The US military is known to be facing some serious recruitment problems, but it still came as a surprise to Sonia Goldstein when she received a letter urging her to enlist with the marines.
America's elite fighting force, known as the Few and the Proud, generally seeks to recruit men and women between the ages of 17 and 24. Ms Goldstein is 78.
"We'll push your physical and mental limits beyond anything you've ever known," the letter promised Ms Goldstein, who uses a four-wheeled walking frame to get around the city of Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles. The marines might have been prepared to overlook her physical infirmity because of their desperate need for Arabic speakers - "Now is the time to put your unique language skills to the test," the letter said - except that Ms Goldstein only speaks English.
"I couldn't believe it," she told the KCAL television station in Santa Clarita. "My girls were sitting here ... we were in hysterics, we laughed so hard."
A local marine corps spokesman blamed a clerical error. Sergeant Chris Castaneda said that "she'd be a little too old".
Ms Goldstein said she was thinking of paying a visit to her local army recruiting office anyway, since it was in the same building as her branch of Weight Watchers. "I'd bring my walker in [and say] 'Here I am!'" she said. "Uncle Sam wants me? I'm generous. What the heck."
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