Youth is Wasted on the Young...

I started this thought as a comment to some else's post. But it got so involved, I thought I'd make it a post of my own.

I've met many people who seem to be just ordinary, regular people. But if you can take the time to sit down and talk to them, sometimes you can discover amazing stories.

For example, in high school during a debate tournament, I met a debate judge during one of our breaks. He was just a volunteer helping judge the tournament and we sparked a conversation while waiting for the next round.

I don't remember how the subject came up, but this guy tells me he had been close to the guys who put up the flag at Iwo Jima. He wasn't one of those who planted the flag, but he was there, just off camera. He said that he knew all of the guys who planted the flag, and it could have easily been him, just as it could have been any of the marines there that day, to plant the flag as they were ordered to do. When they planted it, of course, none of them had an inkling that it would become such an iconic moment in American history. I found this picture below taken just moments after the more famous one, and like to think that he was in this one, grabbing himself a little well deserved glory. But I have no idea it that's true.

At the time I met this man, I was 17 or 18 and he was in his 70's I would think. I remember thinking it was cool, but not much more. As he shared his story, I didn't even consider that he would have been about my age when he was over in the Pacific fighting. But I think of those things now. I don't remember his name, but over the years, I've often thought about him and his story. I wish that I had gotten his name, maybe stayed in touch and got more first hand stories. Extraordinary stories from ordinary people are out there, if we can just take the time and show the interest to find them.

But that opportunity, at least for this man's story, was lost to me decades ago. And, like my opportunity to know more, he is now assuredly gone now too. Sad.

As they say, youth is wasted on the young...

(image sources: Top image: National Geographic. Lower image: Marine Corps Times)