They've done more than enough, and they'd do it all over again.

Without hesitation — and with the knowledge of external and internal scars that accompanied their military service.

Why?

SGT. Keith Robinson:

"I was put on this earth to do two things: raise children and put on the unform. I had to retire early because I had to have my hip replaced or I would still be there."

MSG. Josh Riviere:

"Brotherhood is the reason I'm still in. After you're in for so long, you look to the left and right, and those are the people who truly matter because when things get dark and times are tough, those are the ones still along with you and fighting in the foxhole."

SSG. Troy Johnson:

"Hands down, I would not be the person I am today without the Army or the Air Force. All due respect to the Air Force, but I consider myself a soldier. I spent two of my hardest deployments with the Army. My leadership school is through the Army, but I wouldn't even bat an eyelash. You give up a lot, but obviously people are out there to thank us and give us amazing opportunities like this. I am beyond blessed in that aspect."

SSG. Timothy Nelson:

"I would definitely do it again. It wasn't always the best at certain times, but it was definitely what I needed: the discipline, brotherhood, camaraderie, teamwork, all of that stuff has echoed on in my life."

SGT. John Kriesel:

"It was the best job I've ever had. It was the best decision I've ever made, to serve in the military. It made me who I am today. This is part of the deal. Thankfully I'm still alive to tell about it. I wouldn't have the friends and the bonds with Tim and the other guys I served with, so I would do it again in a heartbeat."

The men participated in interviews with Vikings Entertainment Network as part of the 2024 Hy-Vee Veterans Voyage.

They are proud of their selfless service — and they should be.

The Veterans Voyage program annually shows appreciation by sending military members and guests to a Vikings road game. It also includes hosting the group at Minnesota's home Salute to Service game, which occurred Sunday and featured a 23-22 comeback win by the Vikings and an on-field recognition of the group a special halftime ceremony. Hy-Vee included free groceries for a year as part of the recognition.

This year's experience included a trip to New York City in Week 1 to visit the 9-11 Memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

That tragic day sent a ripple effect across what so many service members would be asked to do; visiting the Memorial provided a closure that comes with paying respects.

"The thing about 9-11, if you were mentally able, old enough, everybody remembers where they were that day," said Riviere, who accompanied his father Paul, a Vietnam veteran. Joshua Riviere enlisted in June 2001 and was on a missile range at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, undergoing basic training.

As the initial news broke, Riviere said soldiers wondered if it was something crafted by drill sergeants as part of the think-on-your-feet training operations.

"They were like, 'No, for real. Another plane just flew [into the World Trade Center],' " he recalled. "Our worlds turned upside down just like everybody else's."

Uncharacteristically, the company commander spoke to the group, pulling aside soldiers from the New York area and having them call their families immediately.

Nelson, who enlisted in 2000, underwent infantry training and airborne school before transitioning to an assignment with "The Old Guard," which included ceremonial assignments at the White House, Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.

He was at Fort Myer, Virginia, when he heard the plane crash into the Pentagon. A search and rescue mission turned into recovery efforts at the Pentagon. Nelson and more than a dozen service members met at the Pentagon for a remembrance ceremony this past year and appreciated the opportunity to visit the 9-11 Memorial.

After four years with The Old Guard, Nelson enlisted with the Minnesota Army National Guard and was in a military vehicle with Kriesel that hit an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq on Dec. 2, 2006. Two squad members — Bryan McDonough and Corey Rystad — died in the blast, and Kriesel lost both legs.

"I didn't think I was going to survive. I was pretty sure my life was going to end," Kriesel recalled. "I remember trying to stay calm, obviously being in shock, but my buddies that were in the vehicle ahead of me, more guys from the Minnesota Army National Guard, they came back and put tourniquets on my legs, performed body aid to keep me stable until the med-evac helicopter got there. Thirty-five surgeries later, I'm back in Minnesota living the dream. Life is good."

Nelson was able to recover in Iraq and return to service; Kriesel, who had enlisted on his 17^th birthday, persevered through nine months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"Knowing that my buddies were still over there in harm's way, and all I had to do was get through that day, get through physical therapy, get through whatever surgeries I had [kept me going]," Kriesel said. "I wasn't in harm's way, so the motivation of knowing I had it easy back here while this or even worse could happen to them, that was my motivator, and even wanting to get back to Minnesota. I love it here, so just that mindset of can't change what happened to me, just have to look at the bright side and keep moving forward."

Dec. 2 is now observed as "Alive Day" by Kriesel and Nelson.

Johnson, Robinson and Riviere followed in their father's footsteps.

Johnson went on active duty orders the day his first son was born (five-and-a-half weeks premature). He was in high school on 9-11 and had his parents sign for him so he could enlist at age 17 in 2003. Johnson served two deployments with the Minnesota Army National Guard (2005-07 and in 2011) and later did a third deployment to Qatar as a firefighter with the Air National Guard. Johnson's wife Molly also is a veteran.

Robinson's brother Alexander spent time with the Vikings as an undrafted running back from Iowa State in 2011. Their father had served as a drill sergeant.

"It actually meant a lot to me that he would say, 'Why don't you think about [serving]?' So to be able to carry that torch on as a family really means a lot to me, but even more than that, my service identifies who I want to be, who I continue to be and who I teach my children to be," Robinson said.

Robinson's first combat tour was in Iraq in 2006 as a medic, and he completed two more tours of duty before his military career was cut short after 17 years. Robinson needed a total hip replacement at age 39 due to injuries suffered in the line of duty. He now works in Veteran Affairs.

Riviere pivoted to the Army instead of joining the Navy where his father had served as a Seabee during the Vietnam War. Riviere, who completed tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and the horn of Africa, is grateful for sharing service and Vikings fandom with his father.

"He's the reason I wear purple, too," Riviere said. "I grew up in this lifestyle."