Sack Lunches

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Ok, here goes, could not help myself, this one got to me.

MAY GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY!

This is worth reading!

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned
seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and totally surrounded me. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

'Fort Hood’ We’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars.
It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I decided a lunch would help pass the time..

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base '

His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. no-one was buying lunch.

I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.
'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son is a soldier in Iraq, it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the isle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a diner plate from first class.
'This is your thanks..'

After I finished eating, I went to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.
A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me. When he got to my row, he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Unfastening my seatbelt, I stood and took the Captain's hand. He said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed, I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.
Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is 'Honor'. There are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your email buddy list....I JUST DID

REMEMBER.. "Freedom is NOT free, a VETERAN paid for it"
I say this Prayer before two to three times each day.

I say this Prayer before two to three times each day.

Lord,
I ask that you please bless our American Servicemen and Women. Especially those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and those serving in countries where people would seek to harm them.

I ask that you give them; Courage, Faith, clarity of vision, clarity of mind, and quick physical reactions.
Amen.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Nice story Frank thank you for sharing it.

[David P. Valley]

Thanks Frank.

[Russell J. Hensel]

Good story thanks

[Michael R. Boyett]

For those of you so inclined keep the Marines in your thoughts and prayers the next couple of days as they prepare to lead a major assault in the Marjah region of Afghanistan. There will be casualties.....

(WSJ)Top Afghan officials made a final effort to win over the people of the Taliban-dominated Marjah region ahead of an expected U.S.-led assault. The result: Some tribal elders pledged to cooperate with coalition forces once the shooting starts, but some remained skeptical of the government and its Western backers.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by mboyett

For those of you so inclined keep the Marines in your thoughts and prayers the next couple of days as they prepare to lead a major assault in the Marjah region of Afghanistan. There will be casualties.....

Will do, Mike...

And thanks for sharing the story Frank.

[Buck Hartley, CMI]

Nice!! Semper Fi!

[Gary Farnsworth]

My sister's son (nephew) is in Germany. He ships out Monday for two years in Afganistan. He will be an Army Captain effective May 1st.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

This April will be the 5th straight year that my nephew serves in Iraq. He has some stories about the bravery of our servicemen and women that makes me proud to be an American!

God Bless our Troops!

[Doug Edwards]

We have real American heroes all around us but few take the time to stop and appreciate their courage and sacrifice. This story is repeated all over our nation only this one really brings it home as to the level of apathy and selfishness that exists in our society.


Published:Sunday, December 13, 2009


On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg . Probably didn’t make much news.

Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy , Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.



If that wasn’t enough for a day’s work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.



That probably didn’t make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam , a Congressional Medal of Honor.



What did make news last week was a neighborhood association’s quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot’s 21-foot flagpole were unsuitable.







He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn’t take it down. Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.







“In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference,” Barfoot told The Associated Press.

As well he should.

And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation.



It indicates he’s not real good at backing down.
Van T. Barfoot’s Medal of Honor citation


This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano , Italy . With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety.. Sgt. Barfoot’s extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of point blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.”

[Doug Edwards]

Here is another one. We elevated movie stars, sports figures to hero status and don't even recognize a real hero when we see one. They live among us and we rarely acknowledge it. Often even go so far as to ignore it completely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ7968BbMnU&feature=related

[dbelmont]

Now Frank you know how I hate it when you make me cry.

Of course there's another characteristic of our warriors. Modesty. If you tell them they are the heroes that make this country great they just look at you with an embarrassed look and tell you they are just doing their duty. No big deal.

[Russell J. Hensel]

Awesome video........

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by dedwards

Here is another one. We elevated movie stars, sports figures to hero status and don't even recognize a real hero when we see one. They live among us and we rarely acknowledge it. Often even go so far as to ignore it completely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ7968BbMnU&feature=related

What an incredible story.

Puts things in perspective for me.

Thanks to all who serve.

[Kevin M. Leonard]

Thanks for sharing such a great story Frank. Also thanks for keeping this issue out front. As we go on with our blessed lives here in America, we sometimes have a tendency to forget just what kind of hell our Servicemen & Women are going through for us. May God Bless Them All & Keep Them Out Of Harms Way.