A TRUE Hero has left us....

maicocd wrote:

I was out in the garage the other night tinkering with the bikes on a cold winter night and saw Maj. Winter's book sitting on the...

I was out in the garage the other night tinkering with the bikes on a cold winter night and saw Maj. Winter's book sitting on the shelf next to all my MX and Supercross DVD's.
I think I had it out there on the shelf from unpacking from a riding trip out west a few years ago when I read it on the plane.

I saw the book and thought to myself that I should read it again.

He reminded me of my grandfather in so many ways.
My grandfather was there too and saw and lived an existance I could never really ever begin to imagine having to face myself.
Like my grandfather, you got the distinct impression that they didn't feel like the world owed them a thing for their service.
That generation seemed to be happy to be able to come home alive, work hard, raise a family, not complain, and just move forward.
My grandfather rarely, if ever, spoke of his service. Even if I prodded him for information, the best I might get back was just a funny story of he and his buddies and what I now understand to be the brotherhood that they shared together.
I'm sure not much unlike Maj. Winters and his men in Band of Brothers.

I never got to thank my grandfather. I never got to thank Maj.Winters. And I'm upset at myself that I didn't shake the hand of the old timer wearing a red Marines cap with "Iwa Jima" on it at WalMart a year or so back.
Moving forward, I hope to say "thank you" and shake the hand of those that are still with us that I get the chance to thank.

RIP Maj. Dick Winters
RIP Mst. Sargent Henry R. Dixon (aka "Granddad")