An Unexpected Encounter on the Road: A Veteran's Story Goes Viral

When William Jazwinski, a former U.S. Army officer who served in Iraq as a heavy vehicle operator, was pulled over by a police officer last month, he didn't expect his story to become an online sensation.

It all began when William was driving and an officer asked him to pull over for no apparent reason. "Good morning, officer. Was I speeding?" William asked, surprised.

"No," the officer grinned. "You were driving fine, everything's good."

"So, why did you stop me?" William wondered.

The officer seemed a bit sheepish, then said, "I know this might sound silly, but I saw the American flag on the front of your car and assumed you were a veteran. I wanted to thank you for your service. I know firsthand what sacrifice you made for your country," the officer said.

"At this point, I still didn't understand where he was going with this," William wrote on his Facebook page. "We started chatting, and he asked me where I served and what rank I was. I explained that I was an officer and served in Iraq, and then I saw his face change. 'My son also went to Iraq, but he didn’t come home,' he told me. I was deeply sorry to hear that. I've also lost good friends in Iraq, and I can only imagine how a father feels sending his son off to war and getting him back in a coffin."

Then the officer couldn't hold back. "He asked me if I'd mind stepping out for a hug, and when I did, he said I reminded him a lot of his son, which is why he pulled me over. 'I thought you were him,' he said. 'I still can't believe he's not here.' At that moment, I got out of the car and hugged him, and we both cried."

Since his Facebook post with the story and photo was published, it has received tens of thousands of shares, likes, and emotional comments.