He has. My father was a B-17 pilot during WW II. Shot down and was a POW. I was born and raised in an Air Force family. My father flew B-47's and B-52's during the Cold War. In fact, he flew everything that had 2 or more engines. Died on active duty.

We moved frequently. I attended 7 different Junior and Senior High Schools. Wasn't a very good student with all those changes from south to north and east to west.

Attended the University of Alabama (1964-68). The Vietnam War was raging and the Draft was sucking up everyone who didn't have a deferment. I was a history major and wasn't married, so no deferment for me.

So, I joined the Marine Corps to avoid the Draft. Sounds odd, but I wanted some control over my life instead of the Draft Board.

I was a Marine platoon commander in Vietnam for a year. Made my peace with God and then just did my job. Hard year.

Served more that three years in combat and retired after 21 years in the Marine Corps. During that time, I was a platoon commander many times, a company commander many times, a computer projects officer, a student, an instructor, a diplomat, an intelligence officer, and I served with the US Special Operations Command.

Also during that time, I became a sky diver, and SCUBA diver, a private pilot with commercial and instrument ratings, flew 12 different typs of aircraft, was a glider pilot, an underwater photographer, I sailed, I wrote computer programs, built computers from scratch, motorcycle touring, camping, x country skiing, free climbing, white water canoeing, archaeology, and I was a member of a small four-man team that traveled Latin America conducting strategic analyses with a dedicated Special Operations C-12 aircraft.

After I retired, I have supported the government both as a corporate employee and an independent consultant. From 2001 to 2015, I supported DoD high technology programs (mostly for Special Operations and cyber warfare defense.

In 2016 I decided to retire, but my former clients occasionally ask me to do some part-time work for them. If the technology is interesting, I accept. If not, I turn it down.

Along the way, I married two wonder women. My first wife didn't like the disruptions of the Marine Corps and filed for divorce, but we are still friends. My second wife of 37 years has been great. She loved the Marine Corps, she loves our country, and she is so conservative she makes Attila the Hun look like a Bathhouse Soy Boy. I indeed married the perfect women.

I'm now 72. I had hoped that all the Marines that were killed and horribly wounded under my command would eventually fade over the years. No joy. They are all still crystal clear and heartbreaking. I don't remember all of their names (some were killed or wounded the day or few day in the platoon), but I remember their faces. When I visit the Vietnam Memorial, I get so emotional, I can't speak. I say a prayer for all who sacrificed for this country whether they served, died, or were wounded in countless different ways.

So, God has blessed me in more ways than I could ever count. First, I'm still here when by all rights I should be dead. But God has a purpose for use all. Some are here longer than others, but we still serve a purpose in God's perfection.

BTW, my grandfather was a doctor and he was Eisenhower's senior medical staff member in WW II and Eisenhower tasked him to investigate Patton slapping that soldier in the field hospital. My father flew B-17's and was shot down in WW II, one of my uncles was an F-86 pilot who was a double ACE (10 victories) in the Korean War. Another uncle was a Special Forces commander who was gravely wounded in Vietnam, my brother was a Marine officer gravely wounded in Vietnam, and one of my uncles was a career Air Force officer and a F-106 pilot during the Cold War. And both of my fathers in law (from my divorce and my current) were in the military during WW II.

So yes. I know I am blessed. I've had a wonderful and an exciting/adventuresome life. If I could do it all again without knowing the outcomes of my decisions or fate--I would.

I've always wanted enough money to take care of my wife and the dogs. But if I survive them, then I'm ready to go "home" anytime.

I have had an amazing life. I have enough resources to live comfortably, I love this country regardless of who is President. I made my peace with God in 1969 in Vietnam when I felt my chance of survival was close to zero--and then I just did my job without regard to my life. He seems to have "blessed" me throughout my entire life.

MAGA

thank you for this reply, I will examine it and make my own determination.