I ran out of dry
rub and did not want to make any today, so I went to Big Bob Gibson to buy some.
On the way in, I opened the door for an elderly gentleman walking with a cane
alongside two women that appeared to be his daughters.
I heard him say "War Eagle!"
upon seeing my cap. I turned and replied, "War Eagle!" and seeing his
Marine Veteran cap I added "Semper Fi". He echoed my greeting and
asked if I attended AU. I
told him no, but after leaving the Corps I married into a family of AU grads.
He said he graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute after leaving the
Corps. I asked if he served in the Pacific (WWII). He said, “I was on 'The
Canal' (Guadalcanal), Tarawa (bloodiest battle for Marines in WWII), and Iwo (Jima)”. His voice trailed and he sort of looked through me as if focusing
on a photo album of black and white images only he could see.
 |
| Raising of flag on Mt. Suribachi. Joe Rosenthal (AP) 23 FEB 45 |
He asked, "Young man, you alone? I'd like to buy you lunch." I explained I was not eating and thanked him for the offer and his service. I removed my sunglasses, and straightened my stance as I extended my hand and said "Semper Fi Marine". He moved the cane from his right hand to his left; he stood erect, squared his shoulders, grasped my hand and replied "Semper Fi Marine". For a moment his blue eyes, with his windblown red cheeks and the white of his hair peeking out from under his cap, reminded me of that flag, battered and torn yet flying high on Suribachi and a younger version of the man standing before me watching the raising; himself battered and torn.
I tipped
my cap to his smiling proud daughters, one returning my wink. I walked out of
that restaurant feeling grateful, filled with pride and a bit remorseful for
not accepting his lunch invitation.
By the
time I got to my car, the wind must have been blowing rather hard because it
made my eyes water, and a tear rolled down my cheek.
All I
could think was...Semper Fi Marine.
