Military service dates are just that: dates from your inception into the military till your discharge. Death dates are different. When you die at 88 after retiring at 65, then you probably might find it useless to want your service dates on your tombstone. Other than that, forty years is nothing, honestly. Remember, they can tie it in just the same, they might just have to change armor style from MJOLNIR Mk. 6 to MJOLNIR mk. 8 or something like that. (be weird to see him in Hayabusa or Recon.)

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When cities burn and armies turn and flee in disarray,
Cowards will cry "tis best to fly and fight another day."
But warriors know it, in their marrow when they die and fall:
It is better to have fought and lost then ne'er have fought at all.