Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

My morning, part 4

NanceUSMC

By NanceUSMC,
in Huddle Lounge

Recommended Posts

NanceUSMC Newbie

NanceUSMC

Posted
Posted

The latest installment of my morning meetings with Don...

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Don has been on vacation the last two weeks visiting family in Wisconsin... He called me this week, the day after her returned, to see if I was going to be at the donut shop this weekend... He said he wanted to talk more with me... He told me he had some stuff he wanted to tell me... I don't think he realizes just how much I've come to look forward to our weekend chats, nor just how much I'm learning from him...

This morning, he was excited to tell me that while he was on vacation, he got a call from a local reporter here with the Fort Worth Star Telegram... The reporter asked him several questions about his time in service, and was specifically doing an article regarding his upcoming Freedom Flight trip, where 60 veterans will accompany 60 students on a day long trip to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial there... He is very excited about the trip, and told me this morning he hopes it will lead to him being able to speak more with the kids of the area schools, and share his experiences with them... I think it's remarkable, that someone who has given so much, wants to continue to give... I hope I'm able to find a way that I can give back to him...

World War II Freedon Flight Project - FWST

He also wanted to talk about The Pacific... He watched it with his family while on vacation... He enjoyed it very much... He talked about some of the events in the show that he knew of first hand... Talked about how well done the show was... It was talking about the show that led him to talk about a few more of his personal experiences...

Today he told me of watching the ships from the side of Mount Suribachi... He told me that the third day he was on the island, he and a buddy sat on the side of the mountain, under cover from fire, and looked out to the ships just off the coastline... As they watched the ships laying down covering fire for the Marines fighting onland, they noticed one of the carriers come under attack by Japanese Kamikazes... Both he and his buddy were confident that the American carrier planes and escort ships would win this... He was very descriptive about how they were watching this naval battle unfolding in front of their very eyes, pulling hard for their countrymen and women aboard, fighting off the assault... Before long, however, to their shock and horror, one of the Kamikazes breeched the anti-aircraft fire, and scored a direct hit on the carrier... He saw the explosion and watched as the ship caught fire... Their optimism quickly turned to apprehension, and their apprehension into terror as a second plane hit the now crippled ship... He said they watched as the ship burned, and eventually sank... I asked him what ship it was... He said "That was the Bismarck Sea." He later found out that over 300 servicemen were lost in the attack he'd just witnessed...

USS Bismarck Sea

We talked for nearly 3 hours today, he and I, and the two other veterans that are there weekly (one a Korean War Vet, the other a Vietnam Vet)... Talked about everything from war stories, to families, to Bin Laden, to movies... The four of us talked right up to the point Don's wife called him and told him it was time for him to come home! He told her he'd be home in 5 minutes, talked for another 15, then scurried home to take care of his 'Honey-Do List'...

I did tell him today that he'd developed quite a following online in the stories he shares with me, that I share with all of you... I don't believe he understands just how many people read these updates and look forward to them... Nor do I believe he understands just how many people appreciate him and the experiences he shares... I hope that over time I am able to help him come to an understanding of how appreciated he is by everyone reading these...

Finally, I'll leave you with another photo he shared with me, taken before the battle... I'll continue to share with you all, as he continues to share with me...

DonGravesandhisFlameThrower.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NanceUSMC Newbie

NanceUSMC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Great Job Nance. You should record your conversations and write a book about him and the events on that island.

Your new calling.

Aww man, I wouldn't even know where to begin brother... But I have thought about getting a video camera and recording some of his stories... If we both get to go to Iwo, I'm definitely going to record it...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NanceUSMC Newbie

NanceUSMC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You got any recent pics of you and Don?

edit: The flamethrower pic is badass IMO

Pictures of me and him together? No, I don't have any of those (yet)... Now, I've got some recent pics of him that I scanned for him, but they're a bit grainy...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NanceUSMC Newbie

NanceUSMC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

awesome nance sounds like you two are going steady now!

Yeah, he's called me a time or two over the past month or so, just to chat and to see if I'm coming to the shop or not... The other two guys that are there are pretty neat guys, too... The three of them together are a riot...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • MillionDollarCam
      Off Season Thread

      By MillionDollarCam · Posted

      I originally hated the Miller deal but with the cap projected to rise nearly $10M next season the Canes struck some pretty good deals between Miller and Ehlers. Most of the team is locked in for the next few years. Nikishin will need an extension probably in the $6M AAV range. And Blake will need one if we don’t move him. Personally I’d move Blake, picks, and any prospect not named Nikishin/Nadeau/Artamonov for McTavish as I don’t see any any of the big time players moving teams next year. Realistically the Hurricanes should just target Gustavsson next year to fix the goal tending issue. But I’m all for moving Blake, picks, and prospects for McTavish this year. Ehlers - Aho - Jarvis Svechnikov - McTavish - Stankoven Martinook - Staal - Carrier Hall - Kotkaniemi - Robinson Jost - Jankowski Slavin - Miller Nikishin - Chatfield Gostisbehere - Walker Reilly Andersen Kochetkov I’d do Blake, Felix-Unger-Sorum, and 27 2nd for McTavish.
    • WhoKnows
      Best draft picks ever at each slot (4 Panthers)

      By WhoKnows · Posted

      Very true on the length but stuff like this is never where we shine. We aren’t a good team at drafting.
    • Gapanthersfan
      Panthers Blueprint out now

      By Gapanthersfan · Posted

      Homerism aside, the more I see from Dan, the more impressed I am.  His player evaluation instincts. Last year his 2 premier FA signings, Hunt and Lewis COMPLETELY changed the line and I have a feeling his success in choosing blue chip guys will continue.  Look at the panthers’s rep for FA signings in the past. By and large, it’s been guys 1 year past their prime who had an injury and suckered our GM in to a crippling contract. We never get nice things. When was the last time this team signed 2 young blue chip studs  in the same offseason to contracts worthy of their impact? Ever?  Im telling y’all, players respect and trust Morgan. 
×
×
  • Create New...