I have tears in my eyes as I write this.
At the very least? We owe him tuition to the college of his choice.
We owe him security in knowing that his family's bills (if he supports one) are not his problem until he returns from combat and is gainfully employed inside or outside the military. He should also know that his kids won't sneeze without greatful citizens of his country asking his wife if she needs any help.
We owe him a drink every time we see him out at an establishment that serves them.
What we owe him that we can never give him is the peaceful nights' sleep we have been getting while he's been playing flypaper to the terrorists who have not been attacking us at home.
The tears are because I will probably never be able to give him so much as a nickel of what he deserves, and he would never ask me to because he was just doing his duty.
Matthews should be sent to Iraq to clear the next room full of dead terrorists and tell our Marines that the room is safe.
Shalom.