A Chance Meeting with a Veteran

I had lunch yesterday with a veteran of World War II. His name was Jerry and he was in the area visiting his younger brother. Jerry served the Navy mainly in the south pacific. He was was a part of the fleet waiting to storm the coast of Japan, and watched as the planes carrying the atomic bomb flew towards their target. From his perspective that one flight saved the lives of thousands of soldiers waiting to wade into the unknown territory of Japan.

Jerry shared about one of his Navy buddies that he still stays in contact with today. It seems that his friend was drafted into the military not knowing how to read or write. The letters from home would come. He would take a hard and observant look at the envelop and then quietly slip it under his pillow. One day Jerry asked his friend if he could read the letters he had been receiving. His friend told him that he could, and Jerry confronted his friends with these words, "You are a liar. So, if you want me to help you let me know." Before long Jerry was not only reading his letters to him, but was writing home for him as well. Recently the friend's wife commented on how much she enjoyed Jerry's poetry included in the letters home. By war's end Jerry had taught his friend both to read and write, and even today his friend continues to express his gratitude for Jerry's act of kindness.

Jerry survived the war, and went on to raise a family near the gulf coast. Jerry, his wife and daughter rode out Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jerry said that for a day they were trapped in their home wading chest deep water. They were rescued, and later a church from North Carolina helped rebuild their home. Jerry said that without the church being there they would not have made it. I asked Jerry about his wife. He said his wife didn't survive the loss associated with the hurricane. His words were, "Her heart couldn't take the loss." I mentioned to Jerry that what was lost from the storm was much more important than the stuff our houses are made of, and he agreed.

It has been said that we are losing approximately 1,000 World War II veterans a day. As you travel your journey find the time to spend with one of these truly American heroes. It will be well worth your time.