The Letter
The Highway Patrolman was very suspicious of Giffird’s story, so he called the Mountain View Police Department and asked them to check on Mr. McCumber at the address on the vehicle registration. Police dispatch sent an officer immediately. When he arrived at the apartment, the officer asked Mr. McCumber if Giffird had harmed him in any way.
The elderly man invited him into his home and quickly retrieved an envelope addressed to Giffird. He asked the officer to open it and read what was inside. It was a “Thank You” card with a small handwritten note:
“Giffird, I got your name from Mrs. Satin, the owner of the Flying Bridge Motor Inn, in Oceanside, California. She informed me that you were the mysterious Marine that I have been searching for. You saved the life of my good friend and fellow Marine in the parking lot of her restaurant. I was also saddened to hear about the loss of your platoon members. Please contact me if there is ever anything I can do to repay you for your service to The Marine Corps. Forever Grateful, General Lemuel Shepherd”
Mr. McCumber then told the police officer that while Giffird was staying in his apartment, he had found the card with the note in a book that Giffird had borrowed from him and returned when he had finished reading it. The older man said he decided to call General Shepherd directly and tell him that Giffird had fallen on hard times.
Mr. McCumber went on to explain that a couple of weeks later, after he had spoken to the General on the phone, he received an envelope filled with cash and a note from General Shepherd asking him to give the money to Giffird, but under the condition that his identity would remain anonymous.
Something told the police officer to ask Mr. McCumber if he had a photo of Giffird. The older man said, “I have a Polaroid of him on my refrigerator”. The police officer followed Mr. McCumber into his kitchen where he pulled a photo from the fridge. The officer stared at the photo, his eyes widening. “This guy was my Platoon leader. The last time I saw him was in the Philippines, and it was just this morning I told my wife at the breakfast table that I was hoping that our paths would cross again someday.” Mr. McCumber just smiled.
Giffird did go on from there to rebuild his life, always remembering how miraculously God intervened through the various people he encountered in his life. He continues with his mission of sharing his childhood connection to the “Spirit of Giving,” as well as preserving and protecting our Nation’s history and culture by planting seeds of hope along “The Heritage Trail.”
___________________________________________________
Giffird is somewhere on the Heritage Trail of America today,
spreading Hope and Helping Those in Need
through The Spirit of Giving!
___________________________________________________
Copyright 2008 -2022, Mathias / Heritage Trail Mission Ministry
The Highway Patrolman was very suspicious of Giffird’s story, so he called the Mountain View Police Department and asked them to check on Mr. McCumber at the address on the vehicle registration. Police dispatch sent an officer immediately. When he arrived at the apartment, the officer asked Mr. McCumber if Giffird had harmed him in any way.
The elderly man invited him into his home and quickly retrieved an envelope addressed to Giffird. He asked the officer to open it and read what was inside. It was a “Thank You” card with a small handwritten note:
“Giffird, I got your name from Mrs. Satin, the owner of the Flying Bridge Motor Inn, in Oceanside, California. She informed me that you were the mysterious Marine that I have been searching for. You saved the life of my good friend and fellow Marine in the parking lot of her restaurant. I was also saddened to hear about the loss of your platoon members. Please contact me if there is ever anything I can do to repay you for your service to The Marine Corps. Forever Grateful, General Lemuel Shepherd”
Mr. McCumber then told the police officer that while Giffird was staying in his apartment, he had found the card with the note in a book that Giffird had borrowed from him and returned when he had finished reading it. The older man said he decided to call General Shepherd directly and tell him that Giffird had fallen on hard times.
Mr. McCumber went on to explain that a couple of weeks later, after he had spoken to the General on the phone, he received an envelope filled with cash and a note from General Shepherd asking him to give the money to Giffird, but under the condition that his identity would remain anonymous.
Something told the police officer to ask Mr. McCumber if he had a photo of Giffird. The older man said, “I have a Polaroid of him on my refrigerator”. The police officer followed Mr. McCumber into his kitchen where he pulled a photo from the fridge. The officer stared at the photo, his eyes widening. “This guy was my Platoon leader. The last time I saw him was in the Philippines, and it was just this morning I told my wife at the breakfast table that I was hoping that our paths would cross again someday.” Mr. McCumber just smiled.
Giffird did go on from there to rebuild his life, always remembering how miraculously God intervened through the various people he encountered in his life. He continues with his mission of sharing his childhood connection to the “Spirit of Giving,” as well as preserving and protecting our Nation’s history and culture by planting seeds of hope along “The Heritage Trail.”
___________________________________________________
Giffird is somewhere on the Heritage Trail of America today,
spreading Hope and Helping Those in Need
through The Spirit of Giving!
___________________________________________________
Copyright 2008 -2022, Mathias / Heritage Trail Mission Ministry