Army Lt. Col. Robert Risdon had no idea he was being watched — let alone recorded — when he went to a Taco Bell in Mobile, Alabama, to grab some dinner.
He had sat down to eat when two young boys came into the restaurant aiming to sell homemade desserts in an effort to raise money for their local church.
Lt. Col. Risdon noticed the boys — one 9 and the other 13 — looked old, wet and hungry, and asked them if they had anything to eat for dinner. They told him they hadn’t.
What happened next was captured on camera by another customer, who was so impressed by Lt. Col. Risdon’s actions that he posted the clip and encouraged others to share it.
Army Lt. Col. Robert Risdon is a father of two currently stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia.
When he saw two young boys walk into Taco Bell looking cold and wet, he asked them if they’d eaten dinner.
They told him they hadn’t, and so he took it upon himself to go above and beyond.
The two young boys, aged 9 and 13, had seemingly been left alone at the fast food restaurant, hoping to sell some items from home.
They were trying to sell homemade deserts to raise money for their local church. Sadly, Army Lt. Col. Risdon didn’t have any cash on him. Risdon could have simply declined, demanded to know where their parents
Fortunately, his next action was caught on camera by another customer named Jason Gibson.
Jason then uploaded said footage to Facebook, accompanied with a post that read: “I was in a taco bell tonight when two kids came in trying to sell home made desserts for money.
“I over heard a soldier ask the kids if they were hungry and told them to follow him to the counter, he would buy them dinner. I had to video it and share. Our troops are always taking care of us. Thank u LTC Robert Risdon please please share this….I heard the little one say I want to be just like u when I grow up and saluted him.”
With huge smiles and hearts full of gratitude for this stranger, the boys danced around with excitement as they awaited their warm meals.
On top of buying tacos and drinks for the kids, Risdon shared a friendly conversation with them. It was a moving sight, to say the least.
The footage touched tens of thousands of people who were compelled to share the inspirational clip across social media.
Lt. Col. Risdon proved that our soldiers are honorable men, always looking out for their fellow American — big or small.
But for this true hero, the act was something he doesn’t deem worthy of any special praise. He told The Huffington Post:
“I’m kinda embarrassed and humbled by the praise and don’t need it. I am a believer that we live in the best country in the world with the best people and that acts of kindness happen every day.”
Further explaining what he meant, Risdon added, “I am a believer that we live in the best country in the world with the best people and that acts of kindness happen every day.”
Needless to say, the vast majority of people who have seen the story on the internet disagree.
Customer Jason Gibson posted the video on Youtube and went on to thank Lt. Col. Risdon for his actions.
He asked others to “please please share this,” adding, “I heard the little one say I want to be just like you when I grow up and saluted him.”
The general consensus is that Lt. Col. Risdon should be justly placed in the spotlight for his act, and that’s certainly something we can get behind!
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