Al Goldman is a former soldier who lives in Maryland with his family. He retired from the active Army in 1980 and from government service in 1996. He is a lifetime member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He says that when you meet another vet, "you are immediately friends, regardless of service or rank." He knows that even Vietnam vets, who were not well treated when they returned, are proud of their service and the military branch in which they served. Al has degrees in engineering and business but is retired from full-time employment. He loves to learn and when he has a chance, to teach. He believes that if you haven't learned something new today, you've wasted the day!.