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The Old Man by Rajeev Sharma, Strategic Analyst, Columnist, Publishing

The Old Man

By : Rajeev Sharma, Strategic Analyst, Columnist, Publishing
Industry : Publishing Functional Area : Success Stories
Keywords :

motivational

inspirational

Activity:  13 comments  302 views  last activity : 07 20 2011 12:11:13 +0000
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A friend emailed this to me. It is worth reading and ruminating. The story is from America. But it can be any country's story. PLEASE READ ON.



As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.
  
The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying: 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.     

He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'

He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman.

When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'

He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima andGuadalcanal.

He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card. He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife.

I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.

One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.' 

I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave youFREEDOM for America. Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them, and who continue to support them.

 

 

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12 comments on "The Old Man"
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  Commented by  SHRIKANT MANOHAR DANKE, Project Manager, Phadnis Infrastructur Ltd    | 07 20 2011 12:11:13 +0000 
Good one! Thanks fo referral, Murthy Sir.
  Commented by  AJAY KUMAR KHAITAN, Consultant    | 07 03 2011 13:16:33 +0000 
Exposure of Suryanarayan Murthy Part - 4

Actually, I don't mind any amount.... of abuses to me, but I can't accept a Culprit in the Dress of a Saint... to be Respected.

I am ready to sacrifice, but can't allow a Terrorist to move freely ...

Suryanarayan Murthy along with Ardhendu Pal & S K NAHRUL HAQUE were falsely propagandizing, Conspiring, Spying & Manipulating against me and simultaneously praising people like Mr Rajeev Sharma, S. Muralidharan, Raju V P etc to get their sympathy & projecting himself as a Saint.

My point is - A Culprit in the dress of a Saint is more dangerous, becoz he may harm / abuse many Innocents, so it was necessary to undress him, and that is the only reason....that, I wasted so much of my time in exposing him.....

I repeat... if otherwise, people start abusing me ...... indefinitely ....I will never respond.........
  Commented by  AJAY KUMAR KHAITAN, Consultant    | 07 03 2011 07:12:30 +0000 
Venom from Suryanarayan for Munshi Ramchand

Suryanarayan Murthy: You are right Ardhendu, Munshi is neither a munshi nor a muni. Just a fake identity with lot of venegence in him. He can divide south and east, north and west, bihar and bengal, and kashmir and kanyakumari. Let them not speak about Pakistan, they are here un der the disguise of munis and munshis. Good Work Ardhendu.. I support you, I joined RSS at the age of 10 years. I am a true Indian.. unlike these people.
By Suryanarayan Murthy, Asst Vice President (Corporate Finance), A Hydro Power Project  | 9 days ago
 
Wow.  Thank you very for sharing beautiful article.
  Commented by  Sk Naharul Haque, Sr. Plant Engineer    | 06 29 2011 09:30:32 +0000 
I AM SALUTING ALL THE BRAVE AND HONEST PERSON
Rating : -1  
I do not know how this excellent article missed my attention. "Thrilled and Impressed"
  Commented by  Pooja Joshi, HW, HW    | 04 02 2011 10:03:24 +0000
Rating : +1  
Awesome, Beautiful Story.......
Thanks for sharing with us. :)
  Commented by  manish kumar, freelancer    | 04 02 2011 06:52:40 +0000 
wow awesome , thank u sir
  Commented by  Ravindra Sharma, Managing Consultant, CHEF-India    | 04 02 2011 06:10:26 +0000 
Wish and hope we Indians can learn from this part, rather than bare all culture and brash behavior from Americans.
  Commented by  Abinash Ananda Mohanty, Director, Entire Solutions Pvt.Ltd    | 03 28 2011 07:58:55 +0000 
Really, it can be the story of any country.
  Commented by  Priyanka Chandra, Features Content Developer, www.roundedoff.com    | 03 28 2011 06:38:40 +0000 
True..very true.. it can be the story of any country !!
  Commented by  S. Muralidharan, Head, Project Planning/Strategy, Knowledge Foundation    | 03 18 2011 10:26:25 +0000 
Mind boggling article!  Thanks very much for sharing this piece, sir!
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