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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Honolulu Dick, post: 926105, member: 24745&quot;]Awesome!&nbsp; Absolutely awesome!&nbsp; You ex-service-types are sharing openly what is otherwise a little known aspect of service life.&nbsp; One straight-wristed, heels locked on line, head held straight and high, with eyeballs cased SALUTE to each of you for contributing to this thread.&nbsp; Also, for your service to our magnificent nation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Our two members who served with he 82nd Airborne Division are truly &quot;All Americans.&quot;&nbsp; There is something very special about those who have the courage, the personal fortitude to jump out of airplanes.&nbsp; From this best-of-the-rest, they went on to become Green Berets.&nbsp; That&#039;s about as good as it gets ..... that&#039;s top drawer stuff. &quot;Silver wings upon their chest, they are among Americas best.&quot;&nbsp; I know. I tried, but I wasn&#039;t good enough to become one of them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also, I am thrilled to see the Challenge Coins collected by our brother &quot;leather neck.&quot;&nbsp; First time I have seen such an extensive collection another service branch.&nbsp; I can identify with the Semper Fi pride they suggest .... the few, the proud, the first to destroy a pristine beach as they assault ashore with all the destroying trappings of success.&nbsp; Sorry &#039;bout that.&nbsp; [Humor intended.]</p><p><br /></p><p>There are times when Challenge Coins apperar when least expected.&nbsp; The televised funeral ceremony for the Fort Hood thirteen showed brother warriors paying their final respect by placing a Unit Coin on the coffins as they paused to say Godspeed to each fallen hero.</p><p><br /></p><p>Within the recent past, while in the local supermarket, I spotted a soldier standing in front of the meat section.&nbsp; His back was facing me and he was wearing the newer ACU digital camouflage uniform.&nbsp; Not knowing who he was, I went ahead and pulled my usual line of BS, saying: &quot;That&#039;s a good looking uniform, trooper.&nbsp; Wear it with pride.&quot;&nbsp; When he turned around to face me, I saw that he was wearing a star, the rank of a Brigadier General.&nbsp; I have never felt so small, nor so disgusted with myself.&nbsp; Who was I to have addressed a general grade officer as a stand-in-ranks trooper.&nbsp; As I tried to gracefully disengage, he reached out and offered his right hand in friendship.&nbsp; I habitually wear one of the newer digital-camo patrol caps, adorned with lapel-size [mini] insignia.&nbsp; Crossed US flags and my Vietnam unit patch on one side and a Ranger Tab, Jump Wings and a CIB [Combat Infantryman&#039;s Badge] on the other side.&nbsp; When he spotted these, he asked about my service in Vietnam.&nbsp; Upon departing, he welcomed me back home and placed his personal BG Coin in my hand.</p><p>For those who don&#039;t know me, I&#039;m old, gray, bent, overweight and have trouble breathing because of repeated exposure to Agent Orange, but I stood tall when I recognized he bestowed me with the honor of being awarded one of his personal Coins.&nbsp; I refuse to acknowledge that my vision blurred and my voice quaked, but it was all I could do to manage a graceful exit.&nbsp; The lesson ..... One never knows. </p><p><br /></p><p>May this thread continue to honor those who wore a uniform with dignity and to preserve our national excellence.&nbsp; We are the land of the free, only because of the brave!!!</p><p><br /></p><p>Nuff of my blathering for now.</p><p>.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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