It's getting to a point where most of the guys I know who are still alive don't even mention it anymore. I hardly talk about it myself. We all agree that some things are best kept secret or unsaid. Look, I'm proud to have served, and am now living vicariously through my son, who is a Master Chief in the Navy [I only made it to E-5]. His Navy is different now, woke and such, and when I was in, they were different times. I would go back in a heartbeat if called up, but I won't be. What I will take to my grave is that when I took the oath, I became part of the Brotherhood - we speak differently, we believe in different things, never show disrespect toward Old Glory, give man hugs to each other, and often sit and stand in silence at public events or social gatherings. The only conundrum we face while alive is that we will never be complete until we die, for when I die I will get to see my fallen Brothers again for one or two last rounds. Hey, it was all good, one hell of a ride. The Red, White and Blue are colors that don't run, and anyone who tells you or tries to show you otherwise can go fuck themselves.