Posted by rick on November 05, 2001 at 10:01:29:
I found this letter to be very inspiring, I hope you enjoy it.Ralph Limon,USS TelfairI arrived in Moscow, Idaho (Home of Idaho University one block from Best Western) and went to dinner at Best Western. About 85-100 people were in the restaurant. I'm at a table for about 5 minutes when this "Group" comes in (20 people). They have Anti-War Picket signs with them. It appears that two of these demonstrators are Professors. They all sit at a large round table behind me and begin to talk very loudly about US atrocities in Afghanistan.One of the "Professors" stands up and gives a brief talk about how the "US is famous for atrocities" and Afghanistan will be no different. One of the students asked a question about Viet Nam POW's. The "Professor" makes a comment about how that was only US propaganda about poor treatment of POW's.OK - I'm really mad now and I jump up and go over to their table. (In retrospect - Over the entrance to the Restaurant is a huge American Flag. On each table is an American Flag and a small hand painted sign "United We Stand"). I excuse myself and ask the Professor if I can ask him a question. He says yes. I said that he appears to be of age to have served in Viet Nam, and asked him if he had served. His answer was, "NO - I defended this campus and told the truth to the students."I then asked if he remembered what he was doing on February 16, 1969. When he answered, "Of course not - that was too long ago," I responded, "Really. I remember what I was doing. That was the second day of my capture and I had been standing in a bamboo cage for24 hours with water up to my chest". I then said "Sir, your comments about how POW's in Nam were treated are a lie and I personally say to you, you are a liar, as you never were there. I was a POW and they did not treat our POWs humanely. The only other person I have ever heard make the statements like you have is Jane Fonda. Is she telling the truth and notme?"He stood up and after about 10 seconds said, "Jane is a great patriot and I cannot visualize her lying." With that, I reached over and grabbed the small American Flag and United We Stand sign and said, "I'mtaking this back to my table where it can be appreciated." No one said a word to me as I started to walk back. However, after a few seconds, people started standing up and applauding all around the restaurant. Two men got up from a table across the room and walked over to me. The first identified himself as former US Marine Lieutenant Flynn and the other man was former Gunnery Sergeant Graboski. In a loud voice after introducing themselves, Lt. Flynn said they were former Marine Guards at a US Embassy. He then said, "We are over at this table to defend the USFlag from all foes, both foreign and domestic." They then sat down and asked their waitress to bring their meals over to my table.A few more minutes went by with loud comments from the "Anti-War" table. All of a sudden, "Gunny" Sergeant Graboski stood up and in a loud voicesaid, "All of you heard what the President said the other night. You are either with the United States or you are with the terrorists." He then said, "Please stand and join me in God Bless America." As hestarted singing, people all around the restaurant stood up and joined in. Several of the students at the "Anti-War" table also stood up half way through the song and joined in.Both Professors and the majority of the students remained seated and refused to sing. At the end there was a great ovation. The Manager came up to my table. (He and his staff came out from the kitchen andsang). He thanked me for what I started and then went over to the Anti-War table and asked them to leave. "I will pay for what you have had so far but I cannot in good conscience serve you - get out now!!"One of the Professors then made a remark, "Well, we are not going to pay one dime for how shabbily we have been treated." As they were leaving, one customer stood up and said, "Manager, here is $5 towards theirbill, anyone else willing to chip in to get this scum out of here?" All over the restaurant, people stood up reaching for their wallets and saying, "I'll chip in." The Manager, in tears, said, "My family is fromPoland, I am now a citizen and am so proud of what I see tonight." He started crying and a couple of the waitresses helped him into the kitchen.The two Marines and I were there for about another 20 minutes and finished our meal. The Hostess came up and showed us more than $100 dollars that all the other tables had told their waitresses to givetowards our bill. I thanked her but said I could not take the money. Lt Flynn suggested donating it in the restaurant's name to the New York Relief Fund, so Iguess that's what will happen. I just can't believe how Americans are coming together now.Just thought you would like to hear how the rest of the country is reacting to what happened!!!