Day 9 – The Forgotten War Hero

Transcript of Day 9 – The Forgotten War Hero

Day 9 – The Forgotten War Hero

In a small, quiet town, old Ron lived a simple life. Most days, you could find him in the local park, feeding the pigeons. To the locals, he was just another elderly man who had seen better days(1). Little did they know(2), Ron had a past that would blow their minds(3).

One rainy afternoon, a young reporter named Emily was out looking for a story. She noticed Ron sitting on a bench, seemingly lost in thought(4). Despite the weather being abysmal—it’d been pissing down rain(5) on and off(6) all day—she decided to approach him and have a chinwag(7).

"Excuse me, sir, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?” she inquired. “I’m a reporter looking for something or someone to write a story on."

Ron looked up and smiled. "Sure, young lady, what's on your mind(8)?"

As they talked, Emily was intrigued by Ron's tales of the past. He mentioned his time in the army during World War II. At first, she thought he was blowing smoke up her arse(9), but as the stories unfolded, Emily realised there was more to Ron than met the eye(10). She decided to probe a little further(11) and kept asking questions.

Ron shared a story about a daring rescue mission behind enemy lines. His unit was in a tight spot(12) and a strategic point was about to be overrun. Ron took command after their officer was injured and led a small team through enemy territory, securing vital intelligence and saving numerous lives. Emily's eyes widened in recognition.

"Wait," she interrupted, "are you talking about the mission where Colonel Davis won the Victoria Cross for bravery?"

Ron sighed, a sad smile on his face. "Yeah, that’s the one. Except, it was all a farce. Colonel Davis took all the credit(13) for everything. He was injured and didn’t even make it to the rendezvous point. But he received all the accolades while the real heroes were left high and dry(14)."

"Ron, did you ever receive any recognition for your service?" Emily asked.

Ron chuckled. "I got bugger all(15) recognition, to be frank," he replied. "But it's all water under the bridge(16) now. The past is in the past(17)."

Emily couldn't let it go. She returned home and started digging through everything she could get her hands on(18) about the mission and Ron's involvement. She discovered old military records that gave the lion’s share(19) of the credit to Colonel Davis. Curiosity getting the better of her(20), Emily went down a rabbit hole(21), poring over documents and contacting military historians. She discovered quiet whispers of a prestigious medal that was never officially awarded to Ron for his extraordinary bravery during that mission.

Determined to uncover the truth, Emily continued to search through documents with a fine-tooth comb(22), leading her to uncover a long-forgotten conspiracy. She found out that Colonel Davis, along with some high-ranking officials, had orchestrated a cover-up to take credit for Ron's heroics, burying the true story and Ron’s medal in the process.

With Emily's help, Ron began to piece together the puzzle(23). They teamed up and worked together, uncovering old documents and speaking to surviving witnesses. They found a letter from a fellow soldier, praising Ron's bravery and mentioning the medal that was never officially recognised. Trying to find pieces of evidence to support Ron’s claims was like finding a needle in a haystack(24), but they persisted.

As the truth came to light(25), they decided to confront the now-retired official. The confrontation was tense, but the official, now also an elderly man himself, finally admitted to the deceit. Ron and Emily had hit the jackpot(26). They brought the evidence to the local authorities and the media, ensuring the truth would be known.

With the new evidence that had come to light, the town decided to hold a ceremony for Ron. It wasn’t just in recognition of Ron's bravery, but also reckoning for past injustices. Ron was invited to the ceremony where he was to be honoured. Whilst part of him did feel honoured and vindicated, another part felt as awkward as a cow on roller skates(27). But ultimately, he just went with the flow(28) and enjoyed the ride(29). The town mayor gave a speech, praising Ron's courage and dedication, and revealed the long-lost medal.

Ron had finally received the fair go(30) he deserved. After the ceremony, Emily approached him.

"How does it feel to be recognized after all these years? Are you angry that it was hushed up(31) and swept under the rug for so long(32)?" she asked.

Ron smiled warmly. "Life’s too short to get angry about these kinds of things, Emily. It’s water off a duck’s back(33). I’m just glad people now know the truth.”

As Ron walked home that day, he was still wrapping his head around(34) everything that had happened. A chance meeting(35) had led to his biggest secret being unearthed and made right(36). It was a lot to take in(37) for an old soldier whose bravery had been forgotten for so long. The locals now saw Ron in a new light(38), and the once-forgotten war hero had finally received the recognition he had long deserved.