A True Patriotic Story
If you do take the time to read the following story from the Spokane WA. Reserve Officers Association Chapter President, please read it carefully. It is a very touching true story that all war veterans should read. Enjoy.
I arrived in Moscow,
Idaho (Home of Idaho University one block from Best Western) and went to dinner
at Best Western. About 85-100 people were in the Restaurant. I'm at a table for
about 5 minutes when this "Group" comes in (20 people). They have
Anti-War Picket Signs with them. Two of these demonstrators are Professors. They
all sit at a large round
table behind me and begin to talk very loudly about US atrocities in
Afghanistan. One of the "Professors" stands up and gives a brief talk
about how the "US is famous for atrocities" and Afghanistan will be no
different. One of the students asked a question about Viet Nam POW's.
The "Professor" makes a comment about how that was only US propaganda
about poor treatment of POW's.
OK - I'm really mad now and I jump up and go over to their table. NOTE:
over the entrance to the restaurant is a huge American Flag and on each table is
an American Flag and a small hand painted sign "United We Stand".)
I excuse myself to this group and ask the Professor if I can
ask him a
question. He says yes. I said that he appears to be of age to have
served in Viet Nam, and asked him if he had served. His answer was,
"NO - I defended this Campus and told the truth to the students".
I
then asked if he remembered what he was doing on February 16, 1969.
When he answered, "Of course not - that was too long ago," I
responded,
"Really, I remember what I was doing. That was the second day of
my capture and I had been standing in a bamboo cage for 24 hours with
water up to my chest". I then said "Sir, your comments about how POW's
in Nam were treated are a lie and I personally say to you, you are a
goddamned liar, as you never were there. I was a POW and they did not
treat our POWs humanly. The only other person I have ever heard make
the statements like you have is Jane Fonda. Is she telling the truth
and not me?" He stood up and after about 10 seconds said, "Jane is
a great patriot and I cannot visualize her lying." With that, I
reached over and grabbed the small American Flag and United We Stand
sign and said, "I'm taking this back to my table where it can be
appreciated."
No one said a word to me as I started to walk back. However
after a few
seconds, people started standing up and applauding all around the
restaurant. Two men got up from a table across the room and walked over
to me. The first identified himself as former US Marine Lieutenant
Flynn and the other man was former Gunnery Sergeant Graboski. In a
loud voice after introducing themselves, Lt. Flynn said they were
former Marine Guards at a US Embassy. He then said, "We are over at
this table to defend the US Flag from all foes, both foreign and
domestic." They then sat down and asked their Waitress to bring
their meals over to my table. A few more minutes went by with loud
comments from the "Anti-War" table.
All of a sudden, "Gunny" Sergeant Graboski stood up
and in a loud voice said "All of you heard what the President said the
other night. You
are either with the United States or you are with the terrorists." He
then said, "Please stand and join me in God Bless America." As he
started singing, people all around the restaurant stood up and joined
in. Several of the students at the "Anti-War" table also stood up half
way through the song and joined in. Both Professors and the majority
of the students remained seated and refused to sing. At the end there
was a great ovation.
The Manager came up to my table. (He and his staff had come
out from
the kitchen and sang right along with us.) He thanked me for what I
started and then went over to the Anti-War table and asked them to
leave. "I will pay for what you have had so far but I cannot in good
conscience serve you - get out. NOW!! One of the Professors then made
a remark "Well, we are not going to pay one dime for how shabbily we
have been treated."
As they were leaving, one customer stood up and said,
"Manager, here is
$5 towards their bill, anyone else willing to chip in to get this scum
out of here?" All over the restaurant, people stood up reaching for
their wallet and saying, "I'll chip in" The Manager, in tears said,
"My family is from Poland, I am now a citizen and am so proud of what
I see tonight." He started crying and a couple of the waitresses helped
him into the kitchen. The two Marines and I were there for about
another 20 minutes and finished our meal. The Hostess came up and
showed us more than $100 dollars that all the other tables had told
their Waitresses to give towards our bill. I thanked her but said
I could not take the money. Lt Flynn suggested donating it in the
Restaurant's name to the New York Relief Fund, so I guess that's what
will happen.
I just can't believe how Americans are coming together now.
Just
thought you would like to hear how the rest of the country is
reacting to what happened!!!
