Semper Fi

The last week in June, Senator Michael Bennet came to Happy Valley for a stop on a whirlwind tour for his campaign to remain a US Senator. The stop included a tour of low-income housing in GJ, a meet and greet with a discharged soldier who got into one of the Housing Authority's apartments with his 3 girls (mom said goodbye and hit the road as soon as he got back from Iraq), and a meet and greet and photo opp with an elderly retired Marine who also lives in a GJHA apartment.

Harold E. Thompson. He got about 90 seconds with the Senator. I think the Senator would have enjoyed more time with him, but his staffers had to stay on schedule. So for a bit, Harold just stood there with nobody paying attention to him. That was just not right.

So I went up and introduced myself, and thanked him for his service. Asked him when he served. He told me he was an "in-between Marine", meaning he served after WWII and before Korea. He was stationed on Okinawa, and his division was training to go back to Iwo Jima to capture or kill the last Japanese soldiers that were still holding their positions, refusing to believe that US forces had taken the island.

He fell in love with a Navy nurse, married her after they were both discharged, ans both went to school on the GI Bill and became teachers. She, of course, made $1,000 less per year than he did. And he made only $5,000 per year. Sweated through buying a house and wondering how they would make the $75 per month mortgage payment. Raised two boys, and both taught for 40 years before retiring, and he lost his bride to cancer.

I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with him. I took a picture of him and the Senator together. Cropped it nicely, printed a 5x7 and put it in a nice frame and had Jody's staff get it to him.

Yesterday I received a thank you note from Harold E. Thompson. He is 83 years old, doesn't know "how those damn computers work", but sent this email:

"I RECEIVED THE VERY NICE FRAMED PHOTO OF THE US SENATOR BENNET AND MYSELF.

THE FRAME WAS VERY LOVELY ALSO. THANK YOU.

HAROLD E. THOMPSON, 4TH DEGREE KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 13621, MEMBER OF GJHA MEMBER ADVISORY BOARD, US MARINE CORPS VETERAN, HONORABLE DISCHARGE, FATHER OF TWO US MARINE SONS LOST SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE IRAQ WAR.

THANK YOU AGAIN AND BEST WISHES.

HAROLD E. THOMPSON"

He had told me while we talked that he'd lost his sons in Iraq. I snapped to and bowed my head when I offered my condolences. And as I shook his hand, he locked my eyes with his and just said "Semper Fi".

One more veteran I will never forget.