Preface

The following are the memories of a tired and old, but proud Marine. I am glad that at 18 years of age he made the choice to defend his country and insure the freedoms that we now enjoy. He could not have known that this decision would effect the rest of his life. The things he saw, the things he did all had a profound effect on the decisions that would later be made in his life. He had chosen to sacrifice his youth because of the great cause of freedom, in later years he would sacrifice to provide for his family. The story told here is just one of many that occurred during this time in American History and to this generation, but it is his story, told in his words. He was truly an American Hero then as told by this remarkable story. He remains today a hero to all of his family. He loves his country and he loves his family. We will forever be grateful for his sacrifice both on and off the battlefield.

Stanley M. Nations

Iwo Jima - One Man Remembers
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Night Watch by Roy Popkin - 02/22/01
Stan Nations

A nurse took the tired anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand.

The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.

All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.

Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her. "Who was that man?" he asked.

The nurse was startled, "He was your father" she answered. "No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life." "Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"

"I knew right away, there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me. I stayed."

The next time someone needs you...be there. Stay. You'll be glad you did.

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