Farewell…
I just got back from the memorial services for a friend of mine and two others that died in an IED earlier this week. That was harder than I thought. I was doing good till the end. They were traveling down one of the many roads through our AO on a regular combat patrol. I am not sure of their exact mission, but they were hit by a large IED detonated by some insurgents. He died immediately and I doubt he even knew what happened. I was there for the recovery.
He was a good soldier and friend. We had uncannily familiar backgrounds. Both born in the same city in California (I think the same hospital), both moved to Alabama where we grew up and both call Alabama home. We both joined the army in the late 80s, got out, and then came back into service as medics about a year apart. He always had a way with people too. He could get his point across, offer advice and people would listen. I wish I had half the gift he had in that regard.
