Valentina, this was an incredible story.  It may be a fiction, but it made me cry.  Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with all of us.
Angie

I almost cried in citirque today, too, Ruth. Lines, shapes, forms, rule of thirds, team work, patience, love for photography and perserverance, all shine here. I'm so glad all these concepts came out of my mouth directly to this very talented little gentleman's heart. Because this photo is pure heart.Thanks for this amazing opportunity!

You are terrific! Amazing!
Kisses.
Silvia.

You are great!
Absolutely amazing!
Kisses.
Silvia.

Valentina - Your story awakened many memories.  I served in the "Forgotten War" - Korea.  I did not have the fortune to meet an Eileen or a Patty.  But I sure do remember the daily, continuing fear of being outed.  I was certain I was the only one in my division who had the need to crossdress.  Now, I realize years later that if we are 3% of male society, there must have been a dozen sisters within a mile radius.
Excellent story.

Sandianne

Tina, my brother Bob served in the Viet Nam War. I don't know much but that he was a cook like my Dad was in W.W. 2 I feel sorry for Ellen, all  she wanted was to be Daddy's Girl. At least Billie gave her comfort and she died a heriones death. Me, I hope that all trans-sexual women find that Daddy wants their Princess.

Dear Valentina,
Your name caught my eye. Heinlein is my favorite author bar none. I related to Bill very closely as I am not only a tron pusher, but was aviation fire control. I did my time in the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club in 72 in USS Saratoga CV60. While dressing was not really on my mind in those days, I had done so in earlier days and do now with my wife's knowledge.
You have really provided a wonderful story about the bonds of the brotherhood/sisterhood of warriors. I have been to The Wall on several occasions. As it turns out, the first name I looked up was Sharon Lane. She's a nurse from Canton Ohio who was killed in a rocket attack on the hospital.
I am a member of TAVA which is Transgender American Veterans Association. We are at http://www.tavausa.org.
Again, thank you so much for writing something that deeply touched me.

Welcome Home Sister :)
Hugs
Jenelle

I just read your story and wanted to compliment you on a touching and wonderful story.  Though I never served I was able to relate to both your characters.  I relate with Eileen especially since I myself am in nursing school.  I understand the rejection of a father  so your portrayal of the emotions involved was almost too realistic.  I hope you continue to write quality work as this story shows.  Thank you.

Susan

Yes I can only echo what has already been written about how sensitive and well written this was.  It had me in tears.  I dont think the story needed the last sentence, where the presumed father of Eilean tturned upp at the wall.  This wouldnt have happened and it wasnt needed in the story - I understand the need to hope for such a reconciliation, even when it is not going to happen, though.

Thanks for a really touching and well written tale.

Hugs

Briar

I was trained, tested, and packed to go to se asia, but they held us up, but anyway, will have to go back and finish the story later, once emotions settle down, was crying too hard to finish it the first time.  You've written a wonderful, realistic, work. Thank you.

Thanks for writing such a sensitive & caring piece....those of us who travel these roads find our lives entwined with the caring & gentleness that being "gender enhanced" brings to us if we are open to it.

Cheers,
MAB

One of the finest stories I've read!  Had me in tears.....
Wasnt in Viet Nam but am former military (Korean vintage) and a ham.  Could relate to much of what you wrote.

Thank you for the story.

My dears what a great story .All  those who have served ones country but who has feminine feellings and more will know what such people go though .This story shows warmth love and understanding in the one place you would expect to find such things a war.This is one of the best storys I have read for a long time. I dont know how that war affected the people in the story I am English but I have known people  good friends who have been in the services who are TG .This speaks for them.Keep up the good work .You touched me and more with this  story than any other story I have read.

Terrific story.  Something for everybody here: CDers, TSs, and
veterans.  A real tear-jerker, and expertly done.  The outing of
Eileen was convincing, but I thought the revelation that Bill was a
CD was a bit abrupt.  But the dressing scenes were delicious.  A
terrific job all around.
.
--Pervy

I cried.  You are an exceptional author Valentina to be able to write two so very excellent but so very different stories as "Best Served Cold" and "A Tale from the Wall"

PS - AuH2O in '64 - or anytime!  I was a year too young to vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964, but I certainly would have and was devastated when he lost; if he rose from the dead to run in 2004, I'd vote for him.  He expressed his attitude toward gays in the military in one of his last interviews:  "You don't have to be straight, just shoot straight."  He was a true exponent of tolerance and freedom.  I think he would be heartbroken to see the Republican Party of G. W. Bush and John Ashcroft.

This is a wonderful story. Even though I was a devout "peacenik" during the Viet Nam war, I found myself crying at parts of this story.  I even found the information about Barry Goldwater interesting.  I knew he was K7UGA, but didn't know he was active in MARS.  
Ms. Smith, do we share an interest, other than TG fiction?  
You may enjoy a light little piece I wrote called Sultrifier 1.3
(Archived here, on Storysite)

Hugs
Cait
Change the zeros to o's to use the e-mail address.  

I thought Heinlein's "The Number of the Beast" was written in the 1970's, and according to all the sites I've checked, the paperback version I have is one of his earliest, dating from 1980.  My best guess is  Val forgot when TNOTB was published, and thought it was a decade earlier than it was. Aside from that nitpick (of interest mostly to those absorbed with minutae of Heinlein's books) I find this 'pg' look at CDs and TSs in the military in the early '70s enjoyable. I expected/hoped Eileen could help Bill explain Billie to Molly, forgetting the arbitrary "your number has now been called" nature of death in wartime, especially the "one minute in the jungle being shot at, the next downtown in a big city miles from anything so 'un-genteel' as war" which many accounts of VietNam give to that experience. I'd dropped into the story so much I forgot where Bill was when the flashback/memory hit.
KR
(change zeros to 'o' when mailing)