DONALD SPOKE

DONALD SPOKE

By Andy Weddington

Wednesday, 23 November 2022

Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato

Already, at least some heads are exploding!

Easy does it.  

Not that Donald. 

Yesterday midday I dined early Thanksgiving in an assisted living home. 

Our party of three seated at one end of an eight feet table in a small private room. 

A party of three claimed the other end. One of them clearly older and in a wheelchair.

During the meal conversation, light and low, remained at either end.

After dessert mention of the year 1926 at our end caught the attention of Jane seated at the opposite head. 

Jane, nodding to the older gent in the wheelchair to her port, said, "My dad was born in 1926."

And then she said something that caught my attention.

"He fought in World War II. The Marianas."

"What branch of service?"

"He's a Marine."

Donald smiled.

My wife, nodding to me at her starboard, said, "This guy's a Marine," and repeated "Semper fi" - louder - a couple times because Donald could not hear and asked, "WHAT?" And still at a loss he came back with a great reply, "Yes, I'd like more pie."

Laughter!

Finally, Semper Fi got through.  

And, Donald, big grin, held up his arms as if shouldering a rifle. 

Muscle memory. 

He was an 18 years old infantryman.

Now with dementia and hard of hearing, despite aids, his daughter was able to get a few bits of history from him. 

He was overseas 1944-1946. 

Fought. 

As quick summary, the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign was battles on Saipan, Guam, and Tinian (among other objectives) - June through August 1944 - paving way for airstrips to be built to bomb Japan's mainland. 

More than 67,000 Japanese killed. 

United States losses about 12% of the enemy's. 

Brutal.  

Donald survived. 

His older brother, a B-25 pilot in the European Theater, also survived. Think about it, he was 21 piloting an airplane, with crew, through hell.

He died, mind in tact and driving to the end, a year ago age 99. 

Home from war, Donald attended a prestigious University in the northeast earning a degree in forestry. And that his life's work in the south - North Carolina - where he raised his family.

Donald tired and asked to return to his room. 

As a gentleman a couple decades Donald's junior wheeled him by, Donald, looking me in the eye extended his right hand for a shake. He still has a grip. 

My god, how fortunate America to produce men like Donald. His brother. And the likes of them. 

Semper fi.

Happy Thanksgiving!