Originally Posted by SF718 (Post 196030)

I just want to put my teammates name on here who fell in battle on 10 November 07. I thought of this as a good place with people who would appritiate the heartache.
Just some quick info. He was an 18B who came through the X-ray program. He was from Pittsburgh. His son is almost 2 years of age and his name is Bastian, great kid. His wife is Ginger and she has had more strength through this whole thing than i would have thought possible. His family and community where some of the most patriotic people in the US, All of us who had to lay him to rest were never so proud to wear a uniform.
He was 25 and died right before his 26th birthday. He was considered my junior bravo but his commitment to the job and pace of learning made him the other senior bravo and it pains me to not see him go to the places he was going to go in the regiment... I promise. He died in northern afghanistan and for those of you who are interested can find out more specifics on the USASOC fallen heros wall.
Ive known other men who have fell, but this was different because of our working relationship, our close proximity on a daily basis. Survivors guilt has become a new word in a few of our vocabularys.
The FOB that we were operating out of was renamed after him.
If i live to be old and grey, ill have a shot of whiskey for him/with him on his dying day in the hopes that hes looking over our shoulder young and strong laughing at us for mourning....

heres to all the fallen brothers, SF or not, and your families. god bless.

thanks for you time.
Dee