88 years ago today, a fighter was born…. A child nicknamed Topsie was born 7/23/1926 to Robert and Elsie. His Grandmother nicknamed him Topsie because she said “he walked funny.” On his first day of Kindergarden he was beat up after school by three older bullies. He ran home to his Mother but was met by his Father at the door when he arrived. Robert asked his son Jack why he was crying. Topsie told him why and Robert got in his face and told him “don’t you ever come home crying again”. Robert ordered his so to march back to school the next day and confront those three boys. Topsie, fearing his Father as any normal son does… bid his Father’s wishes by finding each of the three boys individually and beating the hell out of them. No bullies ever bothered him again. Still, he fought on. At the age of six, Topsie was walking home with his best friend Dick Peck and they came across a group of boys ganging up on a child (Curtis Towne) who could not defend himself well both because there were so many of them and also because of physical challenges he faced after becoming handicapped as result of Polio. Topsie and Dick jumped in to help Curtis and they chased the group off. On that street corner a friendship was forged among those three boys that would last until they met their graves. At age 12, Topsie was taken out of school by his parents and made to work full time to help his family get by and his older brother get through college. Still, he fought on. At the age of fifteen he had heard rumors that his older sister, Betty, had been hit by her husband (Jack) so Topsie went to her house to visit her. On arriving he walked in to find his sister crying in a chair with bruises on her face. Betty had been beaten by Jack and though her father and two older brothers had remained silent on the issue… Topsie would not. When Jack saw Topsie he started to run out the door, Topsie called out to him that he forgot something. Jack was foolish enough to stop and turn around. Like lightening, Topsie tackled him out the door and onto the front lawn where he gave Jack a class of “never hit my sister again” 101. Still, he fought on. At age 18 Topsie enlisted in the United States Army and was shipped overseas to battle another Bully who, with his friends, had plans on ruling the world. Topsie was part of the 83rd infantry and Patton’s famed third army. His first battle is known in the history books as “The Battle of the Bulge”. He was a Sargent briefly but demoted back to Private after an officer got in his face and tried to push him. He fought many battles, never retreating once. Buried many of his friends as they fell. Earned many medals including the Bronze Star (one of our nation’s highest medals) but never mentioned them once through the rest of his life. When told he was a hero he would quietly respond that the real heroes were the brothers he buried in the fields of Germany…. Topsie returned from the war to find not one member of his family waiting for him at the train station to welcome him home. He didn’t even have a ride waiting for him and had to walk from the train station to his parent’s house. Still, he fought on. After the war Topsie did several things regularly. He was always a worker so, he worked. He was a drinker so, he drank. He was a man, so he chased women. Two failed marriages and five children over next ten years. He was also a fighter, so he fought. Standing up for those who would not or could not stand up for themselves. It is unknown the exact number but it is known that many… MANY wife beating men received hands on training from this hero. In the early 1960’s he met the love of his life and settled into his “happy ending” life. Always working, always celebrating with a few drinks, always loving his wife. I had the honor of meeting this man on July 24th, 1966 (one day after his birthday). In the early years of our relationship we were not close at all but as time went on and I got to know Topsie for the man he was I realized that sometimes the greatest man you will ever meet… is the first. Topsie taught me the value of standing up for what is right and that integrity means standing for right even when it is hard. He taught me the value of a hard days work, he taught me to respect women. That was a hands on class I will never forget. Topsie, his friends, and his siblings told me the stories shared here and MANY more. Still Corners, he fought on. On November 28. 2010 Topsie lost the love of his life to a heart attack… and he cried. Though he wanted to be with her he committed to pushing on to be there for his sons and grandchildren. Again, he fought the good fight. Dementia, strokes, and heart disease would eventually take away most of who he was. Lost use of his left hand and leg. Lost the ability to walk. Lost most of his memory and ability to communicate. Still, he fought. Three and a half more years. He fought to go to his Grandson’s football game and made it. Blindness kept him from seeing it but he was there. He fought on for three and a half more years before the bullies attacking him (dementia, strokes, and the heart attacks) were eventually joined by two other bullies - cancer, and eventually pneumonia. Still he fought on. He wouldn’t let go until he could say goodbye to those closest to him. On Sunday, March 16th he spent the afternoon celebrating with the bulk of his family. By Sunday night he faded into a coma. Still, he fought on. Topsie remained in comatose state all night Sunday and through all of Monday and Tuesday with his Sons, many of his grandchildren, and daughter in law at his side talking and singing to him. Still, he fought on. On Tuesday night his grandson… the light of his life… named after Topsie arrived to his Grandfather’s bedside. For a while he held his Grandpa’s hand and just cried, reflected, and prayed while saying nothing. I was able to witness this. After being their for a while Topsie’s Grandson… Robert Jack Green got up and leaned in to hug his dying Grandfather. by said “I love you Grandpa” and the lights came on again… this comatose patient on his death bed… after not moving for two days… on hearing the voice of his beloved Grandson… Topsie… Jack…. Dad… opened his eyes and said Bob as he reached out to return Bobby’s hug. His last bit of fight was to reach out to the one he loved the most and show him love….. and the fight…. Was over. Dad faded slowly away that night and into the next morning. He waited until he was alone with my brother Scott and I before letting go. A fighter died that day. My hero went home. The fight was finally over. Today is his birthday. Happy Birthday Pops. The world was a better and safer place because of Jack Wallace Robert Green. Love you Pops.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 18:19:19 +0000
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