MY OLD FRIEND

 11/7/12

There are advantages to working in a shopping mall. However, that was not evident to me until I had been in retail for nearly twenty-five years. Let me backtrack a moment.....The fact that my nephew had enlisted in the Marine Corps back in '02 was the beginning of a completely different mindset for me.....and influenced my interactions with veterans young and old. Though my father served in WWII in the Army, he never spoke of his time in the Philippines. Having a nephew in combat gave me a deeper appreciation for those who serve.

Many veterans wear a baseball-style cap, a 'cover' identifying the branch of military in which they served and where they served. One day an elderly gentleman entered the store where I worked. His 'cover' said WWII Iwo Jima Survivor. Without hesitating I approached him, held out my hand which he graciously shook, and I thanked him for his service. I asked if he would consider sharing his war stories with me and that was the beginning of a very special heartwarming friendship. That man was Sgt Gordon F. Ward. He often came to the mall on errands and we would always meet and I would sit entranced as he shared his wartime experiences, stories that took my breath away. More than one Corpsman died saving his life. (His story can be found in a biography written by his daughter Ana "Uncommon Survivor: From Sand to Bronze". ) How I cherished those visits.

Gordon spent weekends for many years in Arlington VA at the Iwo Jima Memorial sharing those stories with anyone who would listen.... and believe me, they did. Tourists from near and far, civilian and military, were thrilled to meet him and listen to his fascinating and frightening combat experiences. He was there nearly every weekend until his health would no longer allow. Then he and his wife sold their home and moved to an assisted living facility. I continued to visit Gordon, for our visits truly warmed my heart He used to joke with me that were he not married to Carmen he would marry me! His daughter Ana and I always laughed at his harmless flirtations....but he always had a twinkle is his beautiful bright blue eyes....

Gordon's health was failing. In his mid eighties he was becoming frail....but I also knew that the Marines take care of their own, do not let their brothers down and are there for them for as long as they are living. Then as God would have it, a message I sent to the local Marine Corps League brought it all together. Not one or two, but more than ten Marines offered to come visit for a surprise birthday celebration. It is hard to put into words the emotions that were palpable in that room.....a gathering of many residents, some veterans themselves. There were plenty of tears and memories shared. That was June 2010. Two more times the veteran Marines rallied to Gordon's side. Each of those three visits literally gave Gordon a new lease on life. That was the evidence that their 'brotherhood' was real. Gordon passed in June, 2011. Four days later my father passed. I missed Gordon's church memorial service as I was making plans for my father's funeral. I did have the honor of attending Gordon's burial service at Arlington National Cemetery. It was a heartbreaking time for me losing two very unique and special people in my life.

Nevertheless, I have my beloved memories of our hours sitting and talking, my asking question after question. Gordon's recollection of his time at war was flawless, his childhood and his years after serving our country as well. I feel blessed beyond measure that Gordon walked into my store that day and over those few years allowed me to see into his memory one of our most historical Marine Corps battles. He was a proud Marine grunt who lived as a Marine until his final breath.