A retiring Army sergeant was left stunned when his military battle buddy who he hadn’t seen in 12 years travelled across the country to surprise him at his retirement party.
Derek Bateman, 40, and Joe Malik, 52, first met while attending basic training for the United States Army’s basic training program at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in 2010.
Derek and Joe bonded over being two of the “older guys” at training, and as both suffer from ADHD, they offered a level of support for one another. Read the full story here ▶
