One of my friends in high school was a Green Beret in Nam but he never mentions it.
A man I became friends with was in the U Army for 36 years, retired as a Colonel. He flew helecopters and also oversaw medical facilites in some capacity.
I knew him about 6 months before he ever mentioned he started his career with the Army as a Green Beret. He just never mentions it to folks. But as we became good friends and had a lot in common he opened up and told me a great many stories. He finally dug up what few photos he had from his years in Vietnam and it was great to see him as an 18 year old man. I knew him for four years, as a man in his late sixties, early seventies.
He moved away not long ago and I sure do miss him. What a great friend.