We just returned from several days at Ft Jackson, SC for son's graduation from Army Basic Training. It rained much of the time, so the ceremonies were held indoors in a very large building. Son and I shared stores from when I went through Navy AOCS (we had Marine DIs) and his recent experiences with Army Drill Sergeants. I was impressed with the Army. We met a lot of good folks.
When I see some of the old guys in wheelchairs at my Mom's memory care center and the nursing home where my Dad was, I'd sometimes wonder about the lives they led, their experiences, the stories they might tell. They may not look or sound like much now, but it's a good chance that many experienced and overcame tough challenges and ordeals, making sacrifices and enduring conditions most of us cannot even imagine.
Some of the hardest mofos to ever walk the earth dude. The quiet courage and love to sacrifice so much and yet ask for so little in return. Hero’s, ALL
A US Navy admiral was attending a naval conference that included admirals from the US, British, Canadian, Australian, and French navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers from these countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks when a French admiral complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. "Why is it that we must always speak English at these conferences rather than French?" he asked. The US admiral replied, "Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Americans twice arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German."