Posted on Sep 27, 2014
Were you ever told a war-story that made you feel very humble?
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Its been a year since my father passed away, and reading over the remarks and awards section on his 214, I remember a story he told me, that made me feel very special, and very, very, blessed.
You see, when my father was a teenager, he was a Marine on an island called Guadalcanal. While taking point, he was hit and unable to get to his feet. Behind him were about a dozen other Marines. He thought, at some point, he was going to die, so he simply waved them back, but they didn't go. Instead, another Marine came for him, and died within two feet of him. A heartbeat later, another Marine came towards him, under fire from the Japanese, and he died as well.
At that point, my father said he was screaming for them to leave him, because he didn't want any more Marines to die for him, when he says, out of nowhere comes this 'itty-bitty' little Corpsman... but keep in mind, my father was 6'5, so pretty much everyone was itty bitty to him. The Corpsman didn't even flinch as rounds chewed up the area, He somehow jerked my father up by one arm and tossed him over his back, galloping back towards cover, half-dragging my father with him.
I remember just sitting there, staring at this old man, who blinked back tears for just a moment, He gave this tiny smile, "So, you could say, you have four fathers instead of one... three Marines and a Corpsman..."
You see, when my father was a teenager, he was a Marine on an island called Guadalcanal. While taking point, he was hit and unable to get to his feet. Behind him were about a dozen other Marines. He thought, at some point, he was going to die, so he simply waved them back, but they didn't go. Instead, another Marine came for him, and died within two feet of him. A heartbeat later, another Marine came towards him, under fire from the Japanese, and he died as well.
At that point, my father said he was screaming for them to leave him, because he didn't want any more Marines to die for him, when he says, out of nowhere comes this 'itty-bitty' little Corpsman... but keep in mind, my father was 6'5, so pretty much everyone was itty bitty to him. The Corpsman didn't even flinch as rounds chewed up the area, He somehow jerked my father up by one arm and tossed him over his back, galloping back towards cover, half-dragging my father with him.
I remember just sitting there, staring at this old man, who blinked back tears for just a moment, He gave this tiny smile, "So, you could say, you have four fathers instead of one... three Marines and a Corpsman..."
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 2
While I was stationed in Okinawa at Kadena AFB, I was there during the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa. I opened my house for a Veteran to stay with us while he was there. When I picked him up at the airport we were driving back to the base he was shocked at everything he saw. Arriving to the main gate at Kadena, we were going up the hill when he asked me to stop and pull over. I did, he got out of the car and walked over to a concrete tomb, kneeled by the corner. I kept my eye on him to make sure he was ok. He called me over and told me that he knelt here during the battle and held off numerous Japanese while more Marines from the 6th Marine Division were advancing up the hill. He stayed with me for 5 days then I asked him to stay longer. He ended up staying for 2 more weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed his visit, I brought him everywhere. Also I helped him return some family pictures to several families. Anyone who reads this and was ever stationed at Kadena or in Okinawa knows the tomb on top of gate 1 hill.
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Hero's come in all sizes. Your father learned first hand the price and value his fellow Marines placed on his life... and yours - all without ever knowing their sacrifice would come to fruition. Honoring your humbled father together with the sacrifices of the Marines he served with through the telling of his story should remind all of us how our sacrifices can change the world.
To the honor of the four (three Marines and one lowly Navy Corpsman): Semper Fidelis!
May the knowledge of their sacrifice remind all of the price of freedom.
To the honor of the four (three Marines and one lowly Navy Corpsman): Semper Fidelis!
May the knowledge of their sacrifice remind all of the price of freedom.
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