Amazing People

I have met some people on the trail with life stories that bring tears to your eyes. My unofficial trail count indicates a large number of Iraq and Afghanistan vets are doing the trail. Some of them are in better mental places than others. I have been sharing my room at the Budget Inn with an army medic who saved a Special Forces solder who had his foot shot off. He received a silver star for that. Another vet served combat tours in Kosovo and three tours in Iraq. During the third tour he just lost it and underwent a lot of psychological rehab. He retired from the military after 13 years. He has had to leave the AT today as it is too much like the military to suit his style. We went to dinner last night as his last trail day. He gave a "subdued" flag uniform patch that saw three tours in Iraq. He wants me to send him a picture when I get to Maine.