Recent veteran surprised to learn 'OIF/OEF' ball caps not mandatory

TACOMA, Wash. — Mark Watson, a local teacher and recently retired Army colonel, was surprised to learn that the black, cheaply-made veteran ball caps denoting branch, wartime service, and military medals were not mandatory, sources report.

“It was the strangest thing,” said Watson. “A few weeks after my discharge I still hadn’t received it in the mail. I…