Brotherly love

2011 Afghanistan

Yesterday I said goodbye to Major Dean Randal, United States Army.  US Ranger.

I knew Dean for 3 months.  Dean went to Westpoint (you have all heard of it).  Dean spent a year in Korea, two years in Iraq and was on his third year long tour of Afghanistan.  Dean Randal flew home early.

Hold on.  Hold on.  You think he's dead don't you?  Well I am pleased to announce he isn't.  Dean is very much alive.  Come on guys.  This is a "Good news " story for once!  So who is  Dean Randal?  Dean was the guy who got us attached to a Combat Logistics Patrol when we were left in the mountains with no helicopters.  Dean was the guy I spent all day with, lying on a helipad in the baking heat, arguing over trivia.  Dean was the guy who stood next to me when I was thrown out of a very angry Generals office whist I was trying to arrange for us to kill someone with a missile strike.  There's lots more I could say about Dean but can't, and yet I barely know him.  I will probably never see him again.  I might email him.

Dean left because he has been posted to another unit, which is due to deploy back here to Afghanistan next year.  Having been here since September last year, someone saw sense and cut him some slack, so they sent him home to have 6 months with his wife and three children. (two girls and a boy).  When Dean found out he was going home he knew his replacement.  It was one of his friends from his current home base, who lived across the street from him on post.  Dean got this guy to cut the combat patches off his Class A uniform.  The Americans wear lots of patches.  On their left arm they wear the patches of the unit they are currently serving with - in this case, the 10th Mountain Division.  On the right arm, they wear the patches of the first unit they saw combat with, in this case the 101st Airborne Division.  These patches are a big deal to the Americans.   A very big deal.  Before he left, Dean gave me the combat patches off his class A uniform.  I almost cried.

Military service is a very big deal to the Americans.  They live together, fight together, serve together and, unfortunately, die together.  Their Special Forces community call it a brotherhood.  Brothers in arms.  They call each other brother.  Honestly.  It sounds corny, but it isn't.  It isn't corny because they believe it.  Actually, it isn't corny because it's true.  They have an incredible emotional bond.  I have never felt anything like it before. No. That's not true.  I feel it about my brother.  I get that same impression - that Dean would genuinely do anything for me, without question.  Just like a brother.  When Dean left, I put my hand out to shake his.  Dean gave me a great bug bear hug.  I did cry.  Well.  I had a tear or two.  Probably dust.

Yesterday I said goodbye to Major Dean Randal, United States Army.  US Ranger. Brother.  Friend.