Tonight I had dinner at the local VFW. It was very crowded and most tables were full. I saw a couple sitting by themselves and ask if there was room at their table. He wore a World War II Veteran hat. He and his wife invited me to sit with them. Wow, he was 102 years old and a P-38 Pilot from out of state here for an Honor Flight. Being an aviator myself, we talked about aircraft. I asked him if the P-38 was hard to fly and he said it was very stable and great to fly. He was based out of Africa flying missions over Italy. I didn't want to dig too far as I had a tremendous respect for him and all those like him and didn't want to open any boxes that needed to stay closed. He was great to talk to and I will remember it always. It was an evening that was most enjoyable and I feel lucky to have an hour so so to converse with him. There are very few of them left.

That was definitely an honor. A lifetime memory for sure. America's greatest generation.

Sounds like a very enjoyable person to share a meal with.

Opportunities to talk to veterans are rare around here, I take advantage of them when I can.

Just before the pandemic started, I was at the local hospital with my GF who was doing rehab exercises, saw a guy with an Airborne hat on who obviously was WWII vintage. He said he never jumped out of an airplane, thought I never heard of his assignment: Gliders! I immediately said I knew of them and asked if he was part of D-Day as my father was (non-combat role, arrived about June 9 or 10). He said "No," but it turned out he was part of Operation Market Garden, 101st ABN.

He was part of another mission my father was in: Battle of the Bulge. My father was part of Patton's rescue of the 101st (again, non-combat role), my new acquaintance was standing within earshot of McAuliffe when he told the German officer "NUTS!"

As your event was memorable to you, I'll never forget my own encounter with a paratrooper who never jumped from an airplane!

Your thread title says it all. "What an honor."

It is amazing. God Bless him and his wife.

man, a 102 and still lucid. And going out to eat at a local VFW.

I bet he probably gets regular invites to speak of his experiences at VFWs and American Legions. What an honor indeed.