Sdiver
08-21-2010, 21:00
Had the distinct pleasure, and HONOR, of meeting a Gentleman awhile ago. My partner and I worked a standby for an event for the VA's wheelchair games here in Denver. After the races were over, we waited around until all the participants boarded their cars and buses, going on to their next event.
While we were parked along the side of the roadway, we noticed this gentleman walking towards us, to get to his vehicle. Both my partner and I are avid WW II buffs, and we both exited our vehicle to meet this fella. As we approached, his daughter asked us if we would mind giving him a ride down to their van. She stated, "He just ran out of gas."
Would we???? Of course we would. We loaded This Gentleman (who's name is Jack) into the front seat of our rig, and drove him down to their waiting van. As we got to his van, Jack asked me if I could ask one of the race organizers if he could have one of the race markers, that were placed along the course. Of course he could, came the response. I picked out the "V" for Victory sign for him.
Of course we had to ask if we wouldn't mind posing for a couple of pictures with us. He was just tickled by this, and whole hardily agreed.
I got a good pic of Jack's unit patch and am having a difficult time finding the unit. We know he was with a Glider Squadron during WW II, but am unable to pin which one it is down.
Jack was/is a trip. He had a lot of stories (and songs) to share with us that day. He told us, he saw Glen Miller's LAST show in Paris, before Glen's plane crashed. Both my partner and I are going to stop by his Assisted Living home soon and take him over to the Air Museum on the old Lowery AFB, then take him out for Lunch/Dinner. We'd like to find some sort of Unit patch, shirt, hat (even tho as you can see he has one) to present to him.
While we were parked along the side of the roadway, we noticed this gentleman walking towards us, to get to his vehicle. Both my partner and I are avid WW II buffs, and we both exited our vehicle to meet this fella. As we approached, his daughter asked us if we would mind giving him a ride down to their van. She stated, "He just ran out of gas."
Would we???? Of course we would. We loaded This Gentleman (who's name is Jack) into the front seat of our rig, and drove him down to their waiting van. As we got to his van, Jack asked me if I could ask one of the race organizers if he could have one of the race markers, that were placed along the course. Of course he could, came the response. I picked out the "V" for Victory sign for him.
Of course we had to ask if we wouldn't mind posing for a couple of pictures with us. He was just tickled by this, and whole hardily agreed.
I got a good pic of Jack's unit patch and am having a difficult time finding the unit. We know he was with a Glider Squadron during WW II, but am unable to pin which one it is down.
Jack was/is a trip. He had a lot of stories (and songs) to share with us that day. He told us, he saw Glen Miller's LAST show in Paris, before Glen's plane crashed. Both my partner and I are going to stop by his Assisted Living home soon and take him over to the Air Museum on the old Lowery AFB, then take him out for Lunch/Dinner. We'd like to find some sort of Unit patch, shirt, hat (even tho as you can see he has one) to present to him.