Day 281

2/21/23

Lilly and I sat at the feet of our treasured 99-year-old friend on a winter morning. After helping him change the batteries in his hearing aids, we settled in for a visit. His stories are always rich and amazing, but this day was spellbinding!

As we walked down Memory Lane, Lilly curled up at his feet and I perched on a chair as close as I could get! Our Harmonica Man went from one story to another until finally, he had me practically holding my breath!

Back in 1945, he was stationed close to the island of Okinawa preparing for some unknown military maneuver. Evidently, the troops had been ordered to stay close to the barracks, so there was not much chance to visit or wonder about tomorrow.

One evening, they were allowed to stroll close to the buildings, so our friend set out to enjoy the night air. He noticed a lone figure leaning up against a tree and sauntered over to make a new friend. As he approached the man, he realized he was encountering a national treasure. Although no introduction was necessary, the gentleman offered his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Ernie Pyle."

He invited dear Don to sit with him for awhile and began asking questions...taking notes. Before the evening was over, Ernie Pyle told our friend that he wanted to write about Don's experiences and, when he got back to the stateside, he promised to look up Don's beloved wife Edith and stop by for a visit.

As they parted, another handshake was exchanged, but this time it was filled with the warmth of friendship.

Don discovered the mission he was destined to make was to help take back the island of Okinawa. As his ship drew closer and closer to land, snipers began a relentless barrage of bullets. As the snipers targeted the incoming boat they took aim with a vengeance. Their bullets ripped through the boat like tiny spears and took the lives of some of his buddies. Don decided the only way to he might survive was to jump overboard and swim ashore. He swam underwater until he reached shallow water and then played a game of "cat and mouse" with the snipers who were inland. Running from cover to cover, he eventually arrived at a U. S. position with other military.

Of course, he made it through that terrifying event and many more to eventually return to his sweet Edith.

However, Ernie Pyle never had the chance to write about my friend or meet sweet Edith. Unlike Don, who avoided the sniper's bullets, the correspondent met with an untimely death on the nearby island of Ie Shima, as a sniper's bullet found its mark.

As Lilly and I left our friend, he reached out for our usual hug. This time, I looked into his eyes and said, "I am so glad you made it home. If you hadn't, I wouldn't be able to be here right now loving you."

What a privilege to sit at his feet.