I thanked a Vet today.

So here I am in Tacoma at the LaQuinta this morning when I see one of our guys loading his gear in his car, I walked over and said "good morning soldier" he smiled and bid me the same. I shook his hand and let him know that I was very appreciative of him serving our country, this kid was probally 5'2" built like a brick s#it house and looking all sharp in his pressed BDU's and black beret and noticed this kid was brass, a second lieutenant ! I asked him how old he was and he said he was 22 !! man, I'll tell ya what that few minutes just made me a different person today. what I mean is thats the kind of thing that drives me to be a better man, to push myself harder in life, the gym, kempo, helping other people you name it. other people influence me big time whether they are coward assed gangsters, bums, tweekers, my teachers or that kid I met this morning those people really drive me. im so jealous of him, I wish I was a young soldier kicking ass instead of some old dude with HIV and just living out my last days. I dont know, maby I am doing good ? I mean I help people best as I can, been in Kempo for allmost six years now, climbed mountains, traveled to different countries, did alot of cool stuff most guys haven't but when I meet guys like that I feel unacomplished in some ways..like im just here.

major accomplishments for such a young soldier.

Thats a good post. Thanks for posting that.

I always make it a point to thank a solder when I see one. A new guy in my dept at work served in 'Nam, and he was telling me how he got treated like chit by some people when he came home. So I made it a point to shake his hand and give him some props. I served in the USAF, but never had to see combat and never really got flack from anyone. But I can feel for the guys like him who got chit on.

i do that alot too...at the gym they come in when they are home and i bu them protien drinks for after workout and dont say anything. the cashier gives it too them. i stopped for awhile becouse of financial issues and i started walking up, putting out m hand and just saying "thanks"...funny how they look at me sometimes...like "wtf did i do" lol....

Hey first I wanna clear up what I meant by "my last days here" what I meant was like "our" last days like getting old. With that aside, yeah daved they do look at ya kinda funny like huh, who me ? sure everytime I see one of our guys but granted I give them their space, I'll jus sorta walk over and say hey and let'em know. I seen an older guy (vet) walk up to this WW2 vet and even say "hey brother" and thank you for your service, man that was a heartfelt moment in the bustle of WalMart I caught that left a lump in my throat. Man, I'll never forget that kid..a twentytwo year old second leiutenant ? not "bro", but "Sir" ! and he looked ever much the part too ! definately some bad asses to be respected and proud of.

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Originally Posted by daved150

i do that alot too...at the gym they come in when they are home and i bu them protien drinks for after workout and dont say anything. the cashier gives it too them. i stopped for awhile becouse of financial issues and i started walking up, putting out m hand and just saying "thanks"...funny how they look at me sometimes...like "wtf did i do" lol....

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Nice gesture either way, broh. Reminds me of a time when I was still shilling auto parts part time, and a young Marine came in. He was the nicest, most polite kid, and he was getting ready to be shipped to the sandbox. He was looking for a pair of mechanic's gloves, and after he found a pair I took e'm from him and told him they were "on me." He still tried giving me $ for them, but I told him to put his bucks away, and he better follow my order and take the gloves or I'd kick his butt. lol Man, I had tears in my eyes for a while after that. I'm so proud of those guys. :)