Anyone who is a soldier or family member of a soldier knows that working in the military can be a thankless job. With long, dangerous deployments, paltry pay, and time away from loved ones being a daily reality, it’s easy to see why many young people are not considering it as a career option.

Nonetheless, we think it’s important to treat our soldiers with plenty of respect because—let’s be honest—they deserve a heck of a lot of it! It takes more than just bravery to put your life on the line for the sake of your country; it takes a lot of fortitude and a whole lot of uncomfortable compromises.

That’s why we love to share stories about ordinary civilians paying it forward by showing some love to their brothers and sisters in uniform. After all, we think that performing a good deed for these folks every once in a while is the least that can be done!

So, when we came across a tale on the Love What Matters Facebook page about a female soldier getting some unexpected VIP treatment on a plane, we knew that you just had to read it, too!

The writer of this post, Jessica Titus, explains that she was boarding an airplane recently when she noticed that an Army soldier was walking in front of her, getting ready to plop down in her seat for a likely uncomfortable flight in economy class.

Titus then noticed, that upon seeing the soldier, a man at the front of the plane in the first class section, got up out of his seat and turned to the woman. He said, “Sorry, ma’am, I’m in your seat.”

Obviously confused, the G.I. looked down at her ticket and replied, “What? No—I’m in 31B.” Titus recalls the man simply walking away from her, and heading back to coach, where he proceeded to sit down in her cramped, middle seat. This left the soldier with roomy, first class digs for the rest of her flight. He didn’t even want to hear a ‘thank you’. How sweet is that?!

Titus was so touched by this Good Samaritan’s actions that she actually decided to do a good deed herself. When seated, she scribbled a note onto a piece of loose leaf paper and sent it to his seat. Included was a $10 bill—a reward for the man’s generous actions.

It turns out that the man politely refused the money that Titus had sent over to him, but we’re sure that he appreciated the gesture just the same.

It’s great to know that there are folks out there who are treating members of the military like the warriors they are. To read another story about a G.I.’s life-changing chance encounter with a generous soul, be sure to click here.

What do you think of this stranger giving up his first class seat for a soldier? Have you ever done something similar for a man or woman in uniform? Are you a member of the armed forces? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!