In Memory of....
Alot of you want to hear more about my friends here in Iraq. Well I want to tell you about two of them so that they'll never be forgotten. I know I'll never forget them.
Nick Mason: I knew soon as you walked in the armory that you were going to be a good friend. I knew that no matter what we went through in this country, that we'd never get that smile off your face. When your truck hit a land mine, you were smiling before you got out of the cab. When I had to have guard duty with someone other than Nate, I always asked for you or Dave. I knew you were going to be a great Army leader one day. You always wanted to be the best. I'm sorry I didn't get to know you longer. I thought the world of you. Right before you walked away from the table I remember thinking that I was glad you were with us, that you and Dave and Rich were three of the best guys to come to this platoon. And how glad I was that you had your Stryker uniform. I didn't know that 2 minutes later everything would change. I'd never see "Styker Steve" again. At least I got to have lunch with you. I love you.
Dave Ruhren: There wasn't anyone that I could talk to more about nothing. You were one of those guys that I knew I'd stay friends with forever. I knew that everything on our mission would be ok when I saw you come up to the motor pool that morning. Whenever I went on any mission as a driver I wanted you on the .50. I knew that if you were on top the Hummer with "Sarah" I'd be ok. We had our first guard shift together right after our first mission. We were both tired and cold and excited that we were here and doing something. No one wanted to be a soldier more. I'm glad you were sitting next to me at lunch. I liked you and Nick alot more than I ever had time to show. You were two people that I never got to spend enough time with. I wanted to see you alot more before this deployment ended. I know you two are in Heaven right now goofing off. It wouldn't be any other way. I actually recommended you for the team leader job that I got.
I tried to get to you two, but there were just so many. I'm sorry that I couldn't say goodbye. I'll never forget you, and I'll make sure the world never does. I'll promise you that. You'll both be in my heart forever.
December 21, 2004. I love you guys.
Nick Mason: I knew soon as you walked in the armory that you were going to be a good friend. I knew that no matter what we went through in this country, that we'd never get that smile off your face. When your truck hit a land mine, you were smiling before you got out of the cab. When I had to have guard duty with someone other than Nate, I always asked for you or Dave. I knew you were going to be a great Army leader one day. You always wanted to be the best. I'm sorry I didn't get to know you longer. I thought the world of you. Right before you walked away from the table I remember thinking that I was glad you were with us, that you and Dave and Rich were three of the best guys to come to this platoon. And how glad I was that you had your Stryker uniform. I didn't know that 2 minutes later everything would change. I'd never see "Styker Steve" again. At least I got to have lunch with you. I love you.
Dave Ruhren: There wasn't anyone that I could talk to more about nothing. You were one of those guys that I knew I'd stay friends with forever. I knew that everything on our mission would be ok when I saw you come up to the motor pool that morning. Whenever I went on any mission as a driver I wanted you on the .50. I knew that if you were on top the Hummer with "Sarah" I'd be ok. We had our first guard shift together right after our first mission. We were both tired and cold and excited that we were here and doing something. No one wanted to be a soldier more. I'm glad you were sitting next to me at lunch. I liked you and Nick alot more than I ever had time to show. You were two people that I never got to spend enough time with. I wanted to see you alot more before this deployment ended. I know you two are in Heaven right now goofing off. It wouldn't be any other way. I actually recommended you for the team leader job that I got.
I tried to get to you two, but there were just so many. I'm sorry that I couldn't say goodbye. I'll never forget you, and I'll make sure the world never does. I'll promise you that. You'll both be in my heart forever.
December 21, 2004. I love you guys.