 |
|
| THE LOBBY A gathering place. Introductions, sports, showin' off your ride, birthday-anniversary-milestone, achievements, family oriented humor. |
| Reply |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
|
|
#1
05-26-2014, 01:36 PM
|
||||
|
||||
My best Memorial Day ever...
As I always do, I attended our small town's Memorial Day service at the local cemetery. And also as I always do, I wore the Navy ball cap we all ordered from Hong Kong when I was aboard USS Repose, a hospital ship, in 1968. It has the ship's patch on the front (sort of like below) and we all had our names and ranks embroidered on the back.
Some of our old retired military wear their uniforms to these events. I walked by a Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant in dress blues (hadn't seen him before) and said "Good morning, Gunny." He smiled back and said "good morning." I got about 3 steps past him and heard "Hey, DOC!" I turned around and walked back and he asked "when were you aboard Repose?" I answered "1968." As it turns out, he came aboard in March '68, during the Tet Offensive, with a chest wound, which means I probably treated him. How cool is that?! 46 years later! So we stood together for the ceremonies, and chatted for a few minutes after it was over. As I was leaving, he promptly reduced me to tears by saying "Doc? Thanks for everything. I'm here today because of what you guys did." I've heard a lot of guys say this, and agree: wouldn't take a million bucks for the experience, nor a million bucks to go back. Events like this are why. Semper Fi! 
__________________
"Democracy is a beautiful thing, except for that part about letting just any old yokel vote." ~Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts |
|
#2
05-26-2014, 01:45 PM
|
||||
|
||||
Dang, it's suddenly kinda dusty here....
|
|
#3
05-26-2014, 01:51 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Shawn
__________________
 "Don't let fatigue make a coward of you." |
|
#4
05-26-2014, 01:56 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Awesome. Thank you for what you did.
__________________
67 Firebird 467 cubic inches 7.71 @ 92 in the 1/8 and 11.69 @ 115 in the 1/4. |
|
#5
05-26-2014, 03:19 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Wow.... great story..... Thank you
__________________
Troy Rockaway NJ 67 GTO 400HO / TKX 3.27 1ST GEAR-.72OD / 3.36 POSI HOTCHKIS/UMI/BILSTEIN 
|
|
#6
05-26-2014, 03:34 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Whoa! What a great day for two great men. Thank you both for your service!
__________________
 69 OHC ZH Sprint Hurst 3 Speed 3:55 (1 of 213) 99 Valkyrie 1520cc Flat 6 108hp/110tq - For Sale http://sohcsix.yuku.com/forums/1/OHC-lounge Wanted: 1969 OHC "H" Camshaft |
|
#7
05-26-2014, 04:38 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Good story Bob
|
|
#8
05-26-2014, 04:49 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Great story and thank you for your service!!!
__________________
John R. Zerucha 1968 GTO RA II Convertible Sorry..The race car is Buick Powered 70 Skylark @2800 lbs 8.78 @ 153 mph 535 Stage 4 2850 lbs 8.97 @ 149 mph 523 Stage 4 9.36 @ 143 mph 464 Stage 2 9.77 @ 135 mph 464 Stage 1 88 Hawk @2355 lbs 8.06 @ 167 mph 535 Stage 4 7.90 @ 171 mph 572 Stage 4 |
|
#9
05-26-2014, 05:26 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Little hard to type when your eyes water over. What a great story !
And the Gunny was right....because of the devotion to duty by you and your ilk there would be a lot of us Leathernecks that might not have made it back to celebrate Memorial Day. Wish I could personally thank them as the Gunny did to you. And there are many more, Bob, who are eternally grateful. Semper Fi my friend. Sgt J.O. Butcher USMC Viet Nam Class of '69
__________________
65 Catalina sedan. Allen Thomas Performance 495. KRE Heads at 310cfm ported by SD Performance, ProSystems Dominator carb on ported Victor intake, P-Dude custom grind hydraulic roller, MSD ignition, 3.50 Moser/Ford rear. F-Glass front bumper by son Rob, rear by the old man and joint effort for trunk lid. 3950# w/driver. Best of 9.5761/139 on 175 shot, 6.01 /114 in 1/8. |
|
#10
05-26-2014, 06:42 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Feel good story of the day. Thanks for the post.
|
|
#11
05-26-2014, 06:58 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Boot Camp USMC 1969 myself out in 72 rank of SGT. Oldest brother Gene was Army, next oldest Ron was Navy, and Dad was Coast Guard. We tried to over them all. Best story of the day probably the whole month, Thanks Doc!!!!!!!!!
|
|
#12
05-26-2014, 08:51 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
What a great story. I think my wife just started chopping onions. Damn her.
__________________
Let me have a Diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper and make it fast---I'm in a goddamn hurry! - Mike 1967 GTO 
|
|
#13
05-26-2014, 09:39 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Great story Bob, not often one gets to thank the person who is probably responsible for ones survival, even 46 years later! My uncle few Hueys during that conflict and his unit got shot at all the time. Hundreds of his men were saved by you guys! (Luckily my uncle never received a scratch in two tours) Thanks for your service and all the brave guys who served with you!
|
|
#14
05-26-2014, 10:04 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Thank you Bob.
__________________
 frittering and wasting the hours in an off hand way.... 1969 GTO, 455ci, 230/236 Pontiac Dude's "Butcher Special" Comp hyd roller cam with Crower HIPPO solid roller lifters, Q-jet, Edelbrock P4B-QJ, Doug's headers, ported 6X-8 (97cc) heads, TKO600, 3.73 geared Eaton Tru-Trac 8.5", hydroboost, rear disc brakes......and my greatest mechanical feat....a new heater core. 
|
|
#15
05-27-2014, 02:32 AM
|
||||
|
||||
What a story that was great Thank You BOB.
__________________
Cuz68 
|
|
#16
05-27-2014, 07:34 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
You ain't right if that don't choke you up!
Thanks for sharing that with us Bob!
__________________
Some guys they just give up living And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racin' in the street. Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978 |
|
#17
05-27-2014, 07:38 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
A good day to be alive, I would say.
Way to go, Bob. Kurt |
|
#18
05-27-2014, 07:52 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thanks Bob that was a good story.
|
| Reply |
|
|
The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.
Hybrid Mode
