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I didn't serve my country in the military, so of course I couldn't consider myself a veteran. But George has made me realize that maybe I did serve, and have simply forgotten the names of my service buddies, the dates, and the number of months I served in any given location. I may be a veteran after all, an absent-minded one who happened to serve under absent-minded commanders.
If you're a vet think back to your own time of service. Isn't it impossible to remember where you served, or who you served with? Of course it is. So you can sympathize with someone's confusion on the matter.
It's sad really: All those great old buddies, all those shared experiences, all that bonding, and I can't remember even one name. How cruel memory can be. And apparently none of them has any memory of me, judging from the lack of Christmas cards.
Of course, I didn't go on to become famous; if I had, you can bet I'de hear from them, right? Hey, if I was rich and powerful they'de be tripping over themselves to step up and vouch for my presence in the military. Wouldn't they?
I hope you believe me. I'm increasingly certain I served with great distinction, in the same branch Bush* did, in fact. The one that doesn't keep records. There are lots of branches like that. Honest.
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