[rlmorel]

Thanks for your service, Little Bill...know that your experiences have something to do withe the broader support we see today.

There were many, myself included, who vowed never again to let the Left be the only voices the troops hear.

It was shameful, and every American who stayed silent when it happened SHOULD be ashamed.

When I see someone with any vet hat I go out of my way to thank them, but when I see a Vietnam Vet, I make a point of shaking their hand, looking them squarely in the eye and saying “Welcome Home, sir. Thank you for serving.”

I say that to you now Little Bill, but if I ever get the chance to see you in person, I’ll shake your hand and say it again.

[Little Bill]

Thank you! It never bothered me all that much, I did very well after VN, but I know a lot of friends and relatives that it bothered a lot. We were the sons of the WW2 generation and expected a thanks, I never did, we had a war I served just as all my ancestors served, the price of citizenship.

[luvie]

That post just made me cry! And if you are a vet, THANK YOU....if you aren’t thank you for loving them!

[El Gato]

I live very near Ft. Hood in central Texas. A couple of months ago I was eating at a restaurant, possibly one of those targeted to be blown up by a "home grown" Jihadi who got caught before he'd completed a single bomb, and reading a book on my Kindle. A soldier and his wife enquired about the Kindle and how I liked it. A short conversation let them know that I'd been military, Cold War type only. This young troop, who'd deployed twice, said to me ..

"thank you for your service"

I was dumbfounded and humbled at the same time.

I of course thanked him for his as well.

But I never, ever expected anything like that.

(I'm Vietnam era, but came on late and only served in Oklahoma. Not that I haven't "contributed". Stuff I helped design is flying around in F-16s, F-15Es, Army HH-47 and HH-60, and the V-22, or being used to train USAF Weapons Controllers and Air Battle Managers)