True Heros

Yesterday coming home from Chicago and walking thru the Cleveland Hopkins Airport I was on a people mover behind a young guy on his cell phone wearing a pretty worn, dirty but very large back pack, blue jeans, and combat boots.
As I started to say excuse me and move around him, then I saw the ever present camo pattern and USMC Stencil that all Marines do to their the gear. It stopped me cold as the ratty look and dirt on the pack must mean he's forward deployed, field hardened Marine- He just carried himself that way.

He got off the phone and turn to see me standing there looking at his pack- I wanted to reach out and touch it and I am not sure why, but it called to me. Maybe in to honor the men and women who served?

I said a sheepish "Hello Marine", and let him know that I too once served in the Navy. We we both headed in the same direction and began to chat.
He had a young face, clean shaven and full of life.
"Just got back, and I have 6 days till I ship out again Sir" he told me. I told him I was not an officer and I worked for a living and to call me Dave.
We chatted about me, and what I did back so long ago (12 years in from 88 to 2000). He told me of his daughter being born (induced labor this week) soon and he's just so excited to be home for his wife and new child (first time dad).

I never got his name, just a great kid who's been over there 2 times now, made Sargeant and heading back with his buddies in a few weeks.

He is a hero, glad to have met you Sargeant No Name; God Bless.

So the moral to my picture, nothing really except an honor to meet such a stand up young Marine.
I took these out of a box that I had them in to remember my days in uniform and to be happy I am home daily with my Wife and 2 little girls while these folks serve our country.

Dave

Photo A Day 2008