By Ranger Puck

[SouthernBlonde]

I got this email earlier this week from Ranger Puck and wanted to share it... thought many here would really appreciate it...

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It was a cool night tonight. There was a slight breeze that made the heat of the day a memory. The parking lot in front of the command group was cleared. The Flags where fluttering softy. But tonight was different. The American flag was at half mast and in front of the pole was two sets of boots, two weapons bayonets thrust into the ground with helmets on top of the butt stocks. In front of the weapons were two Purple Heart medals and two Bronze stars. Two days ago two of our soldiers had been killed and we gathered to honor them.

It really doesn’t matter the situation and the way they died. They were soldiers. And they died doing their duty. Every day they kitted up and went out to train the Afghans how to be soldiers. Every day they faced the uncertainty of a combat environment, and every day they did their duty.

I watched the camp gather to pay their respects to the fallen. Somber faces looking at the ground or smiling nervously. People rushing around trying to insure that proper respect was paid and that the ceremony went off as planned. Protocol trying to make sure that the right people sat in the right place. The music was softly playing Amazing Grace in the background.

The Chaplin mounted the podium and started the ceremony with an invocation. He then introduced the Commanding General. As the General spoke I reflected on how many times I had done this. How many rifles with helmets on them had I seen?

Maybe that’s why I didn’t react when I heard the news. When the word got out that we had lost soldiers I watched the camp descend into an emotional morass. And I felt like I was looking over all their heads. I wondered why I couldn’t conjure up these deep emotions that I was seeing displayed around me. I was issuing instruction and barking at those around me what had to be done. I was more focused. The I realized it was because I was alive.

The one I remember was the first one in Panama. Phillip Lear was his name. We were transferring Casualties from one truck to another. I remember him laying face down on a litter in the back of the truck. I started trying to talk to him as we lifted the litter. The 1SG looked at me and shook his head. I looked down at him and realized that he was dead. And not just him ….everything about him. His uniform was dead. His boots were dead. That one stuck with me. I still think about him often.

The General finished speaking. And the friends of the departed stepped up to the podium to eulogize them. They spoke of the bond of friendship and the enrichment they found in knowing them. I thought of the 30 or so people that would be at home staring at a picture and asking, why? Sons not knowing their fathers. Families torn.

The Chaplin then read from the Book of Romans. And once again lead us in prayer.
As the prayer finished the 1SG marched to head of the ceremony and faced about and started calling the roll. Each soldier he called sounded off with HERE 1SG.
Until he got to the fallin names. He called again……he called a third time. No answer.

The firing party always makes me jump. The volleys fired were crisp and snapped as one in the night air. Before the last echo of the last round died over the hills of Kabul the bugler started playing taps. Every hand in uniform snapped to a salute. I found my eyes glued to the flag at half mast. And felt the familiar tightness in my throat. I was about 7 or 8 at summer camp when I heard taps the first time. It floated out over the lake at camp Gravette and grabbed me then. It still does.

That concluded the ceremony. We started filling by to pay our respects. Everyone stopped and saluted the effigy of the rifles and helmets and saying a silent prayer. Purging the poison and getting back to the business of living. Because tomorrow they have to get kitted up again and they have to go back out and do their duty.

[Ardent Lady]

Thank you for sharing this.

The families, the author, and his fellow soldiers who are in harm's way around the world, are in my prayers.

[BruteForce]

Damned! This gave me goose-bumps and was a nice reminder of what our active and guard/reserve soldiers are doing on our behalf.

Thank you SGM Puck for such a solemn thought.

[Cat]

Great post SB, thanks.

[elle]

Thanks for this SB.



It is very much appreciated, Ranger rgrpuck.

[Jim]

Great essay. Thanks, Carrie.

[Fishboy]

Thanks for sharing.

[cams]

RIP Warriors.

The others still fighting, are blessed to have a man such as SGM Puck with them, leading them and training them.

Godspeed all.

Thanks Little Suga for the post.

[Capellanus]

I suppose I will be leading this prayer one day? I am humbled to serve in the shadows of our Warriors.

Send CSM Puck our condolences.

[Ranger Ron]

Thanks for the post!

[Steadfast]

This is the first time in recent years (that I felt) that reading Ranger Puck's words made me feel as if I were standing amongst all seeing what he saw through his eyes.

RIP Warriors
~S~ (Salute!)