Sack Lunch

El Ciego · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:22 am

I don't know where the following originated, but it's worth a read. BTW, if you're currrently serving in the U.S. military, and if we ever meet, lunch is on me.

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Subject: A Lunch to Remember

A MUST READ - Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. I'm glad I have a good book to
read. Perhaps I will get a short nap, I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally
surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. Training, and then we're being
deployed to Afghanistan. After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be
several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch.
Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base. His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying
lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. Take a lunch to all those soldiers. She grabbed my
arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him. Picking
up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the
soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken? Chicken, I replied, wondering why she asked. She
turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. This is your meal . Thanks. After we finished
eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take
this. He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain
coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on
my side of the plane.
When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his
hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly, unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I
was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed
when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about
six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed I gathered my
belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked
away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their
trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them
seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their
safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life,wrote a blank check for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are
way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

Mucho Gusto · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:55 am

EC,
Excellent post amigo! Thanks, and hats off to all military personnel! :wink:

BangBang57 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:57 am

WOW!! What a wonderful heart warming story!! Sometimes while watching and hearing all the stories of the ugly American, I tend to forget that there are still a lot of wonderful, loving, caring, and GOOD AMERICANS.

Thanks El Ciego for a wonderful reminder of what many Americans are really all about!

Gringo Malo · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:24 pm

For a man who is visually challenged, Mr. El Ciego is " All Seeing ". As one of many thousands of Vietnam Vets, I returned to the US at the end of my tour and quietly took my place in society. The common thought for Vets at the time was;" be quiet and don't tell anyone where you've been or what you've done ". Today's new War Veterans are honored, remembered and celebrated and as a kicker, us Vietnam guys are given a little recognition for our service also. The VA Hospitals have improved budgets that can better accomidate as they should have always. Even so, I always pick a couple soldiers in the airport ( Atlanta has lots of them ) and step forward and pay for their lunch with perfect timing. I have seen first hand on flights where passenger flying first class, readily give up their seat for a soldier flying coach. Soldiers are still used as political pawns in todays world. The difference in our current war situation is that........ these guys believe in what they are doing and most of todays American Public are thankful for their service.

Pacifica55 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:20 pm

Good story. According to Snopes it can neither be confirmed or denied.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/lunch.asp

Jackramher · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:23 pm

El C, being an ex marine and serving my country for four years. I have to say that we as civilians do not take into consideration what our soldiers do for us. To give us the right to express ourselves. So from the bottom of my heart and the entire USMC I want to thank you and say God bless you for your tremendous deed.
God bless our country and God blees the soldiers.

Semper fi!!!!!!!

Nhhank · **Joined:** Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:32 pm **Posts:** 3399

When I pass a memberof the military I say thank you soldier Try it
I did not think this up myself heard it somewhere and used it

Leduc · **Joined:** Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:08 am **Posts:** 14

I remember the troops coming back from Viet Nam and I see the troops coming back from OEF and OIF, and I am really glad to see the difference in the way they are treated now. CAE is often my starting point, and the individual soldiers coming through the terminal get applause and handshakes. Thanks to El Ciego for the story, apocryphal or not.

NYG · **Joined:** Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:22 pm **Posts:** 1929

El C

As a marine I can really relate to that post. Thanks

NYG

El Viejo · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:01 pm

I have witnessed similar events on a smaller scale. I prefer to believe that this one really happened.

TimBones · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:09 pm

Yeah, I am on active duty now and writing this from inside my quarters in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert, When I wear a uniform in the airport in the states, normally between 10-20 people will come up and thank me and my mates for serving, once a friend and I were eating breakfast in a Denny's and someone picked up our check and the number of times I have seen service folks upgraded to 1st class when in uniform is substantial.

All things considered, its a lot better now then it was when I entered the service in 77 when they still had marines who remembered being spit upon when they returned home from Vietnam, (Yes, I know Prolijio, Viet Nam was over in 72, but there were still reservists in my unit that served. )

I just want to say that my fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen and I sincerely appreciate the sentiment!

In fact, when I boarded the plane to return to FT Bragg (now an army reservist), I was in civies, but had a ACU Suitcase and the stewardess upgraded me to 1st Class. I was touched and showed my thanks by drinking a bunch of their beer.

Rascal · **Joined:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:28 pm **Posts:** 493

Pacifica55 wrote:

Good story. According to Snopes it can neither be confirmed or denied.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/lunch.asp

Doesn't matter.

JTF-Bravo · **Joined:** Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:45 pm **Posts:** 814

A couple of days ago, I redeployed back from Afghanistan. I processed through the big replacement center in Georgia, and took two flights to get home, one to Atlanta and another from Atlanta. Felt a little weird. Four days of flying, and having spent an hour in a bunker on Thursday night because of a guerrilla rocket attack on our base.

The only hassles were the TSA security guys. I was singled out, both in Colombus and in Atlanta for the full "random" treatment. I should have worn a pair of gym shorts under my uniform, because it would have made the near-strip search easier. Boots and jacket had to come off. Their wands kept being set off to phantom bits of metal that weren't in my pants. Their sensors were so sensitive, they had to pat me down to find that the liners in the disposable wetnap satchets were setting of their metal detectors.

As I being wanded, I put my hands in the air, POW style. I looked at the chubby Phuck gving me the treatment in the eye and said, "The Taliban couldn't make get in this position, but you are." To the slovenly mouth breather behind the X-ray machine, I said, "Man, how did a crackerjack mall cop like you NOT get picked up by the Navy SEALS?"

Later, on the little trains they run between the terminals in ATL, I spotted a TSA K*D. He just looked sooooo wrong! His uniform was a mess. Dreadlocks pulled back with a rubber band, shoe laces dragging a good 14 inches behind his shoes, sucking on an "energy" drink. I gave him my best drill sergeant look, and growled at him like James Edward Olmos on Battlestar Galactica when Commander Adama is pissed. "Young man, when you wear the uniform, you represent the country. Can't you at least tie.... your.... shoelaces?" He said he would but he had his drink. "I'll hold your drink. Square...youself....away." I held his drink while he fixed his sneakers. A couple of folks on the little train gave me some knowing looks. Did the TSA run out of applicants with Veteran's Preference to give those jobs to? Or would no self-respecting veteran take such a job as a professional panty-sniffer?

El Viejo · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:10 am

Six, Look at the bright side, most of the TSA'ers are working rather than on welfare. But, you are correct in general. Most are bottom feeders like catfish in the Federal system. If I had to do what they do, I'd probably be on the web looking to buy a euthanasia pill for myself.

www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Sack Lunch

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