A nice conversation today

[ELCruisr]

Went up to the local LGS to do a little 1911 shopping today and am feeling a little better about the world today. While the young man behind the counter was showing me some Kimbers an elderly gent with a cane came in. Counter guy says excuse me and went to help him. The gent was wearing a Marine Corps hat and a gold Corps emblem on a chain. We got to talking and he was a retired Marine. Korea and Vietnam vintage. Couldn't walk without his cane and pretty frail. Wanted spare mags for his .40 so he could stay sharp with his shooting!!!

I admitted to not being a Marine but a cold war vet from USAF SAC for 8 years. We had a nice visit until the help came back. When finished the young man said, "See you later, Semper Fi". "You a Marine young man?" the old guy asks. "Yes sir, just got out a little while ago after my second tour in Falujah." We had a good visit after that of three vets from different eras. Young man and I visited some more after the old Marine left. I found that many of the struggles and frustrations I've dealt with over the years with things civilian were the exact same things he was dealing with. Won't go into all that here but I guess as long as there are older folks, middle aged folks and this new crop of vets around maybe things aren't completely hopeless. And if this is the quality of many young servicemen today I feel better knowing they're there.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[mark555]

There are a lot of good young troops out there.

[P95Carry]

Pleasant encounter Eric - and my experience too has been similar a good many times.

Even with (most) youngsters, the passage thru service changes their perceptions on values and life in general - usually for the better.

Let's remember them all this Christmas, and always

[retsupt99]

with the young service men and women I meet. I really get 'taken back' when the youngsters I have dealt with in school (and not all great interactions) come back for a visit in uniform...proud...polite...and 'smarter' too...

Several times I have encounterd a young man/woman in uniform (perhaps with a date) in an eating establishment and secretly asked the waitress to pay his/her bill...only telling him "Thanks for serving...from somebody who appreciates what you do!" I always take my time eating and love to watch him...or her...look around and wonder who did that?...(almost, one of my favorite things to do...at my age, it's the least I can do...)

ret

[lowflyer]

with the young service men and women I meet. I really get 'taken back' when the youngsters I have dealt with in school (and not all great interactions) come back for a visit in uniform...proud...polite...and 'smarter' too...

Several times I have encounterd a young man/woman in uniform (perhaps with a date) in an eating establishment and secretly asked the waitress to pay his/her bill...only telling him "Thanks for serving...from somebody who appreciates what you do!" I always take my time eating and love to watch him...or her...look around and wonder who did that?...(almost, one of my favorite things to do...at my age, it's the least I can do...)

ret

That same thing was done for me on a couple of occasions when I was in the AF; once in TX and once in FL. A third time was in AZ, but that was a waitress who also gave me her phone number. That is really cool.

[Rock and Glock]

Vets and current members always get big "Thank You's" from me. They earned them!

The daughter's BF is in OCS training, on top of a FT job and law school. The daughter also has several friends with spouses in the service, many have been or are on tours. They all, for the most part, appear to be a pretty phenomenal kids.

Several times I have encounterd a young man/woman in uniform (perhaps with a date) in an eating establishment and secretly asked the waitress to pay his/her bill...only telling him "Thanks for serving...from somebody who appreciates what you do!" I always take my time eating and love to watch him...or her...look around and wonder who did that?...(almost, one of my favorite things to do...at my age, it's the least I can do...)

ret

My wife and I do this a lot for the EMS and LEO's when we're out in our small town. The pay is low, the work dangerous and they are important. If we had service men and women around, that'd be a blast too - we just rarely see any here.

[A1C Lickey]

Several times I have encounterd a young man/woman in uniform (perhaps with a date) in an eating establishment and secretly asked the waitress to pay his/her bill...only telling him "Thanks for serving...from somebody who appreciates what you do!" I always take my time eating and love to watch him...or her...look around and wonder who did that?...(almost, one of my favorite things to do...at my age, it's the least I can do...)

ret

That same thing was done for me on a couple of occasions when I was in the AF; once in TX and once in FL. A third time was in AZ, but that was a waitress who also gave me her phone number. That is really cool.

First off, as one of those younger men in uniform thank you retsupt99. I've had my meal paid for twice, and I really appreciated the gesture.

But I've got a really funny story about it too! My wife used to be a waitress, and one day after work I stopped by her restaurant on my way home. (I had to pick something up from her.) When I got there I realized that I hadn't eaten all day and that I was starving, so I decided to grab something light. About halfway through my meal my wife sits down at my table laughing.

One of my wife's other tables told her that they would like to pay for that Army man's meal. My wife kind of looked confused until they pointed me out. She laughed and said I was in the Air Force, not the Army, and that I was her husband.

They still paid for my meal and we all definately got a laugh from it.

[Rock and Glock]

One of my wife's other tables told her that they would like to pay for that Army man's meal. My wife kind of looked confused until they pointed me out. She laughed and said I was in the Air Force, not the Army, and that I was her husband.

They still paid for my meal and we all definately got a laugh from it.

What a hoot! Hey, thanks for the service too!

[P95Carry]

Ken - great gesture - paying for their meal - love it.

It is rare indeed I see any mil folks round here but be assured - that is something when given the chance I will do with utmost pleasure.

[Lew]

Several times I have encounterd a young man/woman in uniform (perhaps with a date) in an eating establishment and secretly asked the waitress to pay his/her bill...only telling him "Thanks for serving...from somebody who appreciates what you do!" I always take my time eating and love to watch him...or her...look around and wonder who did that?...(almost, one of my favorite things to do...at my age, it's the least I can do...)

ret

Glad to hear that I am not the only one doing that. Doesn't happen offen as I would like, but when I see soldiers in uniform eating where I eat, they eat for free. Just doing my part to let them know they are appreciated.

[buckeye .45]

When I am working at the bars, I always buy anyone who shows me a military ID to get in the door at least one drink usually several. One of the bars is accross the street from the tri-service ROTC building at Ohio State, so people in uniform are not uncommon as the officers and NCO's come over often after work. Some of them know me from when I spent about every waking hour I had in the building for a couple years. I hadn't thought of buying meals before, but the drinks are something I've done since I've been working at bars.