We’ve been in the midst of making a string of home improvement projects at our house.
Monday’s post mentioned we’re NOT DIY people. We’re more like HSE (Hire Someone Else) people which is expensive and basically means we don’t get much done around the house.
Anyway…while at Lowes this weekend, we were looking at some doors and being assisted by a very nice Lowes associate named Steve, who had what looked to be a bionic arm. We figured he’d just had some surgery on his shoulder or elbow or maybe a combination of the two. Honestly we didn’t think much of it other than to notice the contraption on his arm.
He gave us all kinds of advice, shared his expertise and moved with us through the store as we perused different products for projects happening at home.
We finally ended up at the “Project Desk” where he helped us design and get a bid on a deck.
He mentioned saving our project description under another guy’s name since he wasn’t planning to be around. We asked where he was going and he mentioned that he was active duty military and was headed out again. Then I noticed his military haircut and then looked again at his arm.
I didn’t want to be rude, but I HAD to ask about it.
He told us that he’d recently returned from Afghanistan casually explained that his arm had basically been blown apart by an enemy IED. I was stunned. I hear all about IED’s on the Today Show, but I never fully connected the danger to real-life people. People I might meet at Lowes in my own community.
Only because we asked, he told us a little about his recovery and how surgeons had moved the nerve inside his arm which allowed him to recover some sensation in a few of his fingers.
I realized in that moment that we were in the presence of a wounded war hero. I hate to sound all melodramatic about it, but the man almost had his arm blown off and he was getting ready to ship out AGAIN!
If that’s not a hero…what is? This man, and all our Soldiers and their families are amazing people and deserve to be put on a pedestal. I know I couldn’t hack it as the wife of a soldier. I’m too soft. I could barely hold back my tears over his sacrifice for me, and my family and our freedom until he was five steps away from us.
I cried tears of gratitude for his service as we bought our silly little home improvement items from the checker. I sobbed all the way out to the car. Steve and I looked at each other once we were back in the car and asked ourselves what had just happened. Our casual trip to the hardware store had suddenly transformed into an amazing experience where we realized maybe for the first time what selfless service our military members give us on a daily basis whether we realize it or not. We’d met a true war hero.
I felt like I should throw him a parade, or give him a medal or at least buy him dinner. Because we were too stunned by his story the first time around, we ended up going back into the store to properly thank him for his service to our country. I wanted him to know that we appreciated and noticed his courage and sacrifice. Of all the stupid things I take and post pictures of, this was one opportunity for a photo I did not want to miss. A picture with a real-life hero rather than some of the idiots I’ve had photos with in the past.
So here he is, Steve, a Lowes employee, a wounded soldier on the road to recovery, an American Hero. I hope he finds this post. I’m sure he’ll be embarrassed to read it, but I want him to know that we were touched by this experience and were really grateful to have met an inspirational public servant. We wish him well in his recovery and wish the best for his family in his absence.
God Bless the USA.
That was lovely K. Thank you.
Your story made me teary eyed, thank you Steve for your service. Prayers are with him as he travels back to serve and for a recovery from his injury.
It’s truly amazing the sacrifices that these everyday men make for all of us! Thanks for sharing your story♥
I am sure he would be touched, like I am. Great story!
Loved loved this posting. My dad retired Army Col, bro-in-law National Guard Col working in the White House, 2 nephews BYU ROTC, needless to say I get captivated by patriotic stories like this and my heart swells. I think your expression on your face next to Steve’s did for me, proud American.
Amazing!
Yes I believe in HEROS JUST LIKE THIS GUY. THEY GIVE THEIR ALL FOR US AND OUR GOD BLESSED LAND! mY HUBBY, RICHARD WAS ALSO WOUNDED IN A WAR —THE KOREAN WAR. HE WAS SHOT IN THE ARM AND HIS LEG–THEY THOUGHT HE WOULD NEVER HAVE THE USE OF HIS ARM BUT HE DOES PRETTY GOOD WITH IT. HE IS ONE OF MANY MANY HEROS THAT DO SO MUCH FOR ALL OF US——A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU
I like how when you click the link “idiots I’ve had photos with” the first picture that you see is of you and Steve.
I meant to do that.
That’s a true hero, a self-sacrificing, humble, meek, genuine man. May the protection of the Lord be with him in his service. Thanks for finding him among the throngs of people we see each day. You never know what’s someone story unless you get to know them.
Awesome.
Just to clarify, I only incurred a little nerve damage and if I’m put back on active duty – I’ll just be getting medical treatment. I’m not shipping back overseas as I am currently non-deployable. I am not a hero by any means. I appreciate your gratitude for my service but the facts need to be correct. If you want to see a real American Hero, please look up SFC James Thode….he is a true American Hero who gave all for his country on 02 Dec 2010. He will forever be missed.
I appreciate your gratitude and enthusiasm but I am no hero.
No one here buys that you’re no hero. The lesson I learned by meeting you was that there are people all around us quietly serving and sacrificing. Those of us who are unable or unwilling to put ourselves in harms way owe a debt of gratitude to people like you and SFC James Thode for protecting our country and those who can’t protect themselves. That is true no matter how much nerve damage you may or may not have incurred.
Just smile and let us appreciate you and the rest of our service people! I will look up SFC James Thode.
I met the same guy earlier in the day and he also helped up me pick out a door. He did a really good job. He mentioned it was his last day there for a while and we didn’t think to ask more about it. After I got to my car, I realized I left one of my bags at the checkout and went back into to retrieve it. He was walking back out with his street clothes on, ready to leave. He stopped me to ask if there wasn’t something else he could do to help me since I was going back in the store. He seemed genuinely interested in helping any way he could. It is good to learn more about his situation with my sister being more curious about him than I had been. It is nice to know there are still people like him in this world.