Alot of us have posted questions here about if we wish we had had surgery sooner, regrets about this or that, they are all good questions.

I do know I think the years would have been easier if the weight were not there. I can not imagine not being with my husband, thick or thin, so I do not regret the years, just that I were not in the health I wanted to be, and the worry and expense it has caused us. I tried so hard to keep the weight off as a teenager to be able to join the military I almost developed anorexia.

I do have a regret. I regret not being able to fight for my country. My great grandfathers fought, my grandfathers fought. Uncles, great-uncles and more. My Grandfather was in WWII, fought in The Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes Offensive) and saw in other events some of the hardest fighting to be done, Pacific Theatre included. he then volunteered again for Korea. He holds the Bronze Star. He passed away last October, the last of his friends. Five times wounded in battle. He lay beside my Aunt, his baby girl.

I do not know all of his stories, I think he took much to the grave. One day in February of 2011, as he was reaching the final stages of Alzheimers, he and my Husband sat by a fireplace and my husband oversaw him starting a fire, he started talking to my Hubby about the things he had seen and done, and were done to him, and did not stop for hours.

I do knot know all of what was said, except that my Hubby waited till my Pappaw went to sleep, my Husband looked different. Older. Sad. he kissed me and told me a bit about what happened and proceeded to drink for hours. He never drinks.

I regret never being to be able to join the military. I regret I cannot be there. I regret I cannot fight, for you and myself. That is my regret. I did not post it here, because it was a very difficult thing to talk about, but I tried to join the Texas State Guard once I hit onderland. I did not get very far - due to age but also the sleeve and diabeties and asthma, I was turned down. That is my regret.

If you fought, thank you. I tried. If I am ever asked to fight, or be allowed to volunteer, I will be there.

Thank you so much for your story,it really hit close to home for me. My grandfather fought in WW2 also and I remember some of his stories and I'm sure many he didnt tell. H epassed 10 years ago but seems like yesterday. So happy for your sucess,I'm 12 days post-op and this is hard I hope I have what it takes tobe strong enough to stick with it. 14 pounds so far. I used to live in Texas,actually in Houston too. Just moved back to New York last year and regret it everyday. Hoping to be back very soon. Again thank you for your memories.....

I served in the Texas National Guard, I barely got in because of my weight, and once I was in, my weight was always an issue, especially since I had a hard time passing the PT tests. While I was in the National Guard, I met my husband, who was a Desert Storm veteran. He has since passed on, and I don't wanna get too sad thinking about it, but I had to respond to this post in his remembrance on this holiday.