A Life of Service: One Veteran's Philosophy of Giving Back

In Trinidad, Colorado, a veteran walks among us who embodies a quiet philosophy of service that extends far beyond his years in uniform. Herb Rehm served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970, during one of the most turbulent periods in American history. But his story isn't just about his military service. It's about how those values of duty, self-sufficiency, and service to others have guided every day of his life since.

A Calling to Serve

Herb grew up in the shadow of World War II, surrounded by men who had served their country. Every grown man in his family had been in some form of military service, spanning all branches. The stories they told and the examples they set created a deep impression on young Herb.

One uncle in particular had a profound impact. This uncle and his wife had essentially raised Herb when he was a baby. The uncle had been captured by the Japanese during World War II and held in a concentration camp where he was tortured. When he returned home, he carried problems from that experience that eventually took his life. Looking back on that sacrifice and pain, Herb felt a clear sense of duty. He knew he needed to serve.

His grandmother was having a heart attack at the thought of him joining the Marines, so Herb chose the Air Force instead. He thought he would work in electronics, but discovered he was colorblind and couldn't pursue that path. Instead, the Air Force placed him in a security type role at Travis Air Force Base in California.

His first duty was something no young person could fully prepare for. Herb handled the bodies coming back from Vietnam. It was an experience that stayed with him, though the full impact wouldn't reveal itself until years later when he stopped working and started having problems processing what he had witnessed.

The Code He Lives By

When asked what code or values he carried from the military into his everyday life, Herb doesn't hesitate. Self-sufficiency and the ability to think for yourself when you're on your own. In the military, he went from being part of a very close family where he was spoiled as the first son born into his mother's family after a string of girls, to being completely alone. He had to learn to take care of himself, make his own decisions about everything from health to finances to daily choices. That responsibility shaped him.

Herb believes most young people today should go into the military for a short period just to learn those kinds of things. You have to be able to take care of yourself. You can't count on anybody else. You have to be responsible. He doesn't see that same level of self-sufficiency in many younger people today, and he believes military service could provide that foundation.

The military also taught him about leadership and taking initiative. In every job he has held, including during his service, he has moved up quickly. He's always been interested in learning and taking control. As an Aries, he admits he naturally wants to be in charge anyway. It's just part of who he is. People in positions of authority have consistently recognized that quality in him.

Recognizing the Invisible People

One of Herb's most distinctive traits is how he gives back to his community, though it might not look like traditional volunteer work or formal charitable giving. Herb recognizes all the little people who don't get recognized simply because they're people. We're all just human beings, and if we understood that more deeply, we would be a better society. If people thought about others instead of just themselves, everything would change.

People are genuinely shocked when Herb tips them for doing their job. If he goes to the grocery store or anywhere else, he might give a dollar. He might give five dollars. Sometimes he gives much more. He gives it freely without looking for anything in return. He doesn't make a lot of money, but he has more than he can handle, so sharing it comes naturally.

"We need to start treating people the way we wanna be treated. It's pretty simple what goes out comes back to you."

A lot of times, people aren't used to receiving tips just for doing their jobs. At the grocery store, if someone helps him out a bit, or if he buys Powerball tickets and has change coming, he tells them to keep it. They're always surprised and grateful. Herb feels strongly that we don't recognize the smaller people and those doing minor jobs. We don't realize how important those jobs really are.

He sees this as part of a larger problem. The service industry jobs that families don't want to pass down anymore, the everyday work that keeps society functioning, all of it is undervalued. If we looked at the people doing these jobs differently, we wouldn't have such a shortage of workers in essential fields. But we don't see them. Or worse, we look through them as if they're invisible.

A Different Take on Veteran's Day

When asked what Veteran's Day means to him, Herb's answer might surprise some people. He doesn't take it that seriously. It's another day for him. But not because he doesn't value his service or that of others. Quite the opposite.

"I lead my life like it's Veteran's Day every day, basically."

For Herb, the values he learned in the military aren't something he pulls out once a year to commemorate. They're woven into the fabric of who he is and how he moves through the world. Every day is an opportunity to serve, to recognize others, to live with integrity and purpose. Every day is a day to honor the commitment he made all those years ago.

He has had to look at things differently over the years and consider things differently. There have been a lot of changes since he was young. There are a lot of people today who aren't like his generation. He did for his kids what he didn't have growing up, but he also made sure his kids earned what they got. They learned the value of a dollar. When people are given things without having to work for them, they don't value those things as much because there's no investment.

Herb even applied this principle when he got his little puppy. The person was going to give the puppy to him for free, but he insisted on paying fifty dollars. He told them never to give puppies away because people won't take care of what they have no investment in. You have to have that investment in things to appreciate where they came from.

Today's younger generations have been given so much, even more than what Herb gave his own kids. Many don't recognize the value of a dollar. They want things and they want them now, but the work ethic isn't always there. That's not entirely their fault, though. As a society, we haven't taught them that fundamental truth about earned value.