Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Gonna be interesting to go back to where part 2 of my active duty military career began, but I’m excited as well.
Today is a bittersweet day for me. My first experience in losing people I got to know in the pressure cooker of a combat zone happened during my participation in Operation Restore Hope. Fast friends made during my deployment with the 50th Public Affairs Detachment, assigned to 1st Brigade 10th Mountain Division, Mogadishu Somalia. The memory of the young E-5 sergeant I featured in a story on training infantry soldiers for riot control, and the MP SSG on convoy escort duty with us during a week long trek to Kismayou. Both from the 977th MP Company, both killed on this day 24 years ago.
I had already left country by the time this battle erupted, but I’d known some of the people involved and their death affected me like I was there when it happened. Its why I volunteered to go back that Christmas and spent another 10 days in that hell hole to try and exercise my guilt for not being there when it happened.
I wish I could say it was the only time I lost friends while in harms way, but I can’t. But today, I will remember and honor them and when I’m finally home tonight, lift a glass in their honor. You’re never forgotten. #RTLW #ArmyTeam #NeverForget