A couple of days a week I sell antiques in a small shop in a small town. Lately about half of the people that come in the door, come to try and sell something.Last week, an older gentleman came into the shop. He was carrying a photo album. As he came in and looked around-
"Can I help you , Sir"
"Is the owner here?"
"He's not in today, He'll be back tomorrow. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I have these pictures.."
And that's how I met Al, and learned his story, that I want to share.
He's a big man, about 6'4". He's 84 years old and pretty spry.What he had with him was a photo album of pictures from WWII. And a small envelope of snapshots from WWI. He wasn't looking to sell them- I think he just wanted someone to talk to.
So he brings the envelope and the album to the counter so that I can look at them. The WWI photss were of an uncle of his and were pretty cool.. But his photos-
" I was 17 and left High School to join the Navy. See, here's the article from the newspaper in 2005 when they gave me my diploma after all these years. I was a bit of a smart aleck- they told me no cameras but I brought one any way. I spent 3 years in the South Pacific.
That's me and My buddy- we were the only ones of all the guys on the ship that made it all the way through. I used to write him all the time- but a couple of years ago, He quit answering. I don't know what happened to him- maybe he's gone.
Anyway see that PT boat? we were on a rescue mission- did you ever see that many sailors on a small boat before? We thought it was going to sink- but we got them all."
I asked him about a picture of a monkey on an LST
"Joe the monkey- the skipper used to carry him around all the time. We lost him on Okinawa or maybe Saipan. Me and the Captain got along real good- I could trade for anything. Got him 2 bottles of whiskey that saved my butt a couple of times. Got it from some Army guys. I didn't think they'd miss 'em"
Any way- after the war, I was gonna stay in Oregon. I had a job lined up with the Union Pacific Railroad. Happened that some guy was hollering to stop the guy that stole his wife's purse. I was inreally good shape and so I just waited, stuck my arm out and clotheslined the guy. Knocked him cold. I brought the lady's purse back to her and what do you know- her husband is the President of Union- Pacific. They invited me to dinner a couple of times and I was gonna work for him. But I had promised my mother that I would go see her after the war."
So Al came home. And he met a girl. "That was it for me"he said. And set about to woo her. He never went back to Oregon. He married that girl, and raised a family. He became a fireman, and eventually the local Fire Chief. For 25 years. He and his men fought some horrble industrial fires- and he never lost a man. And he lost that girl, his wife of 62 years, 3 months ago.
Al doesn't understand why he made it back home when so many others didn't. He doesn't understand why people are so angry.Al doesn't understand why the local Tea Party wants to get rid of the fire department. He doesn't understand why the America he thought he knew is slipping away from him. And most of all- he misses that girl he loved so much.
I told him that I always have coffee- and he is welcome any time. Just stop in. I have hot coffee and time. He promised to come back. I hope he does. I hope he knows I meant that when I said it.
We have an entire generation of heroes slipping from our lives. We haven't fully appreciated what they have done for our towns, cities and our country. Listen to their stories and pass them on. Tomorrow may be too late
Mon Oct 10, 2011 at 12:58 PM PT: Update- thank you all for the kind words and suggestions- I promise to let everyone know when Al comes back (fingers crossed)