My Band Of Brothers

 

"There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24 (New Living Translation)

 

  Concerning the posted photo of the sharp Army soldier; we call him Q-Dawg but his real name is Hector. He was my driver during my tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm; an unforgettable war in the Middle East which kicked into full gear in January, 1991. I will write more of him at a later time but it is because of Q-Dawg, (and many other soldiers in my past), that I am now awake.

 

  It is presently November 13, 2012. The hour is 2:24 A.M. and I am very much awake. I anticipated such but, as usual, I strove to overcome it this time.  Yesterday was Veteran's Day; one of several military observances which always provokes memories within my subconscious which are normally dormant during my waking hours or not readily re-visited aside from my dreams and certain triggers. I have lain awake since going to bed at 9:40 P.M. thinking about my soldiers, our journeys and adventures together, and how much I love them all even today.  

 

 My wife had long drifted off into a deep sleep and I convinced myself that I, too, was exhausted. Earlier, she had made the holiday a very special day for me from the moment I had awakened. After years of living with a career soldier she has learned much about being a military wife and subsequently earned her own stripes which she wears with strength and honour.  As I reflect back on the events of the day; going out to breakfast, shopping, a new wrist watch for me, a seafood lunch and later how she sat in my "man cave" with me for hours watching television, (even a bit of Monday Night Football), until she was ready for bed, I now believe she purposely saw to it that my day was peaceful and without incident. On these particular holidays she has seen me somberly travel back to certain military times; especially the war, and has learned of my disdain for that war and any war, and has come to understand my frequent insomnia. She knows of my love for my own "Band of Brothers" from my Army life. I still remain in contact with several of my Desert Storm troops and my pre-war soldiers through Facebook. Hector, Michael, Frank, Smitty, Roger, Donald, William, Nestor, Adrian, Greg and Edward; to name a few.  We do not talk much but we check in on one another frequently. And should the need arise for either of us to express a thought and a distant memory or to share an incident which suddenly came alive in our hearts, or perhaps to simply say, "Hey, man. I remember the time...and I just want to let you know how much you meant to me both then and now", it will be expressed openly and without shame or fear of being considered unmanly for we all came through the same fire and we know who we have become. 

 

  I will always love my soldiers; both from peace-time and war-time. Serving alongside of them was not like going to work at a grocery store or some factory; where once you clock-out you do not think of your co-workers until the next working day.  We were, and still are, a family. We knew more about each other than our own families of origin and we proved, more than once, that we would do anything for the other.  As for me, my soldiers were my friends, my peers, my support group and my most dear and trusted allies.  I feel sorry for anyone who has never known such friends during their lifetime.

 

  I bid each of them, alive and dead, a Happy Veteran's Day and a sincere "Thank you" for being my friend and brother.

 

Sleep good, soldiers. I'm up on perimeter.

I love you all.

Dennis