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This is long but a good story for Memorial Day. I was working as shoot director at my gun club one day this winter and chatting with another member about members who had died. Many of them were veterans and there are some incredible stories from WW2 that you might get to hear from the man involved if he’s had a couple bourbons. But I’d never heard this story before. It came from a guy who had heard it firsthand.
We had an older member, let’s call him Dick Smith, who was a WW2 pacific marine and law partner with my father in law. He was at our yearly big 3 day skeet event just hanging out in the clubhouse. Probably around 2001. This also older guy and wife who nobody knew showed because they heard about the event and wanted to watch. He was from about 90 minutes away. He and Dick got talking, turns he was a pacific Marine and started trading stories about the war in the pacific. The visitor was telling a story about being trapped by the japs, down to just a few guys and going to be wiped out. Called for artillery on his own position and said once you start firing just keep walking the rounds east and we’re going to run like hell right in front of them. Guy on the radio said I’ll get court martialed if I fire on our own people I can’t do it. This guy said we’re all gonna die if you don’t, give me your officer. Officer got on and agreed to fire the artillery on them and just said run like hell and I hope you guys make it.
This guy and 2 others made it back.
So he’s sitting there next to Dick and a few other people listening. He says I just wish I had been able to shake that officers hand and thank him for saving our lives. Dick Smith turns to him, sticks his hand out with tears in his eyes and says Captain Dick Smith, I’m glad to know you made it, I’ve been wondering ever since that day whether you survived or not.
The greatest generation.
Hope everyone had time this weekend to remember those kind of men.
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