For almost 40 years, no one has ever mentioned anything in connection with my military service. It was just taken for granted. I think most former soldiers are like that. It was time to go and they did, not necessarily gladly but know their duty. In the past couple of years I have had positive comments on my military service more than in all the years before. It is a strange feeling, but good at the same time.
Like most young men of my day, I did not want to go. But I did. And accepted what came. I went to Germany. The next guy probably went to Vietnam. Luck of the draw literally. But I have always been glad I went. It paid for seminary and I have VA benefits now. And besides, I am glad I went. Guys who didn't know they have missed out on a shared experience of my generation.
It is one of those things that you are glad you did in retrospect. With my lack of self-esteem, I probably would have been apologizing right and left for not having gone into the service.
But I did. I did not do a great job as I was the inveterate rebel but at the same time, I went.
As bad as it could be at time, I hold good memories of the time I was in uniform. For one thing I got the inestimable pleasure of marrying my beautiful wife, Ella. That alone was worth the time.
And I got to see Germany. I would probably not have had the chance otherwise to see something so different from America.
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