Retired soldier, 61, reports back to duty

[unhappycamper]

Retired soldier, 61, reports back to duty
By Brian Albrecht - The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
Posted : Saturday Feb 28, 2009 15:00:59 EST

BEREA, Ohio — Austin Asher kept a Cuban cigar from his 2003 military tour in Iraq, and every time he walked into Whitey’s Army & Navy Store, he swore he’d smoke it the day they let him back in the Army.

A few weeks ago, the 61-year-old strolled into Whitey’s and fired that stogie up.

More than a year of push-ups, crunches, jogging and exercising his right to appeal to every military official he could think of — up to and including the commander-in-chief — had finally paid off.

To the amazement of some, and the confidence of others, Asher is wearing sergeant stripes again.

And now his wife, Jane, will have to add a sixth Blue Star in the window to those representing their four sons and a daughter serving in the Navy, Army and Coast Guard. The couple has four other children and three grandchildren.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_back_to_duty_022809/%2e