When the water calmed down her future husband paddled out in another canoe. Was everything ok. "Yes", she replied. She convinced her male companion to let go and let her paddle back. They went back, not to the main dock which was the closest but to the furthest one by the sleeping quarters. The young man had finally spoken and made that clear. When they docked he left the canoe for her to tie up and dashed off to the rooms. She tied the canoe, then headed for the dining room for something to eat.
Her future husband came in and she asked what that had been all about.
He explained.
“During the war her companion had been in the air force and his plane crashed in Scotland during an electrical storm. He was the only one to crawl out of the wreckage. A farmer came to his rescue and helped him home. His wife had served tea and a slice of bread and butter after calling for an ambulance. The farmer gazed into his eyes and said "Son, tell me where you're from and about your family". And the young man answered and talked and talked. Soon the ambulance arrived, he thanked them for everything and got up to leave. He walked a few steps and then collapsed. The ambulance took him away.”
"You see"
he continued:
"When he crawled out of the wreckage the fuel had melted away most of the skin on his face. He spent much time in one of the many hospitals set up during the war for restorative plastic surgery.".
She couldn't tell by looking at him that day in the canoe.
The person that relayed this story to me has left us as have the others mentioned.
If you know a VET and they have a story they would like to share please visit http://www.thememoryproject.com/
Lest We Forget
Their stories are worth preserving.
No comments:
Post a Comment