Good for Ann-Margret!!! (Copied)

nunn

Ann Margret and Her GentlemenRichard, my husband, never really talked a lot about his time in Viet Nam other than he had been shot by a sniper. However, he had a rather grainy, 8X10 black & white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann Margret with Bob Hope in the background that was one of his treasures.A few years ago, Ann Margret was doing a book signing at a local bookstore. Richard wanted to see if he could get her to signthe treasured photo so he arrived at the book store at 12 o'clock for the 7:30 signing. When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the bookstore,circled the parking lot, and disappeared behind a parking garage.Before her appearance, bookstore employees announced that she would sign only her book, and no memorabilia would be permitted. Richard was disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her know how much those shows meant to lonely GI's so far from home.Ann-Margret came out looking as beautiful as ever and, as 2nd in line, it was soon Richard's turn. He presented the book forher signature and then took out the photo with many shouts from employees that she would not sign it.Richard said, "I understand. I just wanted her to see it".She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she said, "This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly will sign his photo. I know whatthese men did for their country and I always have time for 'my gentlemen.'" With that, she pulled Richard across the table and planted a big kiss on him. She then made quite a to do about the bravery of the youngmen she met over the years, how much she admired them, and how much she appreciated them.There weren't too many dry eyes among thoseclose enough to hear. She then posed for pictures and acted as if he was the only one there.Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet. When I asked if he'd like to talk about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears. "That's the first time anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army," he said.Richard, like many others, came home to people who spit on him and shouted ugly things at him. That night was a turning point for him. He walked a little straighter and, for the first time in years, was proud to have been a Vet. I'll never forget Ann-Margret for her graciousness andhow much that small act of kindness meant to my husband.I now make it a point to say 'Thank You' to every person I come across who served in our Armed Forces. Freedom does not come cheapand I am grateful for all those who have served their country. If you'd like to pass on this story, feel free to do so. Perhaps it will help others to become aware of how important it is to acknowledge the con- tribution our service people make.I hope this gets around to Jane Fonda!God Bless Our Armed Forces!

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Certified SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of the General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the premier gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net Jesus is Lord!

idsman75

nunn--Thank you for this post. It sent shivers down my spine and reminds me of the ex-Green Beret that I met the other day at the gas station. He saw me in my uniform and we got to talking. He jumped into Panama, served in Somalia and fought in Desert Storm. You can always tell who has made great sacrifice in the name of freedom because they are the ones that won't toot their horn and puff out their chest. Silent professionals who, in their own minds, did nothing but their duty. Thanks to you who have served and continue to serve.

Iconoclast

That includes you, idsman. Nice to know there are some folks in the entertainment industry who appreciate the courage and sacrifice of those have served and / or are serving our country.

Norman Dog

Speaking of "silent professionals", did you see the HBO series "Band of Brothers"? One of the things that really stands out in my mind about that show was when the actual people that the show was based on were being interviewed at the end - none of those guys considered himself to be a hero. They kept saying "I'm not a hero, those boys who never came back are the heroes." Even the guy standing there on one leg was saying that.My father-in-law is the same way. I had no idea that he served in the Pacific during WW2 until one evening when I was telling him about how much I enjoyed the latest Clancy novel. He started telling stories about his Navy days. Nothing boastful, just interesting anecdotes about target practice or accidentally coming within eyesight of Japan one morning. Later, my wife said that she had never heard anything about his service - he just didn't talk about it. He doesn't consider himself a hero.I did a little research and found that his ship - the Marcus Island - was a little escort carrier involved in the battle for Leyte Gulf and the Battle Off Samar. In a nutshell, those escort carriers held off the main Japanese Naval group and kept them from bombarding the american landing while Halsey (with the main American naval force) was tricked into chasing the Japanese diversionary fleet. All those guys are heroes in my book - they saved the day of a key action!

pikeal1

Band of Brothers was a great series. I'm waiting for them to put it out on DVD so I can buy it. I was saddened to hear that about a month of two after the end of the series aired, Carwood Lipton passed away. After seeing the series, it was tough to see another great one go. One of the lines that stand out the most from the series is when they interviewed Maj. Winters during the documentary part of the series, he said his grandson had asked him if he was a hero, he said "no, but i served in a company of heroes".God Bless them

mudge

David....Great piece.Jane Fonda couldn't BEGIN to understand.Mudge the patriot

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I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!

Lowrider

Great story. 'Bout time Viet Nam Vets got some recognition.I related this in another thread a few months back but it's worth saying again. Lt. Buck Compton from the real band of brothers lives just up the road from me. I've had the privilege of talking to him on several occasions and he's just one great old guy. Must be about eighty years old and sharp as a tack. A big ol' bruiser too. Looks like he could still tear your * up if he had a mind to.Since the HBO series aired he's become a local hero. Always MC'ing some function, or Grand Marshall of a parade or something like that. He even threw out the first pitch at a Seattle Mariners playoff game.Too bad those guys are all but gone. Another 10 or 15 years and there won't be a WWII vet left alive.

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Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.

pikeal1

Lowrider, I wish I could meet but one of those brave men shown on the series. I watched it every time they showed it, reruns or not. couldn't get enough. Kinda felt like I knew them when it was all over.

PDF.44

LowriderI agree with you. I saw "We Were Soldiers" the day it came out, not a dry eye in the house. I also watched Bill O`Riley`s interview with Mel Gibson and also agree with him "hate the war but love the soldier" God Bless our Men and Women in uniform. By the way my tears were for the Soldiers not the actors.

timberbeast

Damn straight, Ann-Margret!!!I ain't fonda Hanoi Jane!Just finished reading "Flags of Our Fathers" about Iwo Jima, about the guys in the famous photo. It was a replacement flag, they weren't under fire at the time, and none of the six considered themselves heroes. Three died in the next month, as Suribachi was only the beginning. The author's father was one, and his family never knew that he won the Navy Cross as a corpsman, until after he died I believe in '98. He never spoke of it.I know a guy who took his troops into hell in VN and came out alive. The only thing he'll say is that it's his fault that "his boys" were killed.My gramps was in both World Wars, and a "hero" but he spoke of it seldom, except for his favorite story of how a kindly farmer gave him and "his boys" a pig's head one day and how it was the best meal he ever had in his life. He lost half of "his boys" later that day. He ignored his own wounds until he was captured.Ain't never been to war. Don't want to.God Bless all Vets.Thank you.