11/11/2025
Much respect to the Veterans who were willing to sacrafice for our country. The story below is not mine, but demonstrates how much military and families sacrafice for our freedoms.
Happy Veterans Day!
"When I was leaving RNR and heading back to Ramadi in 2006, I wrote letters to my wife Solvig, my two boys Damian and Tristan.
I was saying goodbye, because I believed I would never see them again. In the letters I told Solvig to move on and find someone who would love the boys as much as me and asked her not to marry another soldier, so they would have a dad that was around. I told Damian and Tristan how sorry I was that I couldn't be there to raise them.
On the way to the base, I told Damian, who was only seven, that he was the man of the house and to be brave and strong to take care of Tristan, who was only one year old, and watch over their mama. I told him not to cry when I left, because it was going to be okay. When I got out of the car, I hugged my wife, who was sobbing, kissed Tristan, and knelt down to kiss and hug Damian, the man of the house now.”
“Damian stayed brave and strong, as his eyes watered and his lip quivered. I knew selfishly that if he cried, I might not get on the plane that day. I stood and turned as tears flowed from my eyes, and I walked away, never looking back for fear I would stop in my tracks.
I just said goodbye to the three most precious people in my life. In that moment, I gave myself totally and fully to the army and my men, knowing I was going to die in Iraq. "
From Jocko Podcast: 482: Roll Up Your Sleeves and CHOP THAT S**T UP. With CSM Daniel Pinion., Mar 19, 2025
