In 1970 he was a 2nd LT, Forward Observer, humping his radio and ruck through the stinking bush in Vietnam. He was there a year, supporting his company as they made a series of 4 week patrols. He made alot of war shots with his radio.
The war ends, and he gets out for awhile. But he returns to serve in the Guard. Those were bad years for a Guardsman, low pay, and low respect from everyone from civilian to active Army. Yet he kept at it and rose to the rank of Major.
As so many others like him, he did not make the cut for LTC, and so left the service again. After several years he returned to enlist as a Sgt E-5 simply to finish out his time and be able to retire with 20 years.
He was 6 months short of the goal when his team of FO's were activated for the Terrorist War.
So now there he is, without serious complaint,performing his 2nd combat deployment, 30 years after his 1st.
He is a friend and a former commrad, and I wish him well.