An older guy stopped at a restaurant for supper while wearing a «Vietnam veteran» hat. He observed a table of younger males adjacent but didn’t think much of it until the guys crowded his table one by one, disturbing his lunch repeatedly. As the veteran cried, their actions drew the attention of the whole diner.
Lou Zezoff of Granite City, Illinois, went out to lunch with his wife Annette at a Cracker Barrel while wearing his «US Navy Vietnam Veteran» cap. Lou observed five young males sitting at an adjacent table after being seated. He had no idea that they had seen him and his hat and that they were about to make this evening one he would never forget.
The young men sprang into action once Lou and his wife gave the command. One of them approached Lou’s table and took a seat. «I stood up,» Lou recounted as he came face to face with the man. The young man put his hand in the direction of Lou. «I knew they were military by their haircuts—high and tight,» Lou explained, explaining how he knew they were service members despite not being in uniform.
They were Marines, and the first to approach Lou was grateful for his service. However, the gang was only getting started. As the first man returned to his table, another stood up and approached Lou. The veteran rose up once again. «I want to thank you for all five of us,» the second young guy remarked, motioning to the others.
Lou acknowledged her with a nod, and they spoke briefly. Lou returned to his lunch after expressing his gratitude and wishing them the best of luck in their military careers. They finished their meal, and Lou motioned to their server for the bill. The server, waving the bill and smiling broadly, remarked, «This is your lucky day.»
The young Marines had purchased Lou’s lunch. One of them scrawled «Semper Fi» across the top of the receipt, followed by an «Oorah!» at the bottom. Surprisingly, the veteran stood up, walked up, and wrapped his arm around one of the lads. «You are not required to do this. «I know you don’t make a lot of money in the military,» Lou explained, stressing that their acknowledgment of his service was sufficient, but the Marines refused.
«They wanted to let me know how much they appreciated me,» Lou explained. As the Marines stood up to depart, he went to his table to retrieve his jacket. Knowing they were about to part ways, the young guys decided to pay one last tribute to the veteran.
While the fifth guy was out paying the bill, the other four filed in front of Lou’s table and extended their hands to shake the veteran one final time. Lou remembered, confessing he was moved to tears by the experience. Each of them thanked him and hugged him one by one. Lou described the third individual as «a basket case.» As he narrated the episode, tears welled up in his eyes once more.
As people observed the Marines’ actions, the subdued buzz of the other guests had given way to an odd calm. They turned and went out after the fourth Marine gave Lou «the sharpest salute» he’d ever seen, leaving Lou in «awe» and feeling the deepest thanks for the guys who so forcefully conveyed their appreciation for his service. After the emotional moment, he turned to his wife, who advised him to sit down and collect his breath.
The five Marines were identified as Kevin Morris, Val Diaz, Eric A. Morales, Victor M. Andrade Gomez, and Elijah Reynolds, according to the Belleville News. When contacted for comment, they just stated that it was the proper thing to do. «He stood up for us. «Now it’s our turn,» Pfc. Diaz explained, explaining why he thought it was so vital to honor the Vietnam veteran.
From 1959 until 1963, Lou Zezoff served in the Navy. Lou served as an E5 (Petty Officer Second Class) on the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea in Vietnam in 1961 and 1962. Despite his designation as a parachute rigger, he served as a plane captain aboard the carrier, overseeing a plane from pre-flight inspections until its return to the ship.
Lou returned to civilian life and worked as a police officer for the next 32 years. He began his career as a detective in the 1970s, then moved on to court security with the United States Marshals Service until retiring in 1996. He is the senior vice commander of Granite City VFW Post 1300 and is 74 years old.
Lou Zezoff’s interaction with the Marines reminds us how vital it is to express our gratitude to those who have served and how even the smallest gesture may have a significant impact. Respect and gratitude are the least we can do for the courageous men and women who put their lives on the line for our liberties and security. Their dedication to our country came at a high cost, including separation from loved ones and pain we can only understand. We, like these Marines, should be thankful and recognize what our soldiers have done for us all.