Thread: Military Feel Good Story for all us Vets

In 1988 I entered the Military, like all Military vet's, there are good days and bad days, good choices and bad choices.

In 1992, I out processed rather unceremoniously, and that was the end. There was no social media, no facebook, no twitter, no youtube, just landlines, and US postal service.

During those 4 years, I learned allot, more so than most people, I was young, naive, and easily swayed by influence and the desire to "Fit In".
When assigned to poor/bad leaders, I made bad choices, and did bad things, all in an effort to "Fit in". However, when assigned to Great Leaders, I made GREAT choices, and did great things, also in an effort to fit in.

Like I said, I was young, naive, and wild. However, despite all that, SSgt Sylvester saw more potential in me than anyone else had ever at that time.

In an instant I was gone. Truthfully, I liked it, as it was not the most enjoyable, time of my life. It was also not the worst either. I was no longer surrounded by two side of a life, surrounded by good and bad, and my desire to fit in. That is where I became a cynic, and a person now EARNS my trust, because when a person has your "6" and they lie, its heartbreaking. I was that person that was lied to, by some of the bad people, and I left heartbroken and searching for answers within myself.


Fast forward 30 years later

Last June, unknown to me, SSGT Sylvester now a Retired Senior Master Sgt, was working over a bottle Burbon, and emotions got the best of him, and he was searching for me. He was calling phone #'rs posted on the internet, and actually found my actual cell phone #, and left a voice mail message. I saw the Caller ID, and though No way.

I called him back, and the first question was a challenge question to verify. "What was the name of the restaurant outside the back gate?" I answered, he knew it was me, we are big boys, and there may have been some tears, and crying on the phone, that we will both deny.

Enter the fall, my boat has issues, was taken to Kens Sports in Wisconsin for repair. As it worked out the boat was ready for pick up last weekend, and GOD had a funny sense of humor, because he was in Crystal Falls Michigan for some work that week, & we were able to meet, for the first time in 30 years.

SSgt Sylvester, from Minnesota, and myself from Michigan separated not only many miles, but 30 years as well. Many questions of what happen to each other, and everything in between

Upon seeing each other it was Hugs. It wasn't until we spoke that the tears started. I had rehashed many things to say over the 30 years, if we ever met, and I settled with the following, simple, from the heart phrase.

"I'm sorry that I disappointed you" to which he said "STOP", The neat thing about not being in the Military is that he can no longer give me orders.

I started over, "I'm Sorry that I disappointed you, but more importantly I disappointed myself, and was too young to realize and know it at the time, However, I turned out alright, I'm OK" There may or may not have been more TEARS, hugs, smiles laughter, did I mention TEARS?, I forget the order, and mount of each, it had been 30 years.

We spent the next nearly 72 hours catching up, filling the huge 30-year blank of our lives, to each other. His Daughter was almost named after me (To which I apologized quite humorously)

There was only one picture of us together while in the Military, and it was during a drug bust, it's a polaroid that I still have, it was more than he had, as he had no photos, etc. it was taken between 1989 & 1992







The first meal we had together after 30 years, of course was an AWESOME Ribeye @ a place called Goerge's Steak house. EXCELLENT Steaks.
Here we are 30 years later, many years under the bridge.


The most important part is that we each closed an open chapter of our lives by regaining contact. We are in touch regularly now, & I have my friend again, we have each other's 6, even more so now that we are in touch.

OE

It wss the best of times, it was the worst of times. Thanks for your service. Many days I wonder what if I would've taken the re-up orders they offered me.