Ward, Let me share one little incident that happened more than 39 years ago, 18 Mar 1968 at 0430 hrs. This was the first day on a long journey. I had already said my, "Good-Byes" to everybody. This was going to be some time for me to think. I was about to leave for my journey to Lackland AFB for basic training. The biggest surprize for me was my Dad getting up to say, "Good-bye". It was the last thing I ever expected from him, he was a very good man and extremely intelligent, top 1%. He said, "There were times when you would make a choice and I would ask the dreaded question, "What if? You hated that qestion, but I wanted you to think beyond the choice. I wanted you to focus on the consequences of that very same choice, good, bad or indifferent. There are no free choices. If a person speaks of resolve, and yet that very same person makes no personal sacrifice, it rings as hollow. You are making the sacrifice." The strange thing is I came home with traumatic brain injury and other neurological impairments. When I got home, my Dad was the first person I met. I came home with the stigma and shame of the disability. My head hung down and my face was distorted. He stopped the car and said, "I don't you to feel ashamed. Think of this as part of your sacrifice to this Nation. 14 years later, to the day, 18 Mar 1982, my Dad died but in many ways he lives on in my life. Ward, you raised my Father's dreaded question, "What if?" Thanks, -"Grumpy"

Posted by: Grumpy at July 22, 2007 12:14 PM