posted 07-29- 02:10 PM               

"OLD GEEZERS"

"Geezers" are easy to spot; this is slang for an old man. But, at sporting events, during the playing of the National Anthem, they hold their caps over their hearts and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them. They remember World War I, the Depression, World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Age,
the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing, not to mention Vietnam.

If you bump into a "Geezer" on the sidewalk, he'll apologize, pass a Geezer on the street, he'll nod, or tip his cap to a lady.

"Geezers" trust strangers and are courtly to women.

They hold the door for the next person and always when walking, make sure the lady is on the inside for protection.

"Geezers" get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don't like violence and filth on TV and in movies.

Geezers have moral courage.

Geezers seldom brag unless it's about the grandchildren in Little League or music recitals.

This country needs "Geezers" with their decent values and common sense. We need them now more than ever. It's the "Geezers" who know our great country is protected, not by politicians or police, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country in foreign lands, just as they did,
without a thought except to do a good job, the best you can and to get home to loved ones.

Thank God for "OLD GEEZERS."

posted 07-30- 01:20 PM               

My great Uncle was with the Chindits in Burma.
To think what hell he must have seen, yet whenever I met with him, he was quiet, kind and reserved. The quiet confidence, and horror, of men who have seen the absolute limits - and overcome them....not for themselves but others.

'They gave all their todays for all our tommorrows'

Let us hope never again.

Jonners.

posted 07-31- 05:09 PM               

Scotty told me how he got his DFC. They got shot up pretty bad and some wires were severed that controled most of the controls. They had three choices; ditch in the ocean, ditch in enemy territory and walk over the mountains to free land, or fix the wires.

Scotty said he was 17 and hated to walk so he climbed out on the catwalk in the bombay with the doors stuck open. All the wires where white! He said it took awhile but he finally got the correct wires connected and things once again worked. They landed and he was later awarded the DFC (Distinqushed Flying Cross)

One more from Scotty. They were testing engine out takeoffs and there was a severe crosswind. They bomber got light and drifted off the runway into the dead left engine. A parked bomber was coming up fast in front of them so the pilot firewalled the plane and held it on the ground up to the last possible minute. He than jerked the stick back and the B-17 mushed up and over the parked bomber, landing on the other side. The calm pilot than proceded to take off.

Scotty has more and we talk frequently. I am proud to know him and proud that he wants to share his stories with me.

Oh, by the way, Scotty is a Ski instructor and owns and runs a petting zoo!

Hawk www.rcwarbirds.com