Very well written!! Thanks for having the courage and grace to offer an apology.........
Tell whoever sent you this that I am glad they wrote and glad you shared it.
I had only a brief plunge into the cultural chaos in my 17th year, 1971. As I saw the hate of America escalating under the guise of free love I snapped out of it and joined the USAF right out of high school.
I served stateside during the waning years of Viet Nam. I was a warrior in a different war, the Cold War. I encountered the hate anytime I travelled to a major city in uniform. I'll always remember an incident at LAX. I was called a baby killer by someone who looked like I had looked only a few years before. Only an old WWII vet who had bought me a couple of drinks on the flight kept me from probably getting arrested. Had it not been for the Vet, a hippy would have been hurt.
God Bless all those who served and serve today. Whether in combat or stateside, active duty or National Guard, every branch, including the Coast Guard. Wearing the uniform is sacrificing freedom for freedom.
I hope the FReeper someday forgives her father for his deception. In some small way he was probably dealing with an undeserved guilt of not seeing combat. I doubt he avoided combat but just wasn't chosen to send.
God Bless all who serve and those who wait for them.