'After spending a wonderful week together, my fiance dropped me off at the airport and returned to his base. I didn't realize how much I'd miss him until I reached the plane and burst into tears.

"What's the matter?" asked the unlucky woman seated next to me. Between sobs, I told her the sad story of my long distance relationship.

"If you truly love him, it will work," she said. "I know, because my ex-husband was in the Army."