It's almost impossible for me to describe how it made me feel when that young soldier at the gate said "Welcome home, sir!" 

it's been 46 years (august 1979) since I earned my basic parachutist badge at Ft Benning and I've always wented to go back, just to see the 250-ft tower. 
I've seen pictures but it's just not the same. 
Monday afternoon I made it back; the big towers look just the way I remember them. 
The 34-foot towers too - they look just like I remember them. 
The covered training areas where we learned to do PLFs. . . the same except there are a couple C-130s with the wings removed - I'm pretty sure we used a wooden frame to simulate the door and it looks like they have real air frames for that now. 

I wandered around a while, and exchanged pleasantries with a few other old paratroopers that were doing the same thing. 

One guy had his wife and a couple  kids with him - they were taking a picture in front of the C 130 there. They were all cheerful, acting like they enjoyed being there and asking their dad about jumping and stuff. I was happy for him. 

Another fellow had his wife and one teenager with him. 
WHen he tried to talk to the teenager about the Army the young man acted very indifferent, even dismissive. 
The veteran was stoic but clearly wished the younger man was a bit less dismissive. 

A younger guy - apparently on active duty - was walking on the sidewalk speaking loudly to someone on a cell phone - clearly upset about something. In passing I said "how are you doing" or something. 
He sayd "Great - my wife just cleaned out my bank account". 
I said "I hope you get that sorted out, soldier". . . I didn't know what to say. 

The Airborne Walk is awesome. 
I have a lot of pictures; I promise I am going to learn how to post pictures on our website.