In our life journey, we sometimes happen across incredible people, that have seen incredible events unfold, and if we are lucky, we can hear history as it really unfolded... I have been one of those lucky enough to meet an individual such as that.. If it does not bore you folks, I will submit a little story that ties into the Paul Mauser history.. It all starts.....
Back in the late 80's early 90's I was a manager of sorts in a rather large boat service shop.. In the spring, we sometimes received enough boat service work to last us all summer much less any reasonable time frame for completion... We also sold and serviced Lawn Boy lawn mowers and we were deluged with them as well.. Well, around lunch time, all the techs took a lunch break and I was all alone at the shop, and in walks an old gentleman pushing a Lawn Boy with the starter rope hanging out of a broken starter! At that point in the day, I already had about 50 service invoices in my hand, and I said to him, I'm the only one here, and I'm about 6 months behind on the service I already have in hand, and I just couldn't help him?.. He replied, that he had a "hire a kid" at home, and was paying him to wait and wasn't there anything I could do? I said, alright, I'm six months behind, I might as well be six months and 30 minutes behind as well, and I will repair your mower...
While I was replacing the recoil spring in his unit, I struck up a conversation about his age and possible WW2 service. Turns out, in WW2 he was a LT. Colonel with the 78th Lightening division, and his battalion were the ones tasked with holding the German side of the Remagen Bridge head! He made it thru unscathed, but had terrific battles in which he participated and was highly decorated as a result, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Bronze Star, etc.
We became good friends and I followed up with him and visited him many time as he would relate his version of WW2. One of the more memorable things was every day I went to see him, he was still receiving mail form his soldiers thanking him for different actions taken by him, that they felt saved their lives? Very much reminiscent of the theme of Saving Private Ryan. One day we were discussing the Remagen battle and he said he set up his CO in Paul Mauser's Vacation home, and actually brought Paul Mauser's personal sword back as a war trophy!
He said that after the war, he managed a motel in Faith South Dakota, and the sword was stolen during that period of time... probably in the late 50's?.. I don't know? Probably still there somewhere?..
Anyway, I was a pall bearer at Mr. Kennedys funeral, and miss him greatly even today... And so it goes... best to all, til...lat'r....GT....
