11th hour, 11th day, 11th month - The Firearms Forum

armedandsafe · 11-11-2012, 02:59 PM

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent. The soldiers quietly climbed out of their trenches and looked across the lines warily. Then they carefully withdrew to begin the slow process of putting their lives back together.

At about 14:00 hours that day, a young man, 17 years old, who had enlisted at the age of 14 was riding his motorcycle down a back road in France, heading for Headquarters with messages from the front lines. His rear wheels skidded a bit on a corner and tripped a mine which had been planted in the side of the road. He was badly injured and the motorcycle was totally wrecked.

He picked up the courier bag and set off, limping, for Headquarters, which was in sight in the hollow below him. By the time he got to the encampment, he was crawling, but he delivered the messages.

After many months, he was returned to his family, missing his left arm at the shoulder, a large bit of his left thigh and about half of his left foot. It took many more months before he was full able to survive on his own. He managed to get some more education and supported himself and his wife and children doing office and accounting work. His final job was with the Boulder Dam construction project in Boulder City, Nevada. He then retired to a little house on Avenue I, in Boulder City.

While he lived there, he befriended and mentored a child who lived next door. He taught him how to garden in that desert climate, how to do things that required 3 hands, as he did things which required 2 hands. He taught him how to shape wood with basic hand tools and produce fine products for loved ones. He taught him how to look at rocks as more than flinging-at-birds objects. He taught him how to ask very personal questions without prying into very personal parts of a person's life.

Rest in Peace, Jim Salee. I loved you, though I didn't know how to show it well.

Pops (Bobby)

BlackEagle · 11-11-2012, 04:02 PM

Thanks for the story, Pops.

berto64 · 11-11-2012, 05:46 PM

Sounds like an extraordinary gentlemen. God rest his soul.

jack404 · 11-11-2012, 05:52 PM

Rest Easy ALL who have served

Lest We Forget

76Highboy · 11-11-2012, 06:06 PM

WOW!!! That story is humbling and inspiring. Thanks pops.

red14 · 11-11-2012, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berto64

Sounds like an extraordinary gentlemen. God rest his soul.

Yes he is, and so was Jim Salee.

mjp28 · 11-11-2012, 08:18 PM

Great tribute.

Plus I bet a whole lot of people do not really know what 11/11 really means at all.

68c15 · 11-11-2012, 10:09 PM

if society had 1/2 of Jim Salee's fortitude we would be in great shape. you are luck to have been blessed with his presence.

rosierita · 11-12-2012, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68c15

if society had 1/2 of Jim Salee's fortitude we would be in great shape. you are luck to have been blessed with his presence.

Amen!

polishshooter · 11-12-2012, 09:05 PM

Thanks for the Great story from the Great War.

11-11-2012, 02:59 PM	#1
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	11th hour, 11th day, 11th month At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent. The soldiers quietly climbed out of their trenches and looked across the lines warily. Then they carefully withdrew to begin the slow process of putting their lives back together. At about 14:00 hours that day, a young man, 17 years old, who had enlisted at the age of 14 was riding his motorcycle down a back road in France, heading for Headquarters with messages from the front lines. His rear wheels skidded a bit on a corner and tripped a mine which had been planted in the side of the road. He was badly injured and the motorcycle was totally wrecked. He picked up the courier bag and set off, limping, for Headquarters, which was in sight in the hollow below him. By the time he got to the encampment, he was crawling, but he delivered the messages. After many months, he was returned to his family, missing his left arm at the shoulder, a large bit of his left thigh and about half of his left foot. It took many more months before he was full able to survive on his own. He managed to get some more education and supported himself and his wife and children doing office and accounting work. His final job was with the Boulder Dam construction project in Boulder City, Nevada. He then retired to a little house on Avenue I, in Boulder City. While he lived there, he befriended and mentored a child who lived next door. He taught him how to garden in that desert climate, how to do things that required 3 hands, as he did things which required 2 hands. He taught him how to shape wood with basic hand tools and produce fine products for loved ones. He taught him how to look at rocks as more than flinging-at-birds objects. He taught him how to ask very personal questions without prying into very personal parts of a person's life. Rest in Peace, Jim Salee. I loved you, though I didn't know how to show it well. Pops (Bobby) -->

11-11-2012, 04:02 PM	#2
BlackEagle Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,154	Re: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month Thanks for the story, Pops.

11-11-2012, 05:46 PM	#3
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,385	Re: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month Sounds like an extraordinary gentlemen. God rest his soul. __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God.

11-11-2012, 05:52 PM	#4
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month Rest Easy ALL who have served Lest We Forget

11-11-2012, 06:06 PM	#5
76Highboy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Meridian, Idaho Contributor Posts: 6,932	Re: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month WOW!!! That story is humbling and inspiring. Thanks pops.

11-11-2012, 08:18 PM	#7
mjp28 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: anytown, OHIO Contributor Posts: 3,047	Re: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month Great tribute. Plus I bet a whole lot of people do not really know what 11/11 really means at all.

11-11-2012, 10:09 PM	#8
68c15 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 2,049	Re: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month if society had 1/2 of Jim Salee's fortitude we would be in great shape. you are luck to have been blessed with his presence. __________________ I'll go defenseless when our leaders do the same

11-12-2012, 09:05 PM	#10
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month Thanks for the Great story from the Great War. __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.