Hello all, my Name is Doug Ridener, and i am the writer of this story. A friend ran across this posting of the email and told me about it. i had to see for myself and i have to say THANK YOU for all the response. it was not my intent to have this spread everywhere when i wrote it to a few friends, who forwarded it to a few friends, who forwarded it to a few friends and so on and so on. as of today March 22, 2011, I have received 238 replies to the “soldiers story” email, all good (except one, it was rather sad actually from a very pessimistic man who was convinced I was trying to get money).
I don’t know for sure how many phone calls , I will guess about 25-30 from all over the country and a couple from soldiers in FOB’s “forward operating bases” (one in Afghanistan, one in Iraq) just to say “thank you”.
I have cried with several Vietnam Vets this past week who called, I heard many stories of them coming home to be spit on or have feces’ and urine thrown at them. My heart goes out to those guys.
Last week the email was printed in a Kansas newspaper (small local paper) and last night it was read on “AMERICAN HOME RADIO” A Conservative talk show for WBOB - AM 600 a radio station in Jacksonville, FL., this morning i got a call from a local preacher who has a radio show in Alabama and he asked if i would be on the show? i have declined, for no other reason than i don't want this to be about me. because its not, its about our military not me. read it on the air if you want, that will be fine.
I am just not comfortable with the attention.
I am honored with your thanks and kind words.
sincerly, Doug Ridener