimed to be one. I think humility must be one of the prerequisites of the title. God bless him for his service.
So glad this wonderful humble man received his Purple Heart. What a wonderful son!! God bless all our military men and women xox
Thank you all for your comments. It was fun and a privilege to share this vignette with you all. OB