Marty O'Brien and Hal Koster, who hosted the dinners at considerable expense to themselves and with help from a charity foundation, were forced to close their doors after a disagreement over their lease. The Hilton said it was purely a business decision. O'Briens says it will reopen elsewhere and efforts are under way to reconstitute the Friday night steak dinners.
As I wrote in my last two columns, the reasons for this closure are not entirely clear, but the issue has won widespread sympathy in military circles and attention in the media. Military bloggers have been debating the issue in force, for example this one, where the latest news yesterday was about a soldier who had just returned from Iraq to discover he had a 60 per cent chance of surviving colon cancer. It linked to another blog, which posted a letter from the American Legion that was reportedly hand-delivered to the Hilton offering to pay for half of the cost of installing an elevator to the basement, believed to be a motivating factor in the refusal to renew the lease. The injured vets had been struggling with the stairs or forced to use a service elevator. The eviction notice came shortly after O'Briens renewed their call for a proper elevator.
The American Legion reminded the hotel that Conrad Hilton himself had been a charter member of the Legion's Post 58 in El Paso, Texas, and reprinted a letter he wrote in 1968 in which he expressed his pride in his membership of the institution, which continued until his death in 1979. "The World War I veterans who founded The American Legion created, not just an organization of veterans, but a vigorous defender of basic American principles of justice, freedom, and equality of opportunity. I am proud to have been a charter member of my Post," he wrote.
The O'Briens saga has put me in mind of my grandfather Norman Smith, who served in the Free French Naval Forces during World War Two as a radar operator on La Combattante, an escort destroyer which was transferred from the British to the French after its completion at Glasgow docks in Scotland in 1942 . If you scroll to the bottom of this French website you will see a photograph of a memorial at Courseulles-sur-Mer on the north coast of France, where his ship brought General Charles de Gaulle to France eight days after Allied soldiers stormed ashore on June 14, 1944.
The ship later sank after hitting a mine while on patrol in the North Sea on February 23, 1945. My Scottish family recently returned from a pilgrimage to the site, bringing back these photographs of "Grampers" looking his usual dapper and smiling self on the deck of the ship. He is third from the right in the photograph below.
The thing was he never complained about his time in the French navy, in fact he hardly ever talked about it, and we never doubted for one second that even though he had no choice but to serve, he helped stop Adolf Hitler.
I can't say how my grandmother felt about getting through the war years alone, because she never complained either. But her husband certainly seemed heroic to me. I think we all take great pride in the Croix de Guerre he received, in his presence on the Champs Elysees on Liberation Day. I used to love listening to him sing bawdy sailor songs in French as a child and once managed to get him to tell me about what it was like in battle, how he remembered turning a body over that had been plucked from the sea and its limbs falling off. He told my mother the same story when she was trying to think of something to write about for a school project. I wish now that I had made him tell me more.
The strangest thing about this story is that my grandfather's name is on that memorial on the French beach, right above the words "They died so we could live free." Yet he survived the ship's sinking, going on to have the final three of his six children. He died on March 12, 1989 at the age of 76.
You could argue that the Americans in Iraq could not be more different from the men and women who served in World War Two. They joined up voluntarily, they are dying in far smaller numbers and if they can figure out how to work the system, they have access to an impressive official support network when they get home. However history looks back on the Iraq war, necessary or otherwise, I hope it will look back as kindly on the service of professional men and women in uniform as it has my grandfather's.
Click here for last week's article Saving O'Brien's
I wholeheartedly applaud Elaine's article and the subsequent comments in support. As an ex-forces member myself, I am well aware of the importance that ex-service personnel place on the opportunities to meet up again with old comrades-in-arms in a social environment where they are made to feel both welcome, and that their past efforts on behalf of their nations are valued. It seems to me that the Hilton might do well to consider that many of us, like Elaine, hold those who have served their country and its people in the highest esteem, and that we have a great deal of choice when we book accommodation around the world. An organisation which seems ready to treat veterans welfare in such a cavalier manner would certainly not be on my list of places to stay. Fortune, it would seem, does not always favour the brave. Jim Devine, Glasgow
Elaine Monaghan's and The Times's interest in the fate of Fran O'Brien's touches my heart. My father's eldest cousin lost his life in WWII flying a B26 Marauder against Hitler out of a UK base, and my son serves in Iraq today, risking wounds and death to fight terrorists, alongside brave UK soldiers. When ordinary young men and women in large numbers from both our nations still volunteer to do their duty, it's shameful for others to shirk theirs. I salute your continuing concern for the recovery of those who have paid a high price to protect our liberties. May we always be allies. Mark White, Des Plaines, Illinois
One big way you can help is by donating to the Aleethia foundation. It was set up to pay for the meals, and will continue to do that, wherever they end up. www.aleethia.org. Will Harrison, Washington
Wasim Khan is living proof of the greatness of the immigrant tradition in the US. I salute my American brother, originally from Pakistan, and all of my other brothers and sisters who have made and are continue to make this country great. It is due to these incredible people that we are able to live the lives we live in the West. Many Thanks also to Elaine Monaghan for an article that, in its implications, honours the troops. Joe Vey, Philadelphia
I am a vet. I was not injured during my time, but I feel for these guys. It is such a nice gesture for Fran's to be open and serve these soldiers who are just trying to get back to normal. Kelsey Slocom, Portland, Oregon
Elaine thanks for the well-written article. Soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors alike fight for the freedom of this great nation and other nations too, so they can live in a free society without fear. If you like the president or not, if you like the war or not, do not allow these troops to be treated like this. Please open your eyes and give these great americans the respect and honor they have earned. Wasim Khan, Washington DC
I am in tears on four counts: 1. The kindness shown to these vets; 2. The predicament which may cause cessation of these dinners; 3. The courage of these vets; 4. I can't think of any way I can help. Henry Cowan, Linthicum, Maryland
Send your comments on this article using the form below, and they will be considered for publication. It may be necessary to edit your contribution. Wherever possible we would like you to include your name and town of residence. Priority will be given to e-mails providing these details.
