http://www.cal-moaa.org/blog/2007/01/14/such-generosity/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:39:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.6 http://www.cal-moaa.org/blog/2007/01/14/such-generosity/#comment-283 Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:45:16 +0000 http://www.cal-moaa.org/blog/2007/01/14/such-generosity/#comment-283 Last night on TV, I caught a heart rendering portrayal of a young marine who lives today thanks to our military doctors. After many surgeries, he is able to talk, see and hear but his facial features are now unbelievably twisted and scarred into a cruel caricature of his once handsome appearance. Add to this calamity, the amputation of his left arm. However, this young man was blessed with a loyal and supportive fiancee and credits her with his will to survive. The couple have recently married and the TV program showed clips from their full military wedding. A happy pair who had already taken on so much about to launch into a life of wedded bliss. I could not help but think of how much respect and help this young couple deserves from all of us. Hopefully, a contributory fund will be established to assist these newlyweds in alleviating immediate financial concerns. For me this also brought back a remembrance of a friends WWII wounds and facial disfigurement. His name was George ""Buck"" Gillespie from Alturas, California. A grenade explosion during the invasion of Italy cost him the sight of both eyes. In his case as in the young Marine’s case, many surgeries were performed after Buck was stabilized and returned to California. However, being blind, Buck didn’t worry about his looks. He wouldn’t let his blindness get in his way. He built a two car garage by himself and in the process fell off the roof. Fortunately he only broke an ankle and not his undaunted spirit. It was during this time that I first got to know Buck and my house in Gardena, CA became the poker session location for him and a half a dozen other blinded veterans, utilizing Braille playing cards and bowls to hold the chips. Buck wasn’t one for self-pity. He had a strong desire to help other disabled veterans. He frequently criss-crossed the USA visiting and providing encouragement to others. Before long, he became the head of the Blinded Veterans of America in Washington D.C. As destiny would have it I too left California and was stationed at BuShips at the same time he moved to the area. Daily we boarded the same bus on Lee Highway in Arlington, VA for the trip to downtown Washington. How wonderful it was back then to share experiences with a man who was making a difference. Buck eventually settled in Connecticut and I in California Then about ten years ago, I received a welcomed phone call. Buck would soon be visiting in Southern California and hoped we could get together. Well, of course, I was ecstatic about seeing my old friend again and we had a great time during which Buck introduced me to the joys of vegetarian pizza. Buck passed away a few years later. He died while attending a Blinded Veterans Reunion in Washington D.C. He was an inspiration to all of us and I wonder at the words of wisdom he might have had for the young marine whose story went across the airwaves last evening. Last night on TV, I caught a heart rendering portrayal of a young marine who lives today thanks to our military doctors. After many surgeries, he is able to talk, see and hear but his facial features are now unbelievably twisted and scarred into a cruel caricature of his once handsome appearance. Add to this calamity, the amputation of his left arm. However, this young man was blessed with a loyal and supportive fiancee and credits her with his will to survive.
The couple have recently married and the TV program showed clips from their full military wedding. A happy pair who had already taken on so much about to launch into a life of wedded bliss. I could not help but think of how much respect and help this young couple deserves from all of us. Hopefully, a contributory fund will be established to assist these newlyweds in alleviating immediate financial concerns.
For me this also brought back a remembrance of a friends WWII wounds and facial disfigurement. His name was George “”Buck”" Gillespie from Alturas, California. A grenade explosion during the invasion of Italy cost him the sight of both eyes. In his case as in the young Marine’s case, many surgeries were performed after Buck was stabilized and returned to California. However, being blind, Buck didn’t worry about his looks. He wouldn’t let his blindness get in his way. He built a two car garage by himself and in the process fell off the roof. Fortunately he only broke an ankle and not his undaunted spirit.
It was during this time that I first got to know Buck and my house in Gardena, CA became the poker session location for him and a half a dozen other blinded veterans, utilizing Braille playing cards and bowls to hold the chips.
Buck wasn’t one for self-pity. He had a strong desire to help other disabled veterans. He frequently criss-crossed the USA visiting and providing encouragement to others. Before long, he became the head of the Blinded Veterans of America in Washington D.C.
As destiny would have it I too left California and was stationed at BuShips at the same time he moved to the area. Daily we boarded the same bus on Lee Highway in Arlington, VA for the trip to downtown Washington. How wonderful it was back then to share experiences with a man who was making a difference.
Buck eventually settled in Connecticut and I in California Then about ten years ago, I received a welcomed phone call. Buck would soon be visiting in Southern California and hoped we could get together. Well, of course, I was ecstatic about seeing my old friend again and we had a great time during which Buck introduced me to the joys of vegetarian pizza.
Buck passed away a few years later. He died while attending a Blinded Veterans Reunion in Washington D.C. He was an inspiration to all of us and I wonder at the words of wisdom he might have had for the young marine whose story went across the airwaves last evening.

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