27 June 2009, was a day for me I will never forget. I was too young for WWll, but I remember many events such as the attack on Pearl Harbor and listening to President Roosevelt declare war on Japan and the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.
27 June 2009. I had gone out with my family to a restaurant called Old Country Buffet in Mesa, Arizona for a belated father's day dinner. As I entered the restaurant, I noticed a gentleman sitting alone wearing a cap with USS Indianapolis on it.
After my family had finished eating and were preparing to leave, the gentleman was still sitting at his table, alone when I approached him and asked him if he was on board the ship when she was torpedoed and he answered yes. We talked for about five minutes and after he described to me what it was like to be in the water for 5 days, he started to choke up so I thanked him profusely for what he did for me and our country and left without even knowing his name.
For me, that was the experience of a lifetime to meet someone who was aboard that ship in one of the most historic events of our time. I will never forget that meeting and those men aboard the Indianapolis.
I again want to say to that gentleman and to all who served on the USS Indianapolis, thank you, thank you, thank you for what you did for our country. May god bless you all. If anyone who reads this may know who this gentleman is, please contact me as I would like to see him again.
-- Edited by wojiaojerry on Saturday 27th of June 2009 04:16:21 PM
SurvivorsDaughter said
Jul 6, 2009
As the daughter of a Survivor, I can not express enough how much it means to these guys when someone will see them out in public and take a moment to shake their hand and say thank you. It makes them realize that their experience has not and will not be forgotten.
Recently my parents were traveling with my family on vacation across Florida and we met with a member of the rescue crew for dinner. As we were walking out of the restaurant a man walked up to my father and the rescue crew member (who were wearing their USS Indianapolis and Indianapolis Rescue & Recovery Crew caps). He introduced himself and told them that his father was a survivor, but passed away when he was very young. It was a memory that these guys will always remember, and I think meeting them touched the younger man as well.
Later as the trip went on, my father wore his cap and was stopped throughout the days in Disney World by people just shaking his hand and saying "thank you". I can not even begin to express how much those small gestures meant to him, and to the rest of the family for making him feel so special.
Tmac said
Oct 22, 2009
I saw the same gentleman today at the exact same place. It was so incredible to meet and speak with him and brought a tear to my eye as well as my wife. I saw him with his USS Indy hat on that said survivor. I saw him pray over his food with no worries about what people thought of him for doing so. It was truley amazing. I was so proud and honored to meet him as it was truely a blessing and gave me a HUGE sense of pride in my country and our military. I already had that pride but as a 35 year old I see people of my generation and younger so defiant and just plain dumb to the world and why we have the freedoms we have. I am going to find out who that gentleman is. I want to see him again. A true hero. The rest of my day was influenced by meeting that one man. I consider myself so lucky!!!
27 June 2009, was a day for me I will never forget. I was too young for WWll, but I remember many events such as the attack on Pearl Harbor and listening to President Roosevelt declare war on Japan and the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.
27 June 2009. I had gone out with my family to a restaurant called Old Country Buffet in Mesa, Arizona for a belated father's day dinner. As I entered the restaurant, I noticed a gentleman sitting alone wearing a cap with USS Indianapolis on it.
After my family had finished eating and were preparing to leave, the gentleman was still sitting at his table, alone when I approached him and asked him if he was on board the ship when she was torpedoed and he answered yes. We talked for about five minutes and after he described to me what it was like to be in the water for 5 days, he started to choke up so I thanked him profusely for what he did for me and our country and left without even knowing his name.
For me, that was the experience of a lifetime to meet someone who was aboard that ship in one of the most historic events of our time. I will never forget that meeting and those men aboard the Indianapolis.
I again want to say to that gentleman and to all who served on the USS Indianapolis, thank you, thank you, thank you for what you did for our country. May god bless you all. If anyone who reads this may know who this gentleman is, please contact me as I would like to see him again.
-- Edited by wojiaojerry on Saturday 27th of June 2009 04:16:21 PM
Tony McClain...