A little motivational experience (as if this group needs one) to shed some light on the kind of character our men and women possess:
I was in Colorado Springs, home of Ft. Carson, for a Homeland Defense conference a little while ago. One day I was having lunch at a restaurant near my hotel. Sitting at the bar next to me also having lunch was a young man about 22 or 23 years old, obviously a serviceman. The young man was wearing leg braces and damage to his hip and leg were apparent as he was wearing shorts. I told the bar tender his lunch and anything else he wanted was on me. The young man thanked me and we started talking. He told me he was injured by a roadside bomb that damaged nerves in his spine and tore up his hip and leg. He had undergone numerous surgeries and physical therepy. He was just weeks away from his medical discharge.
Now the good part: I asked him if I could shake his hand and I thanked him for his honor and courage. He turned to me and said " Everyone says that to me. I don't see the big deal. I was just doing my job." In 26 years of service nobody has said anything so humbling to me!
These are the kind of men and women we are supporting.