It was kind of a strange experience for me, most of all because it wasn't something I really thought out beforehand.

We were having dinner at the restaurant of one of my Bakery bread accounts, when my wife noticed the owner talking to someone at the table behind us. The man looked like the owner's brother, because of an obvious familial resemblance.

We asked him if that was his brother. "Yes," was the reply, and "He goes off to Iraq in 2 days, with the Army."

Crap! I thought. I bet this guy doesn't even have a good knife. He really needs one like my Dumpster Mutt. I was carrying my razor-sharp convex-edged Mutt in an Okuden sheath under my shirt tail. I asked. He didn't have a good knife. Probably didn't even occur to him that he needed one. Crap! I had better give him mine! I just had a STRONG gut feeling that he NEEDED my knife!

I gave it up. We all felt teary about it, probably because we felt it was more God's idea than mine. Got another one on the way already. I don't know if the knife will save a life or not. But I DO KNOW that every time he sees it, uses it, wonders about its' incredible strength, he will remember "someone I didn't even know gave me this knife when he heard I was going to Iraq."

Sorry if it sounds self-aggrandizing. It isn't meant to be. The strange part to me is the super-strong gut feeling I had that he NEEDED my knife.

Great story Tom, and well done! to give up one of your babies to help out a stranger who you think will need it more, so hard yet you felt you had too, "I salute you!"

Welcome to the Yard.

You did the right thing... respect, man!

An incredible gesture on your part.

Really nice of you. You know that the recipient will remember that day.

Well, yeah that's a hex bell, but this is the wrong thread. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah Yeah... Just nuked that and moved it over.. Thats for the heads up. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Good on ya Brother, Good on ya. God speed to that fellow, and all who have preceded him.

I don't approve of the war but your gesture has impressed me. You gave something that you obviously liked very much up to a stranger who might need it more than you. I tip my hat, gestures like that proof that the human spirit is well and alive. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

roger

that really shows the true spirit of the yard.

Tom,
Thank you for looking out for one of our servicemen. I hope and pray that he will never need to use that knife to defend his life. But if he does, I know that the knife will not let him down.

I also know that "what goes around comes around" (red-neck karma as it were) so I know that you will be rewarded for your generosity.

Thanks again,
Rich

Good job Tom! Our troops need all the help they can get.