....One of the best parts of my job is meeting people…… When I am at the end of my life and I'm about to go to “That Great Chevy Showroom in the Sky†– I will once again thank God – that he's allowed me to meet so many wonderful people in the past years - - Yesterday, I met someone for the first time – and it was someone who has unwittingly fascinated me for years. Let me tell you a little bit about “Glennâ€â€¦â€¦. He was born in North Carolina on August 23, 1927……. Married three times – divorced the last time. He told me that he married his last wife in 1977 – and the day after he realized he'd made a mistake! He was a mailman – (he delivered mail to a very young Dale Earnhardt and his family…) he worked in construction -- he was even a Door Man at a well-known hotel. He was a licensed NASCAR driver in the early 60s……..as was a cousin…..the cousin killed in a racing accident in 1991…….. He was the proud father of three children…… He played minor league baseball - - in Emporia – a farm team for the Washington Nationals…..however, he walked away from a promising baseball career as his young son had become very ill……and he needed a father's attention. Glenn is a proud veteran of World War II – where he served in the Navy. He travelled the earth: South America, Cuba, the Mediterranean, Europe – He told me of how his ship would deliver 500 sailors to a location – and bring back 1,000 prisoners of war – and how we treated our prisoners humanely and with a modicum of compassion, compared to the atrocities committed against our men when they were captured by other countries. He talked about how their ship would be escorted from some locations when they had a full load – yet they weren't escorted when the ship was empty – and I can remember my father telling me the same thing – and how they would worry that they could be torpedoed at any moment…..(Dad, too, served in the Navy in WWII - -and he saw many of the same countries and locations that Glenn talks about…) As I sat next to Glenn –he in a wheelchair – me on a bench – he with a cigarette , he told me stories of how they ran into a hurricane -- we forget that back in the 40s, we didn't have radar or satellites to tell us about impending storms – and he told of how he watched ships being torn in half from the horrific waves created by a hurricane. He told me of how he watched as two sailors were swept overboard—of course, in a hurricane, rescue is not an option……and of how he saw two heads bobbing in the waves ……for a short time…….God rest their souls. I'm sure he saw much worse. Listening to my father's stories – the ones he would reluctantly tell…..and the stories that my father's friends would tell…….and my mother's recollections of being stateside during that war…I realize WHY Tom Brokaw christened their generation “The GREATEST Generation.†I don't think most of us realize the horror that they saw or lived with…..and I know most people today don't have any comprehension how the men and women stateside sacrificed in order to conserve materials and goods for the war effort…….many of our young are shocked to hear of how gas, rubber, metal, food, and other necessities were rationed…….we take so much for granted these days…. …and yet my parents' generation – and Glenn is a perfect example – never complained. They realized the horrors of war – but more importantly they realized what could happen if they did not fight for freedom – not only for the United States – but for people worldwide. It infuriates me when I hear people protest a ‘war' – It just seems to me that they are missing the point – and that is that invariably we're fighting to preserve not only OUR freedom – but to win freedom for those in other countries. So – Glenn was a young man who went off to war at a very young age— I'm going to fast forward to two weeks ago -- I came out of one of my endless strings of meetings at GM to find a voice message from a Ms Rene Armstrong of Houston, Texas. She's an author – and a good friend to Mr. Glenn McDuffie…………and she had a story to tell…. She'd heard of the “American Pride Camaro†– and of the incredible artistry of Mickey Harris……..and of the scenes depicted on this Camaro from our various conflicts…….. Back to Glenn……. Glenn found himself in New York City on leave in August of 1945……as he tells me, he was coming out of the Subway – preoccupied because he knew his brother was in a prisoner-of-war camp……… ….and as he came came onto the street in Times Square, people were shouting – …..at first he couldn't quite understand what they were fussing about…….but then he realized -- that the war – miracle of miracles - -was over. And as Paul Harvey would say “…here's the rest of the story…†When he heard this news, he started jumping up and down --shouting for joy……. …………and a young nurse, witnessing his joy, held her arms out to him…….and being that he was a young man, he did what many of us would like to have done….he put his arms around her, bent her over and shared a passionate kiss with her…… …and as he did this, he heard cameras clicking…so he moved his arm into an uncomfortable position -- so that the photographer could get a clear picture of the beautiful nurse's face…… And that picture is a part of “Americana†better known as: “The Kissing Soldier in Times Square.â€â€¦â€¦. ……..and Ms Armstrong was calling to tell me the story of Mr. Glenn McDuffie…… Meanwhile, she'd gotten in touch with Greg Fodness at Mountain Musclecars. Greg provided his shop to Mickey Harris so that Mickey could do his magic on sheetmetal to create the “American Pride Camaro.†She asked him if perhaps Greg could have the Camaro brought to Texas – because you see – on the driver's side front fender, Mickey had airbrushed that famous photograph – and believe me – Mickey captured the ‘magic' of that joyous scene…… And Greg said said to her: “how ‘bout bringing him to the Pentagon?†. . . And so on Thursday morning, Mickey, Greg, their wives, and I brought the “American Pride†Camaro – along with the “Strength and Honor†Camaro into the inner courtyard of the Pentagon……..and suddenly we saw a lovely woman pushing a wheelchair – with an older man in his Sailor's Uniform……….. I blinked back tears -- and I realized that there were many others doing the same thing – as we watched Mr. McDuffie peer at his likeness for the first time on the sheetmetal – …and we witnessed the look in his eyes – and wondered about the imagining in his mind -- going back to such a joyful day after so many years of sacrifice and suffering…….. I watched for several hours as men and women from all branches of our armed services came up to him and shook his hand and thanked him for his service…..and I watched as many women came up and kissed him…....and let me tell you – he evidently hasn't lost his gift of how to kiss a pretty girl! …….and then I remembered reading that over 1,000 World War II veterans die EVERY DAY….. â€The Greatest Generation†is disappearing before our very eyes…….. And so as I type this – I thank God for men like Glenn McDuffie – and the many hundreds of thousands of men and women like him who gave up so much – so that you and I can enjoy the freedoms bestowed upon us. On behalf of everyone at GM - I presented him with an "Honor and Valor" medallion - he got tears in his eyes - and yet I feel that there is so much more that this man deserves - -as do all of our heros in our Armed Services...... Perhaps the least we can do is to thank them at every chance we get -- and let them know that we will NEVER forget! Mr. Glenn McDuffie: Meeting you is one of the highlights of my life. God Bless you. And God Bless America! #ad #ad #ad
That is an amazing story, Scott...you've met one of the true "icons" of American history. That must have been such an honor..... Thanks Scott for sharing, thanks for the Camaro....but most importantly, thanks to those who have served our country (past and present)!!! We owe you a greater debt than we could ever repay. See ya on the road, Matt
Scott, I teared up. Thank you for sharing that story. My cousin just sent me an email yesterday with good pics of that car on it. So, as I was reading I pulled up those pics and WOW! Amazing history on Mr McDuffie (and all our vets) and that car. Thank you Sir.
Wonderful story Scott, What an honor it must have been getting to meet and present Glenn McDuffie with the GM "Honor and Valor" medallion. As the greatest generation is fading it is sad to think that most of todays generation dont have a clue of the word "Sacrifice or Honor" mean. As said so many times before without their sacrifices we would not have the freedoms that we do today. I too thank God for men like Mr. McDuffie and the many men and women like him who gave up so much so that we can enjoy freedom today. Once again, what a wonderful story and thanks for sharing it!
Great story. Let us never forget those who gave their all, many so young, and the families who mourned them....so that I can live the life of freedom I enjoy today. Let us also always honor those who survived and have to live with the ever present memories of pain, suffering and loss of friends. No one can be the same once being in a war zone IMO.
Great read Scott and what an honor to be involved in such a project. I will always have the respect for the veterans and service personel who gave/give to this day. I just realized that the downtown marina in Sarasota, Florida has a statue of this great moment in history. I have to say its really cool and really big. What an awesome experience for ya Scott.
