Watching what's been happening in this country lately, with so many people bellyaching and complaining about how terrible the USA is, how it's so "unfair", etc., etc., I find myself thinking often about my friend John and the American Dream...

John's the son of immigrants, and he's far-and-away the smartest guy I know. His mother, Greta, was German, and his father, Harry, was Latvian. Harry was a college student from a well-to-do family when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. The Wehrmacht expelled the Russians from Latvia...and then drafted young Latvian men into the Waffen SS. Harry fought honorably on the Russian front, surrendered to Americans at war's end, and met Greta when he was interned at a Displaced Persons camp in her town in Germany.

Harry and Greta married and eventually came to the USA, sponsored by his brother who was already here. They landed in Manhattan, on an old Liberty Ship, when Greta was 6-months pregnant with John. They had to pass an English test and health exam in order to immigrate.

They had their clothes and a little money, and a dream. Harry was able to get a job as the building superintendent in a tenement in Spanish Harlem, where they lived. John and his little sister Ann grew up there, and Harry always told them that although they didn't have much money here, they came from educated people, and they were going to get a good education.

Both John and Ann excelled in school, and went to the Bronx High School of Science. Both went to college, and Ann became a language teacher. (Both John and Ann are bi-lingual, and speak German as fluently as they speak English.)

John financed graduate school by working as a baggage handler at LaGuardia Airport...paid for it all himself. He has a PhD in aeronautical engineering; he is, literally, a rocket scientist.

John spent his career with the Defense Department, and helped to develop some of the best-known weapons systems the United States fields. More than 200 people attended his retirement party, and there were more stars and eagles there than you could shake a stick at.

For all his professional achievements and fame, John is still, at heart, that poor kid growing up in the ghetto. He lives modestly, wears jeans and golf shirts, and never, ever refers to himself as "Doctor". He has a very heavy New York accent (which is hilarious when he speaks German) and a very low tolerance for stupidity.

If you want to see John get really, seriously, ticked off...tell him how "unfair" this country is, or how some people have "privilege" that others don't. He will bite your head off. He loves this country passionately, as did his parents, and points out that only in America could a Latvian-German kid, living in a Puerto Rican slum, become a rocket scientist. He is, he is proud to say, the living embodiment of the American Dream.

Like I said, I've been thinking about him a lot lately, and I wanted to share his story with you. Thanks for reading...

Great story, Thank You. Many wish to be successful, but sadly don't understand, you have to be the one to open the door when opportunity knocks.

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Always Stay Strong!

God help me and I pray I am wrong, but I worry for the country..........

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

We need to regain control of our education system.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

That is not all we need to regain control of............

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

There are a lot of folks that think everything should be handed to them just because. They do not want to work hard to achieve a goal or get a great job.

My 17 year old GD, just out of HS, quit her new job that paid $8 an hour more than her old job..............

because she had to work seven days, being new on the job.

Don't you want a job for $$$$ ?
Play time comes later.

Equality of opportunity, not outcome.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

A lot of young folks want a position, not a job. When I was 14, I went to work for my Grandfather in a Citrus Packing House here in Florida. I was expected to work harder than the rest for the same money. When I was 17, I joined the Corps (1969) and thought I was getting a break.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

That's a very important distinction, one that is sadly lost on many people these days.

All work is important and has dignity. The one that 'gets me' is when other people say things in jealousy about another persons accomplishments. If you choose to work 40 hours a week or for any number of reasons cannot work, there shouldn't be resentment in a person's heart towards the individual working 70+ hours a week. Seen this so many times in my life in a multitude of situations. In your friends, he put in the time, the labor, and dedication to study which allowed him to better his and his family's capabilities to have 'freedom from want'. Adversity does come and go, it is how a person responds to it and what makes them happy.

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Rather be outdoors

GREAT story, Beemerguy! (Read post 1 for the whole story, folks)

Especially today, as many of us remember our patriotism, this story tells what this country can be for us. A lot of us have said "the gun can shoot, if I do my part." Well there ya go. This country can be great for anyone, if you do your part. For some it's easier than others. By and large, though, you are rewarded by what you contribute.

Here's to your friend John who worked hard, succeeded and remembers where he came from.

Thanks for your kind words, Krogen.

This is indeed a special day for John...he flies the American flag year-round, but never more proudly than on Independence Day. His sister Ann is just as patriotic, as were his parents. Harry lived to be 89, and to the day he died, he told people that even 3000 miles of ocean was not enough distance between him and Communists. He and Greta were always so grateful for the opportunities this country gave them...

Great story!! America!! I have known several German Army vets who got here in the '50s. Better Americans than some of the ones we've seen the streets lately.

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No baby we aint

Thank you for sharing that very powerful story!

A very good story, thanks for sharing. Both of us here are concerned with the direction things are going and turn and worry that at some time people will get fed up and things may possibly go from from a cold for the most part situation to hot...

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

Now, if only all those who are out there rioting and protesting would be able to read this and take it to heart. To bad your friend couldn't speak directly to them.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

That was a good read! So many Americans young and old feel entitled and don't seem to be aware of their own good fortune to have been born here. I was born here but Have seen parts of the world where the people have no hope, a totally squalid existence.

It is a very sobering existence to see people living in abject poverty and still struggling on as if things might get better.

This country is chocked full of stupid, ungrateful, clueless people who desperately need a wake up call.

John should write his story and every American should be required to read it.

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Real men love cats!

Yes, great story about your friend John, BG, and I know he's not the only one that came as an immigrant wanting to be American.

I wonder if a good wake up call would be to dwell in some other countries for a few years, then perhaps this one would start to look pretty good.

And all the athletes who don't respect the flag, I'd be curious to know what other country would pay them millions to go play games for a living...?

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2 Blessed 2B Stressed

What a great story! Makes me want to stand up and salute!

I have a cousin who lives in Laredo, Texas, and works across the border in Nuevo Laredo. Visiting him and his family years ago, it was very sobering to see the living conditions in Mexico for ordinary working people. Entire families lived in one-room structures that basically did little more than put a roof over their heads. They shared a communal latrine with the rest of the neighborhood.

I spent 30 years as a firefighter in Baltimore, and worked in what were considered to be "poor" neighborhoods. I don't think I ever saw anyone without a refrigerator, and most folks had a television. The citizens of Nuevo Laredo would have been very happy, I think, to live in American-style poverty...

When I retired from the Baltimore City Fire Department in 2004, I began a second career, and still work there today. A number of my coworkers are immigrants or 1st-generation Americans -- from Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, you name it -- and every single one of them would never consider moving back to his home country. (They are all US citizens, by the way.)

Do we have challenges here, tensions between groups? Of course, but...there's a reason we have a problem with illegal immigration, and many other countries don't...

Thank you for your kind words, and thanks for your service to our country...

Teachers and Congress critters the two most overpaid part time jobs.