Big Bubba Intrepid Shopper

I am just in from some odds and ends shopping at one of our local HEB grocery stores. It is located about 2 miles from my home just outside the Westgate of Lackland Air Force Base. Right after I entered the store I noticed something amiss with a soldier's uniform. I saw the word "Army" above his right breast pocket, but, I also saw some gold on his epaulets. I decided to further investigate so I scooted around the aisle to encounter the soldier head on.

I immediately encountered him upon making my U-turn. His tag actually said "Iraqi Army" and he by then was with another Iraqi soldier. Anyone who knows Big Bubba knows that I had to verbally interrogate for more useful information. I already knew one thing for sure about the pair. They were attending the Defense Language Institute, English at Lackland Air Force Base. They both had the DLI unit crest on their right breast pocket flap like all DLI students have.

I asked them if the heat of South Texas compared favorably with that of Iraq. They affirmed that it did despite today being a very cold day in South Texas. I commented that one of them spoke very excellent English. He told me that he had been working with Americans for five years prior to coming here. I guess that means he started working for us prior to the start of the war.

I congratulated them for being very brave men. I said that anyone could join the American Army with no one to fear but our enemies. Certainly no fear for a fellow American citizen. In Iraq they are killed by the terrorists trying to intimidate them. They are indeed very brave. Big Bubba certainly admires them.