We are so far from done. Five men buried. Four widows, and a fiance, left in a seemingly hopeless, vulnerable limbo, all suffering beyond words. All five, plus these men's children, mothers and fathers and extended family, fearing the silence. Alone.
Where the homes were broken, suddenly those broken marriages are painful again, each divorced parent, dying inside again. Alone.
And the children. Some too young to know anything but daddy is "gone." They have no perception, no life experience, that gone doesn't mean later he will bring hugs. And songs. And candy.
In a month, children will be back to school, or go there for the first time. Momma will be left alone. Again. So much to do, no will to move, only ache and cry. Alone.
As soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, we take men home. We stay near that family for a time. When this loved one is buried, we return to routine; to bury our heart. There, hidden from even our own family, loss remains in us as well, but mission says; "shake it off, move on."
Yes, we move. Yes we meet objectives. Quietly praying that when we face this reaper, we might leave without leaving behind this loss we feel. Alone.
Jim Bowman, MBA
W4DFS (VEC)
University of TN at Chattanooga (retired)
Major (TN) INF
4th RGT HHC (retired)
245 Air Support Battalion, OKNG
PATRON EIGHT, U.S. NAVY