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I took the time, when I had it, to sit and have coffee with some old guys around me in my daily life, that others took pains to avoid. One was the father-in-law of my patrol partner, a chubby old guy they called "The Sarge" who lived in the basement rooms of their tri-level. He mostly sat in his recliner watching the history channel, or natgeo, always while wearing a WWII campaign cover. I'd stop by to pick up Mike, wave at the Sarge, and off we'd go.

One patrol shift, we ended up rolling on the ground, and Mike rolled into something we won't discuss here. We stopped off at Mike's so he could change into a fresh uni. I stopped in and asked the Sarge if I could sit... He pointed to the second recliner, and I was happy to take a load off. I dropped gratefully into the indicated seat and it was then I noticed the Marine Corps Emblem on his cover. I told him I too was a former Marine, and we were off to the races.

Turns out the old man served in the Pacific during WWII, and had pictures and stories to share with a fellow Staff NCO. He had some good ones. He had served for some of the best. I was saddened to hear he passed last year. I never missed a chance to spend some time with him.

The father of another friend flew bomber missions in Europe. He rarely spoke directly of the missions, they cost him too many men, but he would talk of his love of flying, and his comrades. He too passed just last year as well. A real gentleman.

One of my officers, who was just bored, and hired on to work dispatch... Had passed the bar exam and practiced law in three states. He just needed to get out of the house. He direct deposited his paycheck in a granddaughter's college expense account. She was in... Law School. To most who saw him he was some old guy who "failed to plan and had to keep working. "
I heard it said more that once. If they only knew.

Take the time, talk to a few of those around you. They may surprise you.
(I know, many of us here ARE the seasoned citizens with the surprises.)


I look in the mirror and wonder who the old fat guy is looking back.

Glad you got to do that Marine. Running across someone like that will change your outlook on people & life. Plus, you can learn something in the process. There was a group of old guys at our local McDs, that would get together every am, until Covid shut it down.
Some were vets, some not.
BTW, I have a mirror very much like yours.

We all have that mirror. But, we seem to deal with it. Damn good post Marine.

Count me in with the mirror.
Carol as an attorney does a lot of estate planning for folks that live in the countryside around us. When everything is signed I am the
unpaid witness. Every once in a while it's for an old military gentleman and his wife. I have met more than one B17 pilot who flew
missions over Germany, and flight instructors as well. Also veterans from all services. While she makes copies of all the papers I
stay in the conference room and visit with them and enjoy their stores so much. Being a fellow vet I think makes them feel comfortable
talking about it. They usually smile and seem to enjoy it.
Sadly, most have some ailment that brought them in to make wills or update old ones, and they have died by now.

Very well spoken Jim.

My son, and later his wife, both nurses left very lucrative jobs at one of the finest trauma hospitals in the country to work with our wounded warriors at the V.A. two blocks away.

After a year in service, we were sitting over a Jamison's and I asked him how did he like working at the V.A.? He said he liked it a lot and glad he made the change.

I then asked him what was the one thing that he had learned in his first year at the V.A.? He shifted in his chair, took a sip of Jamison's and said "everyone has a story".

Elaborate, says I. He then said he works around some of the crustiest, grumpiest, happiest and quietest group of people he had ever been around. He further stated that he has learned to ask his Vets what there story was. He said that he was taken back that these very unassuming group of patriots were CMH recipients, POW's, Vets from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Panama. They won't talk about it, but if you take the time to ask and listen, it is an education of patriotism, sacrifice, and honor. He also said don't judge a person by how they look, the will surprise you every time.

One of the most important lessons for us all, everyone has a story. I be proud of the boy !