You've never felt pain.....

[damasa]

Until you see a friend off to war, or what you think might be war.

It's not the same kind of pain as you feel when someone you love passes away, it's another kind of pain.

I've known the guy for more than half of my life. We went to high school together, played sports together, stayed in touch when he went off to school in Madison and now he's gone.

Is he gone for good? We don't know for sure, only time will tell what happens to him now. Maybe he'll be stationed in Kuwait, Germany, Afghanistan, but I don't know and neither does he.

Man you have never felt pain until you see the tears running down his cheeks, seeing these tears come from a man that you have never seen cry in the entire time that you have known him.

You never felt that sort of pain until you realize that he's gone and you don't know how long for. But the bigger realization is that he might not come back - alive.

You have never felt that pain until you see that look in his eyes. I don't know if was fear, maybe, maybe not. Maybe it was that look when it all set in. That look when he knew that he was leaving, when he knew he could be gone for up to two years if possible. Maybe it was the look that he knew there was a chance that he might not come home? Maybe it was the look you give someone when you realize that you are leaving everything behind, your loved ones, your friends, family, fraternity brothers, your home, your normal civilian life.


Maybe the look he gave me was the look that he knew even if he did return home, he may not be the same, he may never be the same.

This man was supposed to graduate in May, just a few short months away. This man was a great member and asset to his fraternity. This man has now gone off to serve and fight and if need be die for his country. I understand it but I've never felt this kind of pain....