(Note: this article was first written in 2022. The updates are posted in red in 2025.)
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There was an interesting article in my most recent issue of Army Times entitled "23 Things Veterans May Carry For Life." The author, Sarah Sicard, may or may not have intended this article as anything more than a "fun things in the service" kind of thing, but she got me on a lot of these points.
The list of 23 things is prefaced with a short lead-in paragraph that says in most Veteran's closets one is likely to find an old uniform or two (guilty), some dirty caps (guilty), a stack of medical, training, and discharge records (guilty - they always told us to never lose any of these), and some old ribbons and/or medals (guilty). It seems she got me on all of these and I know several of my Vet friends who would also fit this bill (right Dave and Dave!).
So, what about the list of 23? Well, I am certainly guilty of the following on the list:
#2 (bad knees) (Way worse now in 2025)
#3 (the misguided idea that ibuprofen and fresh socks will cure anything) (I would add that rubbing a little dirt on it will fix it). (Thinking about buying stock in Advil)
#4 (Tinnitis) (On my second set of hearing aids, have a VA disability rating for this, the tinnitis is now coming in in high-def-stereo!)
#5 (The ability to sleep anywhere) (I would add - at any time). (These two still very accurate)
#7 (Old combat boots) (Still have two pairs up in the attic ... you never know )
#9 (Issues with authority figures) (Not so much now though).
#10 (back pain) (Yep - still have this...some might even say I'm trending toward a pain in the back- side)
#12 (a woobie that has seen better days)
#20 (sleep apnea) (Maybe)
#23 (a deeply stained coffee mug that I tell everyone is just now "seasoned").
Any Vets checking this post out will undoubtedly agree with these and have a few of their own to add to the list. Some of my additions would be:
- a strong urge to eat at all times of the day (not much, but more like "grazing") (this goes with #5 above because in the service you never knew when you would get time to do this again). (This might be getting a bit worse with getting older).
- a lot of Vets I know have a strange habit of blowing their nose in the shower (I don't know why, we just do it). (yep)
- becoming irate upon seeing cigarette butts on the ground. (Not so much now. Fewer smokers 😌)
- the breakfast of champions is really a Snickers bar and a diet Coke. (Great lunch on the golf course)
- orange Gatorade is best !
- telling and retelling stories from service days (never around non-service people, but always with service buds or "those who were there.") (Yep - still do some of this, but not too much)
- and finally, a deep sense of pride for our service (a pride that lots of people will never understand). (Always feel a sense of pride for having served and served with such GREAT patriots!!)
So, thanks Sarah for this article. It brought back some good, old memories. It also sent me back to the closet to check on those old uniforms!!
Real heroes don't wear capes, they wear dog tags.
Hooah
