Hands Of Hospice

A few raindrops couldn’t dampen these smiles this morning! Was able to deliver meals to some mighty cool folks this morning. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

Spending some time with my new WW2 buddy.

I love working in hospice. I'm able to get to know some remarkable people. However, having to say goodbye to these people doesn't get any easier. I was saddened to learn that a wonderful man is no longer with us. He won't be having a funeral, so I just wanted to share a bit about my good friend.

I never saw this man wearing anything but his trademark overalls. His hands were permanently calloused from decades of grueling manual labor. He loved country music from the 50's-70's and loved showing me the concert photos that he'd taken.

He would greet me the same way during each and every visit. "Hey Matt! I was hoping you'd come see me today! Want some sweet tea? How about some cookies?" He had outlived most of his family and those left weren't able to visit often and that made him sad. He was awarded two bronze stars for his part in the Korean War. He was in charge of supplying ammunition to the frontlines during battle. During one particularly heavy battle, going against company orders, he single-handedly loaded several US servicemen who'd been injured into his supply truck and drove them to safety. He never felt like he deserved those medals and and still lived with the demons of what he saw 70+ years ago.

I can't count the number of times we'd have lunch at his apartment and just talk. He was a hero. He was humble. He was my friend...and I'm sure gonna miss this guy. Rest in Peace to my buddy WS!

I have to give a massive shout-out to the uber talented children at Kings Chapel Elementary, Langston Road Elementary, and Westfield for providing over 200 beautifully homemade Christmas cards. We'll be delivering these heart-felt words of encouragement and care packages to to cancer patients all throughout Central Georgia this week. Prayers for all of those struggling with health ailments this holiday season!

HANDS OF HOSPICE

Having written biographies for almost five years now, I've become known as the guy from Homestead Hospice who writes stories about people’s lives by the residents of many of the facilities I visit. I’m more than okay with that. I’m almost always approached with suggestions about people whom “I should meet and do a story about.” Well, almost a half dozen people told me about JG. Therefore, I figured I’d introduce myself to this popular guy. When I knock on the door of his apartment, I’m invited in, and we immediately start chatting like a couple of old friends. I knew immediately we’d get along just fine.

Born in Cuthbert, Georgia, in 1927, JG was the oldest of three kids. His dad was a WWI Army veteran who owned a country store and garage that sat on the Randolph/Early county line. JG’s mother was a school teacher.

In 1944 JG was named valedictorian of his high school graduating class. JG had hoped to start college; however, his hopes were put on hold because JG was drafted and spent six weeks in Bainbridge, Maryland, at the naval training station. After his training, JG was sent to a naval base in San Francisco, California, and then to a secret location the name of which not even JG knew. “I remember sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, wondering where in the world they were sending me,” he remembers. That covert location would end up being the Agana Bay in Guam. “They set us naval guys up in a tent city. We slept on folded up cots. I was put on guard duty my very first night there. Instead of a rifle, they gave me a billy stick. I could hear the J**s shooting as us from the mountain in which they were hiding. I remember wondering if I was going to make it through the night.”

After a few weeks, JG was assigned aerographer (meteorologist) for his fleet. “I was in charge of looking for enemy ships and sending weather information to fleet central,” JG informs. Soon, he became chief aerographer and was transferred to different ships every few months. JG recalls a scary situation that occurred while he was being transported from one ship to another, via a high-line transfer between the two ships. “The seas were extra choppy this particular day and the cable that was holding me snapped, dropping me and the 80 pounds of equipment I was carrying into the water.” His shipmates rushed to his rescue, but not before the water pressure burst his left ear drum, rendering him completely deaf in that ear. JG would be at sea an entire year before he’d be able set foot on land.

While at sea, JG had no way to communicate with his family back home. The lack of communication strained the nerves of JG’s mother. So after a year of not hearing from JG and fearing that the worst had happened to her oldest boy, JG’s mother suffered a nervous breakdown. JG was allowed to fly home to visit her. “I had travelled all over the world but none of the food I had eaten could beat my mom’s cooking,” he says with a smile.

JG would go on to honorably serve for nearly five years and would be awarded the Distinguished Navy Service Medal, the Outstanding Service Medal, and the Victory Service Medal for his bravery.

Once back home, JG attended Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, majoring in pre-dental studies. While in biology class, JG fell for the woman with whom he’d share the next 70 years of his life. After dating for three months, JG popped the question and she gladly accepted. As JG recalls, “When the two of us informed her father of the news, he yelled at us saying, ‘The Hell you say! My daughter’s going to finish school first!’” The hard feelings didn’t last long and his blessing was eventually given. In fact, JG’s prospective father-in-law even warned JG about the stubbornness of his daughter. “He said, ‘I’m going to warn you, she’s as hard headed as any bull. You’re in for a rough life,’” JG says with a chuckle. “I sure loved that man. Her folks were like second parents to me.” The two lovebirds would soon marry.

After graduation, it became official: JG was now a pharmacist. For the next forty-plus years JG worked all across the state and would go on to become one of the most respected pharmacists in the state of Georgia. He passed his love of pharmacy on to his son who is now also a pharmacist.

Though there have been a lot of happy times in JG’s life, the war-medaled pharmacist has seen his share of heartbreak as well. JG lost one of his two sons along the way, and he lost his wife of 68 years on March 23, 2016. “Matt, losing her almost killed me,” he says sadly as his misty eyes look up at the ceiling. “I wish every day that I could join her. But I’m going to be okay.” In the meantime, my new pal JG is doing his best to keep active and is even looking forward to turning 94 in a few months. As I shake this veteran’s hand and go on my way, I’m ever so thankful for the suggestions to meet JG. Any day you get to meet a war hero is a good day to me.