An amazing man found alive.......just one example of why some stayed.

[GumboYaYa]

Watching New Orleans be destroyed is some of the most pain I have ever experienced. It was made worse by the knowledge that some of my best friends were trapped in the flood waters.

When I was in college I was befriended by an older black man who was a regular at the bar where I worked. He became almost like a parent to me, protecting me through some of the most vulnerable times in my life.

The story never was clear to me, but somehow he had saved the life of the owner of the bar and had a running tab. He never paid for anything.

His story is amazing and one day I may tell it all to you guys. The Readers digest version is that he joined the army at 16, became one of the first black paratroopers in the 101st airborne and fought his way back from behind German lines (where they dropped the black folks) many timnes. Ater the war he became the Army boxing champion. When his time in the army was over, he moved back to New Orleasn and had two girls. When he and his wife split he got custody of the girls and raised them as a single father. After losing part of a hand in a machine accident he was left unemployable in many respects so he learned to play pool to support his girls. They turned into beautiful young ladies and now have their own families.

A few years ago his daughter was in a car accident and was crippled. He has taken care of her since. On Sunday night before the storm hit we begged him to leave, but he had no way to get his daughter out so he stayed. His home was in the area hardest hit by the floods. For most of last week we looked everywhere for him. None of his friends or family had heard anythig. We assumed he was
lost and I have been absolutely distraught b/c of it.

This morning I found out that he was evacuated to Arkansas yesterday. We are going to talk later today. He and his daughter survived.

I can not adequately express how happy I am to find out he survivved that hell.

[Misunderestimator]

1. Great story... He sounds like an incredible man.

So glad they survived.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Wow! Thanks for sharing that with us and I am so glad they are ok.

------------------------------------------------------
Save the Gulf, then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[peekaloo]

3. Sweet and beautiful story.

Bless you all!

[progmom]

4. wow. what a great story. i am so happy for your good news.

:hug:

[benburch]

5. May I publish that story elsewhere? nt

[GumboYaYa]

7. If you clean up my typos. It's hard to write well when you are crying and

laughing at the same time.

[benburch]

14. Will do! nt

[MildyRules]

31. Make sure

You tape it too, Ben. Great for history's sake.

[hlthe2b]

6. Sounds like this man has every truly earned the guardian angels

watching over him..I'm happy for him and happy for you. Thanks for sharing.

[MuseRider]

8. I am so pleased

that you have found them. Lucky people to escape, lucky you to have such a friend. Is everyone accounted for now? I hope so.

[GumboYaYa]

12. First, thank you for your note the other day.....

That is the last of my closes friendas and family that we had notheard from. We knew that Joe (that's my friend's name) was in the worst possible spot, so he is the one I was most worried about. I also knew how tough that old bird is, so a part of me knew he would survive even the worst circumstances.

[MuseRider]

16. I am so glad to hear it.

I hope you find that Joe is well and his daughter is well. Tough old bird? Gotta love the tough old birds. I am so glad after all of the things he has been through he was able to survive this as well. He has angels on his sholders for certain.

Thanks for my first smile of the day. This one will last a while.

[kikiek]

9. Thanks for sharing that. That is a nice and happy ending from tragedy. I

bet he finds his way back to NO when the time is right. There is so much fighting going on here and in the country you can lose sight of what matters. Your story refreshes my spirit.

[myrna minx]

10. Wow-I would love to read his autobiography.

He sounds like an amazing person. I am glad that he and his daughter are alive and well. :hug:

[meganmonkey]

11. Thanks for the story

:cry: <--happy tears

[Skidmore]

13. Poverty is one reason people didn't leave. However, I've

wondered how many stayed because they weren't physically or mentally able to negotiate an evacuation, or how many stayed for a loved one who could not do so. How many were elderly, or very young.

I'm so glad your friend made it through with his daughter. What a great father!

[MADem]

18. Many stayed because they would not leave their pets

Hell, I can relate to that, too.

[gorbal]

21. There were whole nursing homes flooded

When people see the bodies in wheelchairs strewn about they will eat their words about "The people who refused to leave"

[leftchick]

25. The coast guard broke through the roof of a HOSPICE!

They found ten people dead and ten people dying. :cry:

[FreedomAngel82]

15. What a great story

I'm so glad he was found and you heard something.

[graywarrior]

17. Thanks. I appreciate that story a lot.

[wryter2000]

19. Thank heaven!

I'm so glad for you and your friend and his daughter.

I was struck last night watching the news at the people who were still in their homes. They looked a hell of a lot better than the people who went for help!

[In Truth We Trust]

20. Kick

[fudge stripe cookays]

22. Yay!

Gumbo, I'm so happy that you're friend is OK, and so is his daughter.

That's the kind of news we need more of.
FSC

[MojoXN]

23. THANK GOD! Every time I hear a story like yours, it lifts my heart...

and chases away this deep despair. I hope that ALL of your friends and loved ones are safe and sound.

MojoXN

[BOHICA06]

24. I'm glad to hear he is alive ... be careful about the 101st Story ..

there were no black airborne units deployed to Europe during WWII. The 555th was not deployed and the 101st was an all white unit until after Truman's desegregation in 1948.

[MildyRules]

29. You are correct

That's a story killer right there.

Make sure the facts are 100% correct; this is well-documented.

[Booster]

26. Is it possible to help this wonderful man in a monetary manner.

I don't have much to give, but would like to send him some money and help him get back on his feet. Your post has touched me deeply and I have been wanted to help somebody with some money but on a personal level rather than just donating to the Red Cross, etc. Thank you for this post; it's encouraging for all of us.

[henslee]

27. Thanks for sharing gumbo... Give him a hug for me.

[CatBoreal]

28. Thank you...

I needed that.

Best wishes to him and his daughter.

[mcscajun]

30. Wow...simply that...Wow.

You really ought to write up this man's story...certainly Someone should.

Just don't give it to Readers' Digest. :)

[K8-EEE]

32. I Have An Unaccounted Friend. When Did His Family Hear??

He surived the storm and got a message out -- but still no word. He was in CNN footage at the convention center Thrus a.m. but still no word. Everyone is becoming so distraught. Are people still being notified and processed now??

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[daninthemoon]

33. Thanks for sharing. That;s the kind of story the B*'s can't understand.