[JohnBraden]

One experience I had in 1987 was my co-worker and I were eating at one of those places you cook your own food on a small grill located in the center of the table. This was in a small town close to the Air Force installation we happened to work at.

A group of businessmen were eating there as well and, through interpretation from the restaurant owner, we learned they wanted to buy us drinks (and perhaps engaged in conversation). We politely responded that we were thankful but we had to decline because we were going on duty right after dinner (I hated mid-shifts). We looked at them as the onwer explained the situation and they gestured politely in our direction. We thought nothing of it and continued with our dinner, which continued even after they decided to leave the establishment. They waved to us as they left and we waved back. When it was time for us to leave and ask for the check, the owner said the businessmen had paid for our meal and, due to our situation, were disappointed we couldn't drink with them. We never saw those businessmen again.

I don't know if they were being polite, appreciative their government didn't have to shell out billions more for defense because we were there, or they perhaps were genuinely nice people:it didn't matter to me. That left a mark that to this day has been with me.