Met a couple of interesting WWII vets.
Today I walked into the 7-11, there's an old dude in line wearing a ball cap with large Airborne wings on it, a 101st pin inthe center, a CIB above that. Our eyes met as I was checking his hat out, we nodded, I moved on. I wind up in line behind him and initiated contact. Toccoa man, 506th PIR WWII. Two bronze stars, one with a V. We chatted for a minute, I shook his hand and told him it was an honor to meet him.
Two weeks ago I'm late night shopping-grabbing some stuff so the kids can eat the next day. I'm walking out, this old duffer behind me muttering about finding a carriage. i tun around and ask if he wants mine-he says "sure" and shakes my hand to thank me. As he sticks his hand out I see he's got a beauty of a tattoo-a 1917A1 Browning on the heavy tripod right there on his arm. "You were a heavy machinegunner?" I ask. His eyes lit up. "Yeah, I carried that damend thing all over Asia. How'd you know?"
"Oh, I was a machinegunner too. A few years after you though" and threw in a wink. He laughed. I asked who he was with-he says "5307th Composite Infantry" I blinked, thinking to myself "Holy Fucking Shit, this cool old dude was a frigging water cooled Browning gunner with Merrills Marauders". He leans closer and says "Merrill's Marauders to you." I shook his hand again and told him it was an honor to meet him. We chatted for a minute, but I didn't want to hold him up and he seemed ready to shop.
Look around, there may be horoes right next to you. And they're dying off fast.