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ColesCountyDem

(6,943 posts)
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 08:20 PM Nov 2013

A 90 year-old WW2 vet moved me to tears yesterday, and I'm so glad he did!

These past 16 months have been very hard ones for me, what with my job having been outsourced to Bangladesh, suffering a major health crisis, federal extended unemployment benefits running out, using the remainder of my 401(k) for living expenses and facing probable eviction in the near future. Despite those things, I remain an optimist. I also remain deeply involved in my church, which is how I encountered 90 year-old Mr. Reynolds and his family yesterday. Our church hosts an annual Community Thanksgiving dinner, and I was one of the cooks and servers.

I noticed Mr. Reynolds as he came through the serving line with his (as I was learn later) two sons, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. We exchanged pleasantries as I served him turkey, ham and dressing, and one by one, he and his family proceeded through the serving line and took their places at a table. During one of the periodic lulls that always follow the initial 'rush' in the serving line, I was idly looking out on the crowd seated in the fellowship hall and happened to notice Mr. Reynolds engaged in a rather animated conversation with one of our older church members who was seated across the table from him. As they conversed, I noticed my fellow congregant point at me a few times, but didn't think much of it, at the time.

People began coming through the serving line for 'seconds', and I was once again focused on doing my job and making small talk with various diners. I'd just finished serving one person when the next person in line turned out to be Mr. Reynolds, no plate in hand. As I reached for a fresh plate, he shook his head 'no and asked, "May I speak with you privately for a moment, if it's not a bother?". It wasn't a 'bother' at all, because there was plenty of help in the kitchen, so I asked a friend to take my place for a moment. I indicated that I'd be in the small foyer off of the kitchen, as soon as I washed my hands, and Mr. Reynolds smiled and said 'That'll be just fine".

Entering the foyer a minute or so later, there stood a smiling Mr. Reynolds, hand extended. He introduced himself, and I did the same, and he then asked me, "Who were your grandparents?". As I told him, I saw him give a slight nod, smile broadly, give my hand a very firm squeeze and my shoulder a friendly pat. He could see the puzzled look on my face and, laughing softly, said, "I bet you're wondering 'Who is this old geezer, and what does he want?' ". What he said next is what brought me to tears...

"You had an uncle, Ralph, who was shot down over Germany in WW2, didn't you? A P-51 pilot flying as part of a fighter escort for a B-24 bombing mission over Leipheim, correct?". I nodded, and he smiled again and shook my hand HARD this time. "Bob", he said, "I was the pilot of one of those B-24's, and we'd been pretty well banged up by flack over the target area, and my co-pilot and I were trying our best to get our crippled bird back to England. Out of our two o'clock, we spotted four Messerschmitts coming in to finish the job the flack had started, and things looked about as bad as they could get. Suddenly, a P-51 appeared, machine guns blazing, and the dogfight was on. That P-51 pilot got three of them and damaged the fourth badly enough that he hightailed it out of there, but the P-51 was pretty badly shot up himself and, well, he crashed.

When we did somehow manage to get back to England, I made inquiries about that P-51 pilot, because I wanted to know who that brave S.O.B. was! I eventually found out his name and hometown, and then who his parents were-- your grandparents. I wrote them a letter, but some way or another, I just never made it here to meet them or any of your family, and to thank them properly, in person. We're all traveling to a family reunion in Kansas this weekend, and we stopped here for the night last night. I knew this was the town where your uncle was from and I read in the morning paper that there was this dinner today, and remembered from the memorial folder your grandfather had sent me in '46 that this was the church where his memorial service was held, so I talked the kids into coming here, hoping I could finally meet some of the family. That nice lady we were sitting with told me that you were the only family member still left around here, so that's why I wanted to meet you-- to thank you. You see, if it hadn't been for your uncle, I'd have never made it back home, never married my late wife, never had those two fine boys or any of my wonderful grandkids or great-grandkids."

Mr. Reynolds then bear-hugged me, and said, "Thank you, Bob, and when you talk to them, please tell your cousins I said thank you, too", and that's when I began to cry. He hugged me a little while longer and then handed me his handkerchief, and I got a grip on myself. Then he asked, "Would you come and have a cup of coffee with us? I'd like you to meet my family. They already know who you are, and they'd really like to meet you, especially my oldest son, Ralph".

There are days I do feel sorry for myself, I'll admit, but yesterday wasn't one of them. Yesterday was a day I received a gift, a very precious gift that means more to me than words can say. Thank you, Mr. Reynolds!



44 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A 90 year-old WW2 vet moved me to tears yesterday, and I'm so glad he did! (Original Post) ColesCountyDem Nov 2013 OP
Wow, what a wonderful story - now I have to go dry my eyes. Thanks for sharing! arthritisR_US Nov 2013 #1
What a wonderful story! alfie Nov 2013 #2
What a terrific story! Suich Nov 2013 #3
Thank you for sharing~ sheshe2 Nov 2013 #4
Thank you for this. 840high Nov 2013 #5
Wow. Neat story! PeaceNikki Nov 2013 #6
What an amazing story! n/t Triana Nov 2013 #7
Wonderful story. brer cat Nov 2013 #8
Well, that was a pretty touching story. Curmudgeoness Nov 2013 #9
A flight instructor I had for a while was a B-17 pilot during WWII Major Nikon Nov 2013 #10
Wonderful story. Jetboy Nov 2013 #11
OMG. Ilsa Nov 2013 #12
I can imagine how it brought you to tears, ColesCounty.. Cha Nov 2013 #13
Wow earthbot1 Nov 2013 #14
What an amazing gift!!! blaze Nov 2013 #15
Thanks CCD for the history and how people are not forgotten. Tears here, too, I'll leave it at that. freshwest Nov 2013 #16
What a fantastic story!!!! Wow, thanks for sharing it, ColesCountyDem!!! calimary Nov 2013 #17
Wonderful story, thank you for sharing it and Packerowner740 Nov 2013 #18
What a beautiful story TuxedoKat Nov 2013 #19
My throat hurts. A HERETIC I AM Nov 2013 #20
thank you so much for sharing this truly wonderful event with us, ccd. niyad Nov 2013 #21
what a beautiful present he gave you... Dana Enos Nov 2013 #22
Across the years and through the lives. Imagine the sequence of events that brought this gift to you NBachers Nov 2013 #23
... ancianita Nov 2013 #24
Okay, now you have me doing it. n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #25
It's hard to imagine Iwillnevergiveup Nov 2013 #26
what a great story JI7 Nov 2013 #27
Tears in my eyes too. beveeheart Nov 2013 #28
Wow... bearssoapbox Nov 2013 #29
Your story moved me to tears as well. What a wonderful man to have never forgotten and to have Liberal In Red State Nov 2013 #30
Proud to be the 100th Rec ... Martin Eden Nov 2013 #31
OMG libodem Nov 2013 #32
Wonderful story! therehegoes Nov 2013 #33
Vintage aircraft are really cool... adavid Nov 2013 #34
Excellent story! kag Nov 2013 #35
What a wonderful story! mike dub Nov 2013 #36
I just love those kinds of stories!! Playinghardball Nov 2013 #37
:) shenmue Nov 2013 #38
Thank you! Beautiful story. I'm so glad the old man found you! mountain grammy Nov 2013 #39
thank you G_j Nov 2013 #40
The next time I have a beer I am going to raise it to Ralph and Mr. Reynolds. grantcart Nov 2013 #41
You just warmed my heart. babylonsister Nov 2013 #42
This is the best thread I have ever read on DU. Jenoch Nov 2013 #43
Thank you all! ColesCountyDem Nov 2013 #44

alfie

(522 posts)
2. What a wonderful story!
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 08:27 PM
Nov 2013

I am so glad the long, sweet arm of Karma brought that gentleman to see you yesterday.

Suich

(10,642 posts)
3. What a terrific story!
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 08:33 PM
Nov 2013

Most heart-warming thing I've read in weeks!

Thanks so much for sharing, ColesCountyDem!

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
9. Well, that was a pretty touching story.
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 09:02 PM
Nov 2013

Moved to tears myself. I am very glad that he found you after all these years. I obviously meant a lot to him.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
10. A flight instructor I had for a while was a B-17 pilot during WWII
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 09:05 PM
Nov 2013

B-17s/B-24s were massive planes that darkened the skies when they flew en masse and were shot down wholesale by the Germans taking down a crew of 10 or 11 men with each one. The losses were staggering. 4145 heavy bombers were lost out of 10631 which means you had about a 40% chance of things going very badly. My old instructor told a couple of stories that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. He said the thought of what was going on underneath their bombing runs was too terrible to think about and they had to focus on the mission and trying to get out alive themselves.

Cha

(295,907 posts)
13. I can imagine how it brought you to tears, ColesCounty..
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 09:16 PM
Nov 2013

My tears are flowing.. for this beautifully poignant story. So glad Mr Reynolds is such a communicator and tracked you down to give his appreciation for your Uncle Ralph's bravery on Thanksgiving day.

What an inspiring story, CCD.. I wish you the best in your endeavors to find a job!

blaze

(6,270 posts)
15. What an amazing gift!!!
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 09:35 PM
Nov 2013

So many things had to fall in place for that meeting to happen. I am just amazed by stories like this.

I sincerely hope that this helps to mark a turning point for you. There must be a karmic rollover effect involved here somehow.

calimary

(80,694 posts)
17. What a fantastic story!!!! Wow, thanks for sharing it, ColesCountyDem!!!
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 09:57 PM
Nov 2013

Just GREAT! But I had to stop and find some Kleenex before I could get all the way through it.

TuxedoKat

(3,818 posts)
19. What a beautiful story
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 09:58 PM
Nov 2013

One the best I've ever read here. Thanks so much for sharing it. I think you could publish it somewhere, maybe Guideposts? Your Uncle Ralph sounds like he was a wonderful, wonderful person. (((HUGS)))

A HERETIC I AM

(24,320 posts)
20. My throat hurts.
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 10:06 PM
Nov 2013

I'm .......



Wow.

If I didn't know better, I would think I was reading something from "Readers Digest" from the 70's.


You must have been very touched.

Dana Enos

(2 posts)
22. what a beautiful present he gave you...
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 10:26 PM
Nov 2013

that was beautiful ... does anyone do those sort of things anymore.? great to hear one person still knows how to be grateful...

NBachers

(17,001 posts)
23. Across the years and through the lives. Imagine the sequence of events that brought this gift to you
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 10:38 PM
Nov 2013

A salute to your uncle. A salute to you. And a salute to Mr. Reynolds. What an abundance of blessings you have received.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
24. ...
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 10:38 PM
Nov 2013
The best story of wisdom and gratitude that I've heard in decades. Not only did our ancestors fly, shoot and who knows what else, but they took time over the years to look up descendants. Just to thank them.

Iwillnevergiveup

(9,298 posts)
26. It's hard to imagine
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 10:57 PM
Nov 2013

which of you was more touched by this encounter, but I tend to think it meant the world to both of you. Talk about putting things in perspective...it's a moment neither of you will ever forget.
CCD, a written copy of this recounting should be included along with any resume you turn in. It tells any prospective employer about your character and values. Thank you so much for posting.

JI7

(89,174 posts)
27. what a great story
Fri Nov 29, 2013, 11:01 PM
Nov 2013

thanks for sharing with us. i notice these people never do forget even if it was over 65 years ago. never stopped being thankful to others who saved them .

bearssoapbox

(1,408 posts)
29. Wow...
Sat Nov 30, 2013, 09:35 AM
Nov 2013

What a great, touching story.

For events to come together so you two could meet each other is really something.

Thanks for sharing.

30. Your story moved me to tears as well. What a wonderful man to have never forgotten and to have
Sat Nov 30, 2013, 10:15 AM
Nov 2013

taken the time and effort after all these years to say "Thank You!" Those words can mean so much to those who receive them and they clearly touched you . . . and through you . . . many others.

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks." --Author Unknown--

 

adavid

(140 posts)
34. Vintage aircraft are really cool...
Sat Nov 30, 2013, 03:27 PM
Nov 2013

I remember in 1986, I was at an NHRA event and the pre-race events had fly-overs by a P-51 Mustang, a Spitfire, and a Messerschmidt BF-109. Unbelievable how loud the were. Those are so old, I don't understand how pilots still fly them without perceived risk.

mike dub

(541 posts)
36. What a wonderful story!
Sat Nov 30, 2013, 04:04 PM
Nov 2013

Sniffles and a few tears here, too, just upon reading this story. Wonderful how your uncle's bravery touched so many other lives.

 

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)
43. This is the best thread I have ever read on DU.
Sat Nov 30, 2013, 08:44 PM
Nov 2013

Being the occasional cynic, I actually made an attempt to see if your story was one of those urban legends. Many times, stories such as yours turn out to be urban legends.

Do not be surprised if your story ends up circling the globe for many years to come. I hope not a single word is ever changed.

Good luck to you and your family.

ColesCountyDem

(6,943 posts)
44. Thank you all!
Sat Nov 30, 2013, 09:09 PM
Nov 2013

I apologize for taking so long to get back with you all, but my Mom's sister is in the hospital and not doing well, so I've been AFK since shortly after posting this.

Your responses have absolutely amazed me! You folks, like Mr. Reynolds, remind me that there are good, kind, decent and caring people left in this world! My parents always told me that, "God will not give you what you want, but he will give you what you need", and you have certainly proven that!

Blessings on you all!

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