Army Lt. Col. Robert Risdon had no idea he was being watched — much less recorded — when he went to a Taco Bell in Mobile, Alabama, for dinner.
He had sat down to eat when two little boys came into the restaurant to sell homemade desserts to raise money for the local church.
Lt. Col. Risdon noticed that the boys – one aged 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 filmed by another customer, who was so impressed by Lt. Col. Risdon’s actions that they posted the clip and encouraged others to share it.
Facebook / Robert Risdon
Army Lt. Col. Robert Risdon is a father of two currently stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia.
When he saw two little boys walk into Taco Bell, 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 boys, aged 9 and 13, had seemingly been left alone at the fast food restaurant, in the hope of selling some items from home.
They tried selling homemade desserts to raise money for their local church. Sadly, Lt. Col. Risdon did not have any cash on him. Risdon could have simply declined, demanding to know where their parents were.
Fortunately, his next action was caught on camera by another customer named Jason Gibson.
Jason then uploaded said footage to Facebook, accompanied by a post that read: “I was in a Taco Bell tonight when two kids came in trying to sell homemade desserts for money.
“I overheard 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 it. 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 big smiles and hearts full of gratitude to this stranger, the boys danced around with excitement while waiting for their hot meal.
In addition to buying tacos and drinks for the kids, Risdon also had friendly chats 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 who always look out for their fellow Americans — big or small.
But for this true hero, this act was something he didn’t deem worthy of any special praise. He told The Huffington Post:
“I’m a little embarrassed and humbled by the praise and don’t need it.”
Risdon further explained what he meant, adding, “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 saw the story online disagree.
Customer Jason Gibson posted the video to YouTube and then thanked Lt. Col. Risdon for his actions.
He urged others to 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!
Sometimes it’s the smallest actions that have the biggest impact, in ways we might never have imagined.
Our brave military men and women give so much, both on and off the battlefield. Robert Risdon is proof of that. He only aimed to fill two bellies that day, but this soldier touched hearts everywhere.
We need more people like this man in the world. The least we can do is give him the recognition he deserves.
