Reginald Crews, Tournament Angler

It was a warm spring evening in Savannah, GA during the early 1990's. I was serving as a military policeman on Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah. While working gate duty this night a 1970's or 1980's model pickup truck approached my gate. As the truck drew closer I saw that there was a VIETNAM SERVICE RIBBON tag on the front bumper of the truck. The truck was being driven by a man in his early to mid 50's. His skin was tanned, not from a tanning booth but possibly from farming or fishing. His eyes were blue and he wore eyeglasses. I asked for his ID card and he gave me a retired veteran ID card. As I handed him his card back I asked him if he was a Vietnam Veteran. He told me that he was. That's when I did it. I extended my hand and shook his and told him "Thank you for your service." He nodded and drove off. Later that night I saw his truck leaving post and I waved.

A few weeks later, that same man, driving that same truck, drove back through my gate while I was on duty. After he stopped he asked me if I was the same soldier that had thanked him for his service in Vietnam. I told him that I was that soldier. This time he extended his hand to shake my hand and he said "Thank you." to me.

He told me that he had been back from Vietnam since 1969, which ironically was my birth year, and that I was the first person that had told him "Thank you." for serving in Vietnam. He told me this while tears were welling up in his eyes. We exchanged "Thank you" again and he drove off. I never saw him again but I'll never forget him.

There is power in words. When you see a Vietnam Veteran or any veteran please go out of your way to say "Thank you."

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit"   Proverbs 18:21