A few years ago I became acquainted with Bob at the local fitness center. At that time he was still driving his car. I would arrive at 7:30 and he was already leaving because he had been there for the past hour. All I could think was, "Why on earth is this retired guy getting up so darn early? Clue: His license plate.
Once a week we would visit briefly and we got to know each other a little. One day I asked him to tell me about his service to our nation. Predictably he demurred but then he grinned. He said, "I was a Seal before we were called Seals - they just called us frogmen."
He said his service was in the Pacific during the war and missions took place under cover of dark. The frogmen went in the night before an island was to be invaded. "We did our work and then left while it was still dark. As we crossed the beach and headed into the water we always drove a post into the sand with a sign on it. The sign read, "Welcome US Marines" and it was signed underneath, "Navy Frogmen." I could tell he loved telling me that story.
Once a week we would visit briefly and we got to know each other a little. One day I asked him to tell me about his service to our nation. Predictably he demurred but then he grinned. He said, "I was a Seal before we were called Seals - they just called us frogmen."
He said his service was in the Pacific during the war and missions took place under cover of dark. The frogmen went in the night before an island was to be invaded. "We did our work and then left while it was still dark. As we crossed the beach and headed into the water we always drove a post into the sand with a sign on it. The sign read, "Welcome US Marines" and it was signed underneath, "Navy Frogmen." I could tell he loved telling me that story.