Another Soldier Stands Guard.....

at the gates of Heaven. My day was shit. I found out this morning, that a very good friend of mine, someone who I have trained with over the last 4 years, passed away last night. The details are unimportant. What is important is that he is gone. He leaves behind a wife, and a 1 year old daughter.

He was scheduled to deploy with me, and I was counting on him to be one of the rocks that I would've leaned on to make it through with my sanity intact. Now he is gone. I watched him grow from an inexperienced Soldier, into someone that I was willing to place my life in his hands. He was young, 23. It is difficult, because this came out of nowhere, so sudden. We will bury him, and go on, because thats what the living do, espcially the Army. That doesn't mean that the pain will be felt any less. I will grieve in private, on my own time, after the shock wears off.

I believe that Soldiers, when we die, get to guard the Heavens from the denizens of evil, just like we do down here. I hope that he rests in peace.
Goodbye, I love you. May you find peace and love on the other side, and guide us into the lions den, and back out.