We were standing in line to register at the hotel when we first saw them. Six young men in Army Class A uniform lined up behind us. Being a veteran myself, I couldn’t help but look at their uniforms. What I saw impressed me. The Sergeant, 2 Corporals, and 3 Privates First Class all nodded at me as I looked them over one by one. Each had obviously seen combat duty, as they each wore various medals, awards, and decorations that can only be awarded in combat.
My wife, Lisa, is also a veteran, and she also spent several minutes checking out the 6 soldiers as we waited out turn in line. Being a little more outgoing than I am, she quickly struck up a conversation with the Corporal standing directly behind us.
They had indeed just returned from the Middle East, and were all on their way home for a well-deserved 30-day leave. While they did know each other, they weren’t what one would call friends. Pure coincidence had landed them at the same airport, where they had been told their next flight had been cancelled due to mechanical problems. After some discussion, they decided to come into town and get hotel rooms, doubling up and sharing expenses, and wait for the airline to call them.
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