Ever run into someone and start talking military and find out you served with them a while ago?

Better than that. Retired out of Bremerton and returned to my Home of Record Kansas City. Several Months Later at the Grocery Store I bump into Lt Matt German my Communications Officer and CMS Custodian from my First Ship USS California CGN-36. He lived down at the end of the Block.

I have this happen a couple times throughout years. Most recently, I was dealing with a customer over the phone, who later came to my office for a more detailed discussion. Now in person, he stated that he knew me from somewhere. After telling him I was a retired Marine, his eyes lit up, he said that he was artillery man with Romeo Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, while I was the Battalion Motor Transport Chief of 5/11 during 2003 invasion. What made this more ironic is that fact that we were now in Northeast Texas.

Quite different for me... In 2017 I was waiting in a crowded Phoenix airport terminal for an arriving flight to deplane so I could board my flight. I was seated near the "gate" when I noticed several uniformed military in those leaving the plane so I got out of my seat and walked to the main terminal corridor and met them, thanked them for sacrificing their freedom to defend mine. We talked for a few minutes and then I returned to my seat near the gate. When I sat down the lady seated next to me remarked that she found it unusually kind to do what she had just witnesses and asked if I had ever done that before. I remarked that I do it whenever, wherever I see someone wearing a U.S. Military uniform, because I once wore one. Then (small talk - when where, etc.) And I mentioned Army and Vietnam. The lady seated next to the lady next to me was obviously eaves-dropping on our chat and out of the blue chimed in that her husband was in Vietnam too. I asked when and she said 1968, I asked where and she said Pleiku, then I asked what did he do in the service and she said he was a Combat Engineer attached to the 4th Infantry. I was a Combat Engineer in Pleiku in 1968 so I asked when he "graduated from Ft. Leonardwood AIT, she said she thinks it was in November 1967. ( HOLY SHIT! ) I said that's when I left Ft. Leonardwood. I asked her husband's name and when she told me, I told her that we were in AIT and Pleiku together. I asked for his phone number and she told me he died several years ago from Agent Orange induced cancer... After a "pregnant" pause in our conversation I told her I was with him as the low flying planes sprayed the chemicals right on our position to in order to kill lush vegetation that concealed enemy movements. We both teared-up and hugged each other before boarding the flight... never saw her again, but I'll never forget that strange coincidence. It seems I "get religion" whenever Vietnam finds its' way into a conversation, because I made so many promises to God while there - and I've tried very hard to keep those promises during the half century since my safe return to USA. I love my Country, and I love all who serve to preserve and protect it. God bless all of you, and God Bless America.