One
Back in 93', there was a good friend I met freshmen year at Harvard University. Smart cookie, funny and charming, great personality, and a jubilant smile. He was athletic and toned, stronger than most. And although he was everything anybody could ask for, he was struggling. He never said anything about his past, or even his present. But something about his demeanor was off from a normal person. If you looked in his eyes, you could see pain, agony, and sadness. It was almost as if someone took out his heart and replaced it with ice. As college carried on, the closer our acquaintance became friends.
There were nights we would hang, just the two of us. He wasn't too much into the college party life, or the drinking games. Instead, he would use his time more valuable in studying, participating in-group activities, or working out. Most of the time he was caught doing his own thing. The more and more our brotherhood grew, the lesser parties I attended.
Instead, there were Friday and Saturday night “bro” talks. At first, it seemed a little weird. But something new is always a little awkward at first. It wasn't until the third or fourth Friday that this friendship became a reality. And the bond I had with him seemed to be complimentary. We would take walks around campus, play basketball, work out, or just hang in the dorm. It was honestly the closest thing I ever experienced to a brother.
Our talks went from the classes and social life on campus to a much more sensitive topic. The past. It was the topic I was surely he would try to hide or cover up. I wasn't afraid of my past or anyone in it. To ease the pain, I decided to open up my life locker first. I thought I lived a normal, average American life. Born November 28, 1974 at 8 pounds 3 ounces, as Harry Gerald Stamper. Raised in Detroit by a blue-collar, average household with six members, three of them being my sisters and I. My father was a auto-mechanic for Ford, while my mother was a teacher in Middle School. I was the middle child, well the middle older child. My four-year-older sister, Ginger, attended community college and transferred to Annapolis Naval Academy. She's now an officer on the U.S.S Bradley Air Craft Carrier as a communications officer. My twin sisters, Jeanine (JiJi) and Jeannelle (Nelle), are six years younger than I. They attended the middle school where mom works.
As for my personal life, and me there wasn't much to tell. I went to Logan High School, home of the Eagles. Played four years of Varsity Basketball, Football, and Baseball. My grades were above a 3.5 but only once did I get a 4.0. Weird, yet understandable. I was always busy, whether it was with sports or friends. "Oh so you were a jock?" He asked. With surprise, I replied, "If you wanna call it that." "Well obviously, you're on a full-ride scholarship to Harvard for Basketball," he replied. I downplayed his accusation and told him, "It's not everything as it seems." At the time, I also had a girlfriend from Detroit, which was going on around 3 years. As I ended my childhood story, he looked deep into the words I just told, and said, "Wow."
I wasn't really intrigued by his exclamation, but rather curious to what his story was. Nobody in the dorm rooms knew his roots, or his story. In the past, a couple dorm room buddies placed bets on his hometown. I remember at lunch with some of them a few weeks back, they said the major cities were Chicago, Orlando, and Los Angeles. "I used to idolize guys like you back when I was in Middle School and High School," he said. Before I could ask why, he began his monologue.
He was born, Michael Steven Willis, from Alameda, California. Raised alongside his two sisters Stephanie and Michelle, from his mother, Irene Willis, Michael was the middle child. His father, Thomas Eugene Willis, died when Michael was nine from the Vietnam War. He was a United States Marine Aviator, who crashed while shooting down six bogeys, who tried following his team home. "He could have made it home, or that's what his commanding officer said to us at the funeral, but instead he chose to die saving his fellow pilots." Mr. Willis received the Medal of Honor posthumously, the highest award given to a Military Service member.
From his childhood, Michael was involved in his community and his church. His father was never around due to his military service, so it was often his mother running around with him and his two sisters. "I was fortunate to have played basketball, soccer, football, and baseball, like you. I also learned to play the piano for church, the drums from my cousin, and guitar by watching fellow classmates. We would sing radio tunes while I horrifically tried playing by ear." Already shocked at all the activities, it got better.
"My father and mother always taught me about the Lord. And although nobody can see Him physically, 'We live by Faith, not by Sight.' I am deeply grateful and fortunate for what I have and what has become, and I wouldn't change myself for the world."
"When I was growing up, I wasn't the best child. I was rebellious, disrespected my parents, only cared for what I called, 'good friends.' I wanted to be the popular, social, jock everyone loved. But something about me was different, something I couldn't explain. I don't know if it's because I had feministic traits from my sisters, or if I never had that father figure. I admit that I have had a rough child hood, I moved around a lot before my father died. I never had a constant set of friends, only acquaintances.
and although I hated it back when it was happening, I admire the diversity that I went through. I have seen all sorts of social classes; the rich, the poor, the average. The Asians, the blacks, the Mexicans, the whites. I've seen socialism, racism, communism, the geeks, the jocks, the funny kids, and the boring ones. I've seen dedicated ones, sluts.
And if I had one wish, it would be that the world didn't have to be so stubborn. Why do we fight, when we should just compromise."
"All I do know is that I never had any person close enough to call my best friend, and no brother to understand everything that goes through my mind. I don't get what's normal and I don't get what's liked. My mom always told me to be myself, but it's kind of hard when I don't know what myself is. I always treat other people better than I treat myself. I always put the other person before me, and I end up getting stepped all over. It's not necessarily a 'nice' guy factor, it's just because until this day, everybody always leave."
At first, I never realized what Michael was trying to say. But from the day he said it, those few words stuck with me. It wasn't until junior year at Harvard that, 90 percent of the people I have either met or tried to keep in contact with, have disappeared. Could this be what Michael was trying to tell me about?
Two.
It was December 18th, 1996 when I decided to confront my good brother. For the last year or so we decided to share an apartment together. Through the rough times and the good times, he was the closest person I could talk to. A couple hours before my flight, I asked him, what he meant by what he said, "people always leave". He looked up at me, and said, "Merry Christmas Brother. The storms coming, my flights cancelled and Christmas is right around the corner. If my flight is cancelled, yours for sure will be cancelled too." I remember those few words he said, as if he was trying to avoid the topic. "Look Harry, you're the closest person I have in a 3000 mile radius, and by what I say may affect our friendship. If you really want to know, I'll say. But after Christmas. This is the time to be grateful for one another, and to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ."
Once again, Michael's psychic abilities were correct. The FAA decided to cancel all flights out of Boston due to the snow storm that was to last on and off in the next six days up to Christmas. He said the thoughts he had were logical reason like Sherlock Holmes, I beg to differ and say he was psychic. "It's reasoning. Storm is coming, therefore planes can't land," Michael said. I Seems like Santa didn't want us to go back to our hometowns to spend it with family. Instead, for the next seven days, Michael and I stayed at our apartment.
We stocked up on groceries for the next seven days. We both called our families to wish them a Merry Christmas and apologized for not being able to make it. Ironically, Michael and I were the only two stranded near Harvard U. Everyone else seemed to make it out fine. The next seven days seemed to fly by. We would spend time watching television or talking about the latest gossip. Since freshmen year, Michael's opened up a lot to me, and only me. We declared ourselves brothers separated at birth, which sometimes was funny because He was Black and I was White. There were a lot of things I knew about Michael that no one else knew. And it all happened in the last two years.
Michael was extremely gifted and talented. He had an IQ over 160, but he was also athletic in sports. He's even beaten me in basketball, more than once, playing one on one, game to 21 single points only. And that said a lot because I'm on the school team! He told me before he wanted to be a firefighter or a United States Marine. He wanted to follow his father’s footsteps but not exactly become an aviator. He was afraid of heights but loved speeding. He was shy to those he didn't know, but was very talkative after getting to know them. He tried explaining it to me once. "I'm not a party person because everybody can have fun. I like to find the bond between two people, in real, in depth. I want to know someone's character during rough times and stressed situations, not during parties or good times. We all know and like to have a good time. But who can handle the bad times, who will be there for me if I need them to be."
At first, I didn't see his reasoning behind that. But eventually I began to understand. "Everybody lies," he said, "I want the people that keep their word. Who are true." "And The other people?" I asked. "The other people, I respect them. They're doing their own thing, I'm doing mine. 'If we want certain people in our lives, we will find a way to be in them." With more of his psychological perspective, I was able experience a change in Michael's attitude. He later explained the change as a sign of our friendship. "Before we became good friends, I was suffering from loneliness. I know we can all go find and meet people. But I'm different in that, I only want people in my life that will be down there in the next ten years. I know it starts somewhere, but 90 percent of these kids only want to have a good time. It's not the good times that makes a person, it's the rough times."
As Christmas rolled around the corner and the storm passed, both of us were eligible for flights back home. "If we leave now we can spend New Years with our families," I said. "I thought you wanted to know why people always leave," Michael said. I replied, "I do." He looked at me and said, "All the family I need for New Years is right here. I'll stay if you stay. You go, we go." I ended up staying that New Years too. It wasn't because I wanted to know his reasoning, but there was some truth to his statement. 'You go, We go.' A statement said so powerful yet so short.
Without regard, I said, "Explain. Explain everything you know and why you think these ways..I won't look at you any differently, your my best Friend." I never expected to say best friend, but it just came out that way. I guess the truth always finds a way out even if we're not subconsciously thinking it. He looked at me and smiled.
"Harry Stamper. My brother, My best friend. You have proven me wrong. People don't always leave. But the statement is maybe still in effect. Three things are constant. The Universe, the people in it, and time. We don't have enough time to make all the mistakes in life, so learn from them. People will always come and go, so never dwell on one person or one thing. Those who are irreplaceable are the wants that will stay and not leave. People come, people go, it's a common fact. We don't have the lifestyles of just living freely. We each have our own goals, our own lives, and our own destiny's. People always leave is a statement I've said since High School. I never had friends like yours, the ones who would have my back until I died. I have sisters, whom I love to death, but there's really no camaraderie there. I'm huge on camaraderie. I don't know if it's because of my father or if it's because I never had it. So instead, I look to people and their inside character. That will tell me who good people are, and who good people aren't. They will tell me if they will leave or not. Everyone talks the talk, but it's a question if they're willing to walk.
The pain in his eyes, they were still there. But as he kept talking, I saw the pain disappear. "I've always said life was a gift, it has multiple journeys, excursions, and destinations. We each don't get to choose our destiny, only the choices that add to our destiny. I said people always leave, and I was wrong. I thought from the start, you would surely be like everyone else, and leave. Don't be mad at me for that. I don't mean it to be negative. I love people and the ways of life. But I also use my time because it's valuable. It's the only thing we're running out of from the day we are born. I rather spend time with the ones that matter than the ones that just wanna have a good time. I don't have a lot of friends, and I'm fine with that. But I know that those friends I do have, I would be willing to go to hell and back for them. I would risk my happiness, my health, my life, for them. You, Harry, I would die for. You go, We go."
Not to sound unmanly here, but I was tearing up inside, understanding how strong of a brotherhood we had. I didn't know how to react, so all I said was, "I would die for you too bro." With much satisfaction, he told me another story. "Life is about the choices we make. What we do, and who we have in them. We decide that. But sometimes, fate will show us the door. I never thought we would be friends, you being the popular one, and me just me doing my own thing. But somehow, someway, you and I have grown our friendship beyond anything I ever expected, probably what you ever expected too. My father, he told me when he was growing up, he was always getting in to trouble. My grandfather, he was a pilot, and he was never around to look after my dad. And my father had three different chances to become a pilot after high school. But he blew each chance, he said, 'I rather go out with my friends instead of joining the Air Force or the Navy.' By the time he was twenty-two, he flunked over half of his college classes while free falling to a bum. His parents were wealthy, but he never asked them for money. Instead, his friends and him hustled.
But one day, it hit him. It hit him like a car crash. And from that day on, he decided to turn his life around. He moved from San Francisco to Sacramento, attending Sacramento State University. And as he started conquering classes, he became more satisfied with himself and where he was going. Near the end of his junior year, a Marine recruiter approached him on campus. Before the recruiter could ask him a question, my father said, 'Do you have any planes to fly?' The recruiter told my father he had to take some tests to see if he qualifies, and then go to Officer Candidate School to become a Marine officer. So my dad passed, and he went to the first eight weeks of O.C.S. I remember him telling me, 'It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. And I honestly didn't know if I was going to back for the second eight weeks.'
"The following summer my dad had two plane tickets, coincidentally on the same day. One ticket was to Europe, to visit my Grandpa and Grandma. The other, was back to O.C.S in Virginia. He said, 'I didn't know where I was going to go, I just knew I was going to get on a plane that day. And so I packed my bags, without knowing a destination until I got to the airport. I knew, If I passed the hardest thing in my life to go have a vacation in Europe, I would never be able to fly. The three windows of flying that I passed up before and this chance, would be my last.' And as you know, he decided to go back to O.C.S. He became an officer, studied his butt off in aviation school, and became a Marine pilot. "
As Michael finished up, I was speechless. How could one story be so moving and be unheard of. I would have never guessed that's how his father became a pilot. I honestly thought the Marine Corps was a decision based on their decision, not the individuals. "My father was a great guy, a hero. He's the reason I am the way I am, and the way I think. It's funny what you can remember, especially at my age. But I remember most of it, and the things I don't, I ask my mother."
I forgotten all about how we got on to the topic, but I was amazed. "What do you want to do in life Michael?" He laughed and said, "I have no idea. If I could something that helps people, moves people, I would. But I just haven't found that thing that can do it all." As a structural engineer, I thought, well you could build structures for businesses. But that wasn't him, he wouldn't want to do that the rest of his life. "I've been thinking lately," he started. " Junior year is ending this summer, and the junior summer is when O.C.S starts for students like me and you. I'm thinking about going, but I don't wanna go alone. I don't want to force someone to go, but it's just a suggestion. I don't know what I want to do in life, but I believe it's a stepping stone."
Three.
Those words that New Years stuck with me all during Spring Semester. I researched books, articles, recruiters. The benefits, the downsides, regrets to joining the Marine Corps. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do in my life, but I didn't know if the Marine Corps was for me. I thought, summer would be Basketball training for my Senior year and hopefully time to relax. But then I thought, Michael's dad had all the fun in the world, yet he chose to go serve his Country. Michael and I would talk about it often. He often said, "The brotherhood, is a lifetime. There's no such thing as an Ex-Marine. Once a Marine, Always a Marine bro."
Two weeks upon the semesters end, I stayed up late studying for a final exam. It was around 3 A.M when I decided to go to sleep. May 11, 1997 was the day. I remember, I couldn't sleep. At first it was the grade I needed on the Final to get an A that kept me up. But then it drifted to the story of Michael's father, a Medal of Honor, United States Marine Aviator. My best friend and brother, Michael, wanted to serve his country like his father. And me, I was just in the crosshairs. Did I want to go? Kind of. Did my parents want me to go? Never. But what do you do when it comes to family. Friends are extended family, and Michael was the closest thing I had next to family. Do I disappoint my parents or do I disappoint my brother. My brother's going into harms way, no one has his back like I do.
I think it was around 6:30 A.M when I went straight to Michael's room. I looked at him asleep for a minute, and decided it was a bad idea. Before I made it back out the door, he said, "What's up bro? Everythin' okay?" I turned around and said, "You go, we go." He sat up, a little in shock, and a little delirious. And the he said, "We are going to breakfast!"
Like Michael's dad said before, those two summers of O.C.S were the hardest thing I ever had to do. Being in shape due to basketball, It wasn't the physical training that took its toll. It was the mental. The thinking, the tactics, the strategy, all played big roles. Being the opposite, Michael soared through O.C.S. He finished at the top of his class in all categories. The drill sergeants knew just like I did, how specially gifted Michael was. And although the drill sergeants pushed us and showed no favoritism, they knew Michael wasn't going to fold like the rest of us. They knew they found a needle in the haystack among recruits.
After attending and graduating O.C.S, Michael and I attended the Basic school. That taught us everything we needed to know about war. Weapons training, anti-terrorism, tactical forces, Marine history and tradition. And from there, we decided to pursue ground forces. At the time, I honestly wanted to be a sniper, while he wanted to be a platoon leader. He wanted to save lives, both military and civilians. I rather have kept my distance from the fight and do the damage from there. My father, was part of the reason for that thought process. 'If you don't return home son, Your mother won't forgive you.'
For the first time in since our freshmen year of college, Michael and I separated. He led ground forces as platoon leader in rescue missions. I was a support soldier and sniper. I would back soldiers up with sniper cover. Of course, we talked from time to time, wrote letters. He was stationed in Iraq while I was in Afghanistan. We lasted 7 months apart until it hit us. Both of us.
Four.
I received a phone call on September 16, 1999. By then, we graduated from Harvard University, and served a good two and a half years in the Marines. It was Michael on the other end. He sounded relieved to hear my voice. We caught up with our missions and stories. By the end of half hour, Michael said, "Harry, you ever think about being the best of the best." I said, "I do, all the time. And we are." Silence carried out for over twenty seconds. I add, "We're Marines. Damn good ones." Michael responded, "I mean the best. I know we're the few and the proud, but what about being that one percent." At first, I didn't understand what he was trying to say. But then I remember after Basics, Michael said something about the one percent being Navy Seal Team six. Being psychic, Michael breaks the silence and said, "Exactly."
Great, I thought. This guy wants to get into more trouble, more danger. I'm a sniper and my parents are happy I don't have to rush into places. But now, Michael wants us to be the ones who go in to places secretively, without back up, without knowledge, and be the inside man. "Interesting but no go," I thought. But me being me, and us being us, I couldn't let him go alone. That following week, I wrote Michael a letter. The letter only had four words. "You go, We go."
Seal Training, December 1999. If I could explain to everyone what Seal training was in words, I think the only word I can decide that is most accurate is, "Hell." I guess that's why there's a "Hell week" as their last week. And I guess that's why their motto is, "The only easy day was yesterday." There was eighty soldiers going into Seal training. Only 11 made it out. The first eight weeks filtered us out, one by one. The last sixteen weeks, was actual training. I didn't think I would've made it. Michael, he knew he would make it. It's funny, Michael, has this thing about him where, if he wants something, he's gonna get it. There's no stopping in him. He had both the physical and the mental toughness behind it. And of course, he wasn't going to let me fail. He pushed me, probably harder than the instructors did.
Eleven of us, that was it. Eighty trimmed to eleven. Four of eleven went on to do something else for Seals, I think instructors. That was shaving the fat off of the muscle, of an already toned man. It was like 1 percent body fat, 99 percent Navy Seal. And our leader for the-now seven man, one canine company, who else, Michael.
Meet the team. My best friend Michael, the top of his class at Harvard, O.C.S and Basic School, and now, Navy Seal. Lieutenant Commander, Michael Willis, known for his psychic ability, knowledge, power, and never-ending energy, Call sign, Bull Nickname, L.T. His back up, Mia, Special tactics canine, German Shepherd. She did anything a gun couldn't. Assistant officer in charge, yours truly, Lieutenant, Harry Stamper, known for my sharp eyes, team sniper, and quick reactions. Call sign, Trigger. Petty officer Max Collins, Team demolitionist and heavy infantry, known for his happy character but manipulative defenses. Call sign, Boom, Nickname Boom. Petty officer, Tony Williams, point man and light infantry. He holds the record for fastest three miles with infantry gear at sixteen minutes and three seconds. Call sign, Axe. Corporal Aaron Godfrey, our radio/telecommunications officer and engineer. Holds the tools along with his heavy weaponry. Known for his six, fluent languages which include English, Chinese, Russian, German, Arabic, and Spanish. Call Sign, E.T. Nickname, Terp (for Interpreter). Corporal Felix Duncan, Heavy Infantry support man. He was our comedy relief partner, called him self a rare breed like a Bald Eagle. His nickname, Baldy, wasn't because of the Bald Eagle name. "More like his shiny Bald Head." And lastly, Corporal Jonathan Sanchez, team medic and light infantry. It's said that he's stitched a man with fishing line and an unsterilized knife. Call sign, Needles. Nickname, Doc.
For the next four years, our team Bright Light 2, or Seal Team Two, was the main seal team in action. We just got into the Seals, but we were always the first one out. I don't know if it's because of the records we broke or the chemistry we had. But I do think, the leadership and knowledge Michael had, had a lot to do with it. From reconnaissance missions, research and development, to rescuing hostages and obtaining intel, we were the ones who went in, and always made it out. We got to meet President Bush secretly after one of our missions in the third year, 2003. It was an honor and a privilege to meet him. He was a real stand up guy and an honest man. Michael told me, "He's more to the country than we think or believe." Hard to believe on a man who was a poor public speaker.
Five.
Being a Navy Seal had its ups and downs. We always had each other, but we never really had any other lives outside. Three of us were married with kids, the younger three. Baldy, Doc, and Axe. Michael wasn't married yet, although he had been dating this girl name Sherry for the last two years. I think his relationship with Sherry was probably the most difficult thing I've ever seen him have to accomplish. He would vent to me about how she never trusted him or what he did. He was always so secretive and quiet, never volunteering information. It was kind of ironic because, that's what our job entitled to. And that's what the group’s wives acknowledged about their husbands. But for some reason, Sherry distrusted Michael as if he were seeing other women. As many times as the guys told Michael to get over her, He always told me she was the one.
I liked Sherry, she was good for him. She challenged him in ways I never knew anyone else could. She was smart, and a Federal Employee for the Department of Health. She was from Los Angeles and moved to Virginia for Michael. I was surprised how mature she was and how independent she was. She was good in the sense that, whenever we were deployed, she was down and willing to do her own thing. She told him, "I don't need anybody else to keep me happy. Only you." I remember nights talking with Michael telling him, "She's understanding. Yet the only immature understatement is, she thinks you would cheat on her. If she's the one, you should ask her the question."
I didn't want to tell him to pop the question if he wasn't ready. But I knew how much he cared and loved her. I knew that no one else would ever make him feel the way he did, on or off of missions. We, together, had seen our share of friends, soldiers, and girls pass by. None of them were better in any way than Sherry. He knew it, I knew it. "The only thing that is a problem is the difficulty of the situation. She's always afraid I won't come home to her, and instead, see somebody else."
You never realize how someone's past can effect their future until you realize your best friend is living in the past. Michael would never say this to me, but if you knew him, you could tell. Michael's statement back in college was, people always leave. I later find out that the saying, although was made in the general eye of the person, related to Michael with women. Michael was normal to an extent, but when it came to women, it was difficult. He was unlike most people when it came to significant others. He had standards, standards you wouldn't believe were standards. He liked girls that stood out, but kept quiet. He wanted the unique, independent, beautiful ones. He also had plusses and minuses depending on her habits. Was the girl clean, was she messy, did she drink and party a lot, or smoke and do drugs. My personal favorite was, 'If the girl's left handed, that's a winner.' Sherry was left-handed.
Although he was picky when it came to right one, he dated. He wasn't shallow or I should say, he didn't shut anyone down because they didn't fit his standards. But even then he had trouble keeping them his. I found out some years ago that the reason he says, 'People always leave," was because his ex-girlfriends all went back to their ex-boyfriends. "Out of the 15 people I've dated, which never lasted more than a year, ten of them went back to their ex-boyfriends." Being a guy or a girl, that is rough and hard to swallow. For awhile, he stopped dating all together because his psychic abilities told him, 'They're just going to go back to their Ex. I'm wasting my time.' If you were looking on the outside of the box, you would think it was because of his game. But let me tell you, Michael had game, almost as good as his basketball game.
Michael had all these spots he would go to in his free time. From Hawaii, to Alaska, to California, to New York, he had favorite places he'd visit. Of course, at the time he'd mostly visit them with me. And when we went to these places, he'd say, 'If you or I ever get a girlfriend, we're going to bring them here.' I guess when you don't have steady relationships, you plan for these moments in life. Michael would always say, "These moments will define your relationship. They will be set in stone, your memories, her memories. Every time she comes to this place, she will think of me, even if she's with some other guy.' Michael was peculiar in the sense that, he wanted to be the best he could, even if the relationship didn't last. He wanted the female to know, if she passes him up, she's the one losing out. Of course when it happens, it's never easy to take. Especially if the girl was going back to her Ex Boyfriend.
He told me, "I go all out, no matter what. If I lose her, I want her to remember who I was. I take these girls to these places so they'll remember who took them there first. And me, I enjoy these moments because no one has ever stayed long enough for me to enjoy. These few breath-taking moments are the things I remember. It doesn't matter who they were with as much as the time we had and the way I felt. These, are the moments I will cherish forever. These are the moments for life."
It wasn't until he met Sherry that his mindset started to change. But even after dating or having a serious relationship, he still had this gut feeling she's going to move back to Los Angeles and date her Ex-boyfriend. If it's any consolation prize, her Ex-boyfriend still called her from time to time. Kind of weird if you ask me, but understandable. But now that everything has worked and been said and done, I honestly believed it was time for them to take it to the next level.
Six.
After hours of persuasion and preaching to the both of them, I got Sherry to calm down about her boyfriend returning home, and I got Michael to plan his marriage mission. It was Spring 2004 when Corporal Godfrey, Sherry, Michael and I, took a trip to New York City for a mini vacation. Of course, he planned most of the night. He only needed Godfrey and I to do some of the small things. 'It's the small things that make the night the best of the best,' he would say.
May 31st, 2004. The day started off with Godfrey and I splitting up from Sherry and Michael. Our mission was to commandeer a four-door vehicle while the two of them went to breakfast. I don't remember where they went to breakfast, but we borrowed a Mercedes G class from one of our contacts in New York. We picked them up near Wall Street and took them to downtown Manhattan. We dropped them off so they could shop and eat lunch. Godfrey and I, went to our hotel to pick up Michael and Sherry's luggage, and transfer to the 4 star Crowne Plaza in the center of Times Square. We laid rose pedals to the bedroom, put roses and tulips on the table, and a banner that said, 'Congratulations!' We put in the CD with the Best Slow Mix ever Michael had made, and put the cd on repeat. We also paid the manager two hundred dollars to light fifty candles, make a bubble bath and bring out two bottles of champagne at 11 P.M.
Of course you ask, what about the change in clothes and Sherry's hair and make-up. Well I answer to you, that's after lunch. Michael planned it out so they both bought clothes to wear for the night. And after shopping, we drove the two of them to the infamous Spa and Salon, Jordan's. For the next two hours, Godfrey and I spent our entire time in line trying to get Broadway tickets for the musical, Wicked. Both Michael and Sherry shared interest in the show but weren't able to get tickets for tonight. Lucky for them, we were improvising plans of our own. We picked them up from the Salon and drove them to Savoy, one of the most romantic, popular restaurants in New York.
After dinner the two met with us for dessert. The look on Michael's face is one of the most happiest faces you could ever imagine on your best friend. Sherry too, was happier than I had ever saw. Whatever the case was, the two were clicking on all cylinders that night. While at dessert, Michael and I covertly met in the Men’s room to talk. While drying our hands, I handed him the two tickets Godfrey and I had gotten him and said, "This is for tonight my friend. Enjoy it." He gratefully smiled and said, "We're set for tonight after then?" I replied, "Most definitely. On the cab ride over, be sure to call me. We'll be waiting in the water."
We dropped the two off at the Broadway series and headed over to the New York Marina. Meeting us there was a good friend, and great musician from Lifehouse, Jason Wade. Along with him, we met base guitarist of the group, Bryce Soderberg. Together, we took the 'Lifehouse' boat onto the Hudson River to relax, drink, and have a good time. Time flew and by the time we knew it, Michael had called to start the mission.
"Hey, where are you guys?! We just got out of the show and we need a ride back." I replied, "Oh that's great. Uhm, can you get a taxicab instead? We're pre-occupied." Playing along, Michael replied, "Gosh! I guess!" See what Sherry didn't know was we switched her hotel, so the direction they were going was towards Godfrey and my hotel. But little did she know the spot Michael was taking her. I can only imagine Michael waving the cab and telling the driver, "400 Chamber Street Sir!"
Yes, 400 Chamber Street, one of the most romantic spots you'll find in New York. While patrolling the waterfront, we dropped off Godfrey at the corner of the park. Godfrey's mission, drop off roses near the park bench in the corner of the park. And after, put on his hoodie and take pictures of the couple secretly. The three of us were drifting seventy-five feet from the shore, near the entrance of the park.
After much anticipation, Godfrey signaled to us the couple had arrived. Jason and Bryce began their first song, "You and Me." With help of Godfrey, I was able to tell the two musicians whether they were too loud or too soft. My job, was pacing the boat with the walking couple, and hiding my face so Sherry wouldn't see me. The song was beautiful, mesmerizing, and amazing. If I was a woman and had this happen to me, I would be speechless. Probably motionless. Hell, If I were a man and a woman was doing this for me, I wouldn't know how to react other then, "This isn't happening, is it?"
By the time 'You and Me' ended, I think Sherry started getting the hints. She screamed at our boat saying, "Great song, Play another one!"
Jason and Bryce then took their talents to, "Everything." By now, Sherry received the flowers from Michael. Peering through binoculars, I could see Michael step down to one knee. That was the cue for the boat to get closer. Michael would later tell me the words he memorized. "Sherry Jean Duncan, Since day one, You have always caught my attention. And from then, whether you were wearing a dress, or some clothing you called 'Crappy clothes,' the look of your smile, the way you look at me, has always been the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And as our relationship grew, so did my feelings. If I could put it in math terms, it's kind of like variable S growing to the millionth power. As an individual, I am strong, able, and willing, to do anything and everything that my heart's desired. And for the longest time I never believed in another half. That all changed when I met you babe. From day one, you have changed my heart, my way of thinking, my life. And with you, I'm this whole, indestructible, person. I love you, with all my will, with all myself, with all of my heart. If I am a star, you are my sky. We always said we'd conquer the world together. And now, with your permission, we can. Sherry Jean Duncan, will you help me grow S to the infinite power, cause Millionth isn't enough. Will you marry me?" I don't know how Michael did it, but he timed it just as the song was on its highest plateau.
With her signature smile and a leap up into Michael's arm, It was safe to say she said yes. By that time, Godfrey had taken a hundred candid pictures and our boat was right next to the corner. "Congratulations!" We yelled. "Now get on the boat and lets cruise the Hudson! We booked Lifehouse for another hour!" As the three of them got on to the boat, we did the formal introductions. I remember Michael saying, "Sherry, these two guys are from Lifehouse, they charge 15,000 an hour!" Sherry's mouth dropped and said, "Oh my -" "Luckily, Harry and I are childhood friends!" Jason said. I smiled and looked at Sherry, "So, tell everyone your day. What'd you do?!"
"So today was nothing big, just the best day of my life! And Michael, oh gosh, Michael just acted like it was another day. When we woke up this morning he said, 'You wanna go shopping today?' That was it! Nothing out of the ordinary like, 'Today's going to be the day!' Breakfast was amazing cause I've always wanted to go there, but their wait for reservations is like two weeks!" Michael added, "Yeah, well we kind of had to pay extra for today." Sherry was shocked and questioned, "The guy told us we were lucky?" We all laughed. "Well then, anyways, shopping was amazing. I've never been to New York so shopping on 42nd Street is something you dream of as a girl, next to getting married! Before we went shopping, Michael said to me, 'Let's buy expensive clothing and go to dinner tonight!' That was like, Every girl's dream, haha! Dinner at Savoy's was absolutely everything the magazines have said. I always told Michael we should eat there!" "Little does she know, I reserved that two months ago," Michael added. "Wow, you're amazing, I can't believe you, you sly devil you!" "The show Wicked was great too! Thanks Aaron and Harry! Mike told me you bought them for us!" "Well, I couldn't let Michael plan everything!" I exclaimed. Godfrey added, "Well, Michael kind of left that window open, he didn't know what to do for two hours before the proposal!" Sherry smiled and said, "Well, You two did great too. And that proposal, I can't believe that happened. Michael just said we're going to 400 Chamber Street to meet up with you guys and take a walk! And then once I started hearing the song, I was like, 'This night can't get any better." Jason asked, "Did you know the boat was part of the night?" "Sherry downplayed her reaction and said, "No, but I thought it was coincidentally perfect!" We all laughed.
We rode around the river, seeing the Statue of Liberty, New Jersey, New York, and Ellis Island. By then it was fifteen before Midnight. In my head I thought, 'The manager better be setting the room up!' Jason and Bryce congratulated all of us as we thanked them for their help, and it was off to the hotel. Right before getting to the Crowne Plaza in Manhattan, Aaron said, "Since you guys are engaged, we didn't really want to be in the room next door to you guys, so out you two go!" We kicked them out of the car and said, "Find your own room!" Michael came up to my window, slipped him the key and said, "Room 3219." He smiled and thanked us for all our help. Sherry said, "Thanks so much you guys! Have a good night! Keep it safe tonight boys!" I shook Michael's hand and then pointed to the hotel. "You go," and then pointed to our direction, "We go."
That was one of the most memorable nights for Michael. Hell, it was one of the best nights for all of us. When you do something like that, something sophisticatedly planned, and what will be remembered for the rest of your life, is just unbelievable. What happened in the hotel room, will stay in the hotel room. Lord only knows how Sherry reacted to the last surprise. Michael did it big and I was proud of him. I was happy for him too. Not only was he engaged to the woman of his dreams, but all of the hardships and past relationships he had to go through, was well deserved. He had moments like this, moments that took women's breathes away. But this one, he got to keep. And as his best friend and brother, I couldn't be more happy that he had found his one and only.
Seven.
Michael and Sherry married that summer in 2004 in Washington D.C. Friends and family came from both sides. Of course, his 'boys' were there, all as his groomsmen. At the reception, we each said a few words in order of our ranks. And at the very end, we yelled, "From here on out Mike and Sherry, it gets rough! The only easy day, will be today. Remember it forever, for it will always be! For the next three weeks, Sherry and Michael toured Europe. The rest of us, without our leader, did training exercise for the new recruits coming in. I don't think any of us took their honeymoon as hard as Mia, Mike's canine. She was left with me, and every time Michael called from Europe, she would bark.
Things went back to normal for the next couple of years. Michael, now married, never let his work get in between him and Sherry. And his marriage, never got in between work. It was like a police officer and a canine, "When the Uniform goes on, Work begins." Luckily for all of us, we weren't suppose to deploy anywhere anytime soon, even though the Iraq War was going on. Instead, we were in Virginia training for whatever came our way.
What did come our way wasn't anything too difficult or too stressful. We did deploy a couple times for a week or so at a time during 2005. The missions weren't anything we hadn't handled before. One mission was to secure the perimeter at a camp in Iraq, covertly as we portrayed ourselves as civilians. Another mission was to gather intel in the Eastern parts of Africa. While deployed, Michael seemed to be fine for the most part. We would talk here and there about the married life for him. He loved it, but he also thought about getting out, moving on to newer things with Sherry. He would often say, "I think she wants kids, but I don't want them if I'm deployed all the time. I know what hardships that brings on her, and our kid. I don't want to leave my kid, but I don't know what other job I'd be good at."
Life as a Navy Seal, like I said before, had it's ups and downs. It never occurred to the both of us how hard it'd be if one of us were to get married. We always thought women would come and go like our missions. Michael used to say, "They only want you because of your uniform. After you give them the business, they'll forget about you like we'll forget about our high school friends." For the most part, before Sherry and all my one-night stands, he was right. But now, things were beginning to change. You could tell in his attitude towards Sherry.
"You're not getting weak on me now are you Mike?" Michael replied, "No, but my sight's changed a little bit. I always had you as my other half, never did I think I'd have Sherry. But now that I have her, I have to plan around her and you." I smiled and said, "Don't worry about me partner, I'll be fine." Michael replied back, "You go, We go."
Having said that, I smiled again. "What do you want to do now bro?" Michael replied, "We could be Navy Reserves, you know, stay home and train recruits. Drill instructors. Maybe Navy Police, or Firefighters. There's nothing like that adrenaline rushes you get while your own missions. It's hard to tell, I don't want to leave our boys either." I looked at Mike and said, "Our boys will be our boys. They'll be happy whatever we decide, whether we stay or leave. Three of em are married, so they're bound to leave too. Maybe we should have a campfire." Campfire was a way our team came together during off-duty hours to eat BBQ and talk about team topics.
During one summer afternoon, Michael and Sherry had the boys over for a BBQ. Baldy, Doc, and Axe's wives, along with their kids were too, invited for the festivities. Although Michael had Mia, there wasn't any kind of kid toys around to play with. I said, "Sherry, You guys need some kid toys!" She laughed and responded, "Kinda need kids for those things!" The evening was joyous and peaceful. After putting on Wall-E on for the kids, and the wives cleaning the dishes, the boys went to the fire pit to start the fire. Traditionally, we started the fire off with a prayer, thanking the Lord for our lives, our wives, and His dedication. And although we did this time, it was quite brief compared to the history of prayers. We each lit and smoked our famous victory cigars from Cuba, in remembrance of every man we've lost during the rough and timid times.
"What's up L.T," asked Godfrey, "Everything alright? You're not prego are you?!" We all laughed and joked around until Michael raised his hands and said, "You guys are family, and I wouldn't want anything to be heard from anybody else except me. When I dedicated my life to the military.." Michael looked at me and smiled, "When WE dedicated our lives to the military, we wanted to make a difference. We wanted to do the best we could do, serve our country, and make a difference along the way. As you may or may not know, Harry and I, have been best friends since 93', Freshmen Year at Harvard. As he may have peeped out to you guys, I had a rough time when loyal companionship. And luckily, for me, by the graces of God, Harry stepped in my door and kept prying open my already closed mind. And as time grew, so did our friendship and brotherhood. By our junior year, I decided to dedicate my life in finding this brotherhood, this camaraderie that was spoken of." Tommy jokingly yelled, "Yeah cause Harry wasn't enough!" We all laughed and smiled.
"I used to believe people came and go. I still do, but Harry proved that there were a few good men, who would stay. You all, have proved to me there are exceptions to the rules. In life, if you're able to have one or two who are there through it all, is more than any single person can ask for. And now, I have seven." "Ooh Rah," Max said. "When you become a soldier, you dedicate your life to your country and your men. You don't know what to expect, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Like the Marines told us, you only have the man next to you. And if you asked me five years ago, that's all I had, and that's all I'll need. But then life catches you at its biggest surprise and, Love happens." Jonathan yelled, "Oh Shit, L.T dropped the L Bomb!" Michael grinned and said, "I guess you can say that. And when love finds you, you no longer revolve your life around the military. You have another half, a better half, you're willing to spend your life around. And Sherry's that other half." "L.T, you getting soft on us!?" Questioned Max. "We've been boys for the last three, four years. We're family. And as much as I would love to die doing this with you guys, there's another person I have to think about. Actually, there's two, I need to think about. It's time to move on to something else, something near home." There was a moment of silence. Everyone was thought, two, meaning Sherry and Harry right? Tommy jumped in and said, "Two- No shit, Get the Fuck out? Really!?" Michael smiled as if he just got re-engaged. "Yeah, I'm going to be a father!"
As well all gathered in group hug, yelling and screaming, the wives came out to find out what all the ruckus was all about. I tapped my beer bottle and stood on a nearby wooden log. "Wives of Seal Team Two, Seal Team Two, A.K.A BL Two, Get your glasses! Causes there's about to be a Toast!" As everyone grabbed a beverage, I walked over to grab Sherry's arm and brought her over to Michael's. "We might search our whole lives for that one special thing, that one special love, the meaning of life. At first when Michael told me he found a girl he was willing to go heaven and Earth for, I laughed. Four years later, I am ecstatic to say, Brother Michael and Sister Sherry are here, married, and still going strong. These two right here, are expecting their first!" Everyone cheered and screamed. "Wait, I'm not done!" I pleaded. "This is a toast. A toast to love, because without love, our lives would be lost. I love each, and every one of you. I will live with you, and I would die for you. This, this toast is a remembrance and a celebration, to family. Ooh Rah!"
That night, our family got a little bigger. With Michael and Sherry expecting a baby in 2006, the boys understood why Michael wanted out. They didn't think of it as a betrayal as Michael feared. Instead, they thought of it as the next stepping stone in their commanding officer's life. Although there was some bittersweet emotion, it was understandable and taken easily than expected. They all later would tell me that they too, thought about getting out relatively soon to experience something different due to their families. They all felt relieved they didn't have to be the ones telling L.T they were moving on.
A couple months passed by into the beginning of 2006. We were all still on the team. Our decommissioning time was decided to be at the end of 2006. We still went on missions and trained in the mean time. Nothing that year changed as anyone would think. We did our job, to the fullest, the only way we knew how to. There was no thinking, "Oh the end of the year this will all be over." When you're deployed you don't let emotions over take your actions. Instead, you think about your job and getting the man next to you, back home.
Eight.
October 27, 2006, just two months before our decommissioning, we were summoned to deploy in the Middle East. The time frame, was unknown, which was probably due to the fact we were still at war with Iraq. General Nathan Washington greeted us personally on the tarmac when we arrived. We never had a general greet us getting off the play, so his presence meant something big was going down. We each shook hands with the general and Michael asked, "What's the situation?"
The General, surprised at Michael's question spoke, "We have a team of marines missing. Last known location was on the road into the town, Alakahm. We have good evidence that they're two cliques away at the enemies base camp along the Shikah river." We sat in the briefing room inside a nearby hangar. "Your mission, Lieutenant, is for you and your men to extract any survivors. Civilian prisoners, at least six, are with the eleven Marines who were captured." "Entry sir?" Asked Michael. "Your team will be inserted by your fellow SWCC Team 6, by the river. You will be dropped off a half a clique away from the camp, swim to the camp, and enter. This is a covert mission, there will be no other team on the ground. Once the prisoners are found, you will extract them to point Alpha. SWCC will pick everyone up. Bravo, will be the back up route if enemy fire is too heavy. SWCC has told me, the window of extraction is no more than 180 seconds. This is a night mission, the element of surprise is our best chance to limited casualties. Questions gentlemen?" "Extraction Point B," Max started, "That's on land. Who's picking us up there?" The general grinned and said, "Air units. It's too dangerous to take the Humvees, there's only one way in and one way out of camp. If they block the roads, we would be forced to engage. Anything else? Good, get some chow, some rest, go time in six hours."
One hour before mission time, we loaded our gear and prepared for our mission. We knew this mission was more dangerous than any of our previous missions this year. The level of difficulty was harder than most due to the number of enemies. Previous extractions had more men, more marines by our side. We also weren't stumbling into the enemies base camp. We all knew it, including Michael. Godfrey approached me on the side and said, "Trigger, We shouldn't be going on this mission alone." I sensed his fear and said, "You aren't, I'm going with you too, Corporal." "Sir, you know what I mean. Especially L.T, he just gave birth two months ago!" I looked at him and said, "This is what we do, Corporal. Fear is not within our body. United States Marines are out there, prisoners. Civilians are out there, prisoners. If we don't save them, they die."
With disappointment, Godfrey walked back to his gear. Michael looked at me from the distance, and walked over to me.
"What was that all about?" Michael asked. "Nothing. Godfrey's good to go." "Are you sure that was it," Michael asked. I stopped loading my clip and looked at Michael. "Michael, this mission is dangerous. More dangerous than any other mission. Your end is near, I can take these men in." Sensing my urge, Michael yelled, "Our end is near, you don't think I would abandon my boys, or you. This is something that needs to be done, it's what we signed up for." In Godfrey and my defense, "You just had a son. The General will understand. I can lead our boys." Michael argued, "Don't be ridiculous, that would leave you with 6 plus Mia." I looked deep into Michael's eyes, "We can get another marine. As a soldier, we have your back no matter what you do. As your best friend, I encourage you to think about Sherry and young Stephen." By now, the team converged on our position. "L.T, you don't have to do this," Godfrey pleaded. Michael looked at each of us. "Brotherhood, Family. This is what we do, this is who we are. You have my back, we have yours. We will come back, I promise. You go, we go." As the final words were said, there was no objecting Michael now, "Ooh Rah," we said.
Nine.
It was eleven o'clock at night when we met with SWCC. The team gathered in one boat, while three others covered us. Each boat had four SWCC soldiers. SWCC was our sister group of the Navy, they're main tasks and strength lied in the boats and water attacks. The night was inconceivably beautiful with not a single cloud in the sky. The moon and maybe a thousand stars, were all visible. If I had to guess where we were, I would say along the Mississippi river since the tree line was somewhat deeper than you'd expect in a desert-like Alakahm. Some trees even hung over the river, helping shade our shadows from the moonlight.
SWCC dropped us seven boys and Mia in the river. Mia, although an excellent canine swimmer, swam to shore to approach by land. Mia, before the mission, was stripped of all her gear except a secret earpiece in her ear connected with Michael's radio. If Mia was caught, she'd look like a stray canine, instead of a Navy Seal canine with all her equipment. The rest of us, quietly and covertly, swam along the shore line with our equipment and night vision goggles.
As we got to the docks, three men were sitting together fishing. Fifty feet away was Mia, awaiting Michael's orders. Michael commanded Mia to walk towards the men and act as a stray dog. Tommy, Max and I, swam under the docks without detection. As the soldiers started petting Mia, Michael shot the three of them. Max, Tommy, and I broke the soldiers fall into the water. We tied the three of them underneath the docks to hide the bodies. The seven of us spread a quick perimeter to surround the area. Max, set up c-4 on the second dock, thirty feet away from the main dock (also Extraction point Alpha). I climbed to the tree in-between the camp and the extraction point to give sniper cover in both areas.
We counted sixteen men on patrol around the entire camp. Seven men were playing cards in what looked to be the kitchen. Four others were guarding a hut which looked to be surrounded with seven cages, most likely where the prisoners were being held. Mia confirmed the hut was where the prisoners were being held. As each of the team members individually made their way to the cages, the patrol officers seemed to disappear. "Be advised L.T, eyes only on two guards at the hut. Two others locations, unknown." As I over watched the six men, I noticed a building in the distance. As I searched for signs of patrol soldiers, I realized the building was two different sets of barracks. "Boom, building to east, your nine, set up the show." "Roger that," Max said.
As I looked back in to my scope, I saw Godfrey and Michael take out the guards in front of the prisoner's hut. Ten feet away from them in the trees, Jonathan, Mia, and Tony guarded the perimeter.
Two minutes went by as we held the perimeter. Too much time had gone by without a sign or radio dispatch. "L.T, talk to me, what's going on in there." Nothing. "Needles, send Mia in now." Thirty seconds went by when I heard Mia growling and barking. "Needles, move in now! Boom, cover the entrance!" As Jonathan went in, two non-silenced gunshots went off. Great, I thought, we just woke up the country. As the patrol officers from the kitchen stood up and rushed over to the hut, I opened fire killing four of them. "Boom, two more headed, no eyes on." I scoped my weapon towards the hut. I saw Needles assisting a woman civilian out of the hut. Next were seven marines, all walking, gathering weapons from the enemy. Six more marines managed to make it out of the hut when hell broke lose.
A soldier I shot in the kitchen, managed to make his way to the panic button. The alarm sounded the entire camp, and I paid my attention to the barracks. Rushing out of the camp like ants being infiltrated by water, they came out screaming. I shot as many as I could in a timely fashion. I shot at least nine of them, but they kept coming out. "L.T, time to go!" By now the six civilians were by the dock with nine of the marines. I dropped down from the tree and rushed closer to the hut. Needles was right behind me calling in SWCC. "Sunset Six, this is BL 2, come in over." SWCC replied, "BL 2, Sunset Six, go ahead." "Sunset six, prisoners ready at extraction point A." "BL2, Roger that. Be ready in 45 seconds."
Needles joined Boom outside of the hut to provide suppressive fire. By now, at least thirty soldiers were outside the barracks, dodging bullets. I rushed in to the hut. I found Godfrey missing his left pointer and index finger. I then turned my attention to Michael, who was giving CPR to one of the last two marines in the hut. The other marine, appeared to be dead with two legs missing. "LT, we gotta go!" Michael looked at me and yelled, "I can save him!" I yelled back, "L.T, there's at least thirty soldiers out there, we have to go now!" Needles rushed in and yelled, "L.T, Sunset Six is here, we have sixty seconds to get there now!" Michael looked at him, then at me, "Carry him out of here, Doc." Needles looked at Michael and replied, "Yes Sir!" Michael stood up, before stumbling back down. My god, Michael was stabbed in the lower left side of his thigh. I ran over towards him as he yelled, "I'm good, I'm good." With much belief, We all ran outside firing towards the barracks.
Michael yelled, "On my mark, cover fire for Needles. Line to Extraction point A." Together, us seven stood in a line firing towards the barracks, each of us tapping each other to move down the line. "Hold the line!" I yelled. As the soldiers closed in on our positions, away from the barracks, Boom reminds Michael, "L.T. Bad guys want to see some fireworks!" Michael replied, "Save the show, Harry and I will cover fire for Boom, Ferrari, Terp, and Mia. We'll be right behind you!"
As we executed the order, Michael and I stayed giving suppressive fire. I yelled after twenty seconds, "Let's go!" We ran, making our way to extraction A. We were probably 100 feet from the docks when massive gunfire let out. Fifty men made it to the tree line and began firing at us. In our defense, SWACC was giving suppressive fire back. On the radio, I remember hearing Needles yell, " L.T, Trigger, we have to go now! RPG's spotted." Michael looked at me and said, "Go. Run, you can still make it out!" I looked at his leg and I said, "I'm not leaving you behind!" Michael screamed at me, "I'm ordering you Lieutenant Stamper, to take the men to safety." Michael knew my weakness for his orders. If anyone was in trouble or needed help, helping them would be priority. But not this time, Michael needed my help. I looked deep into Michael's eyes, "You go, We go!" Acknowledged by Michael, he radioed into Needles, "Get out, it's too hot. We'll go to extraction point B." Needles responded and said, "We're not leaving you two behind, we will wait. Sunset six will wait. We're not leaving you behind!" Michael looked towards Jonathan and said, "You take Sunset six, the marines, and the men, to safety. That's an order Doc!" I saw Needles look back at us and acknowledge orders by his commanding officer. As the boats began to move away, we saw Mia jump out of the boat and into the river. Michael radioed, "Boom, time for the show!"
The gunfire stopped. For once in the last half an hour, it was quiet. I looked over to Michael, who appeared to be falling unconscious. I yelled at him, "C'mon Mike, We're not home yet!" Michael awoke as Mia made her way over to us. Extraction point B was two cliques away. I asked Michael, "Status report, L.T." Michael looked at me and said, "The tourniquet to my leg is loose, I've lost a lot of blood." As I drew my attention to his leg, I looked at his left shoulder. He was shot twice, once in his arm and once in his shoulder. My heart began to beat faster as tears came to my eyes. The tears stopped as I began hearing enemy chatter. Mia looked at me, barked once, and waited. The only way out was around camp, and head east towards the extraction point. I stood Michael up and we hurried East.
It was a struggle keeping Michael up. He was a whopping two hundred and ten pounds of muscle plus the fifty pounds of equipment he had. I wasn't sure if the enemy soldiers knew we were alive or if they were following us, so after a clique we rested. I took off most of Michael's gear, gave him water and more first aid. The good news was, both bullets made it out of his arm. The bad news, he lost more blood than I ever seen a living person lose. "Michael, stay with me! C'mon bro. We're almost there." I got on the radio and yelled, "Golden Goose, come in over!" The General responded, "Golden goose, go ahead." "BL team 2, Trigger and Bull, stranded on way to rendezvous Bravo one clique out, request immediate air evac!" "Bl2, what's your status, over?" "Trigger, strong and able, Bull, deep leg wound, shot twice, bleeding out, over. " The General replied, "Negative on the Evac, position too vulnerable for attacks, Son make it to checkpoint Bravo." Distraught, I looked at my brother.
Tears came to my eyes once again. Mia started barking at me as if she as saying "Do something!" Michael knew Mia was barking because enemy soldiers were closing in. He looked at me and said, "You'll make it. Take Mia, and get out of here. Take care of Sherry, and raise Stephen." Tears were flowing in both of our eyes. Somehow, someway, he used his psychic abilities. He knew he wasn't going to make it, it was inhumanly possible. The blood he lost was too critical. "I'll keep those bastards busy while you escape." Before I could say a word, shots rang out. Mia came to Michael's face to protect him. Michael looked at me and said, "Don't let my child be raised without a father, not this young! Now get out of here." Crying, I said, "I'll draw fire from the east, I'll be right back." I turned to Mia, touched her face, and said, "Stay here girl."
I ran to an elevated position overlooking Michael. Three hundred meters out, I could see eight enemy soldiers on to our path. I thought, If only I had my sniper, but I left it back in the hut. Instead, I had my pistol, and M16. The men were spread out, which meant I was going to have to shoot fast before they could run for cover. As they got closer, I opened fire. The first two men went down before we were in a firefight. I don't know how long the fight was, but it seemed like forever. I was then shot and led out a loud scream. As I returned to my feet, my thoughts kept going back to Michael, and Mia's safety. The gunfire ended, and I was peering through the trees. Instead of remaining at the top of the hill, I ran as fast as I could towards Michael. I could hear Mia barking.
As I approached Michael, I could see four enemy soldiers ten feet away from Michael. In between them, was Mia, barking excessively. The soldiers didn't know I was still alive as their attention was strictly on Michael. I heard Michael speaking to men, "Let my dog live and you can have me." I could see the men, concentrating their weapons at Mia, discussing what to do. As I crept closer, I concentrated my fire on the leader. "Mia, stand down!" Yelled Michael. The lead soldier pointed his gun at Michael and said, "What makes you think we want you alive." With no time to think, I jumped from my position down to the ground, firing my weapon. As I shot the closest one with the gun pointed at Mia, I landed two feet from Michael. Mia grabbed the second soldier closest to her. The second in command, shot me in my right arm, while the leader shot Michael in the chest. "No!" I screamed. Mia attacked then attacked the leader while I tried shooting. But my gun jammed. I reached for my piston when I noticed, the last soldier pointing his weapon at me. "This is it," I thought.
All of a sudden, gunfire from a distance let out. The sound of a M16s and M22s never sounded so beautiful. Needles, Boom, Axe, Terp, and Baldy, all aiming their weapons toward our direction, were running this way. The two men turned around and began firing, only to be shot repetitively. I crawled next to Michael and grabbed his hand. "They're here, hang on!" As the boys came over to our aid, I order Needles to give aid to Michael. "Doc, L.T first." Needles gave Michael a shot of morphine. "We need to get him out AS--" Michael grabbed his hand and said, "I'm not gonna make it. You know that," Tears fell from each of our eyes as we looked down to our leader. Michael whispered to the boys, "You guys disobeyed a direct order." Axe looked at Michael and said, "You go, we go L.T." We all looked at Michael, who's eyes were covered in tears. With his breathe growing faint, he whispered, "Tell Sherry and Stephen, I love them." We were all very silent. Michael looked at me for the last time, and said under his last breathe, "You know what to do Trig. You go-" As Michael's breathe gave out, I murmured, "We go."
We all looked at each other, crying over Michael's body. Mia began licking his face, trying to wake him. Baldy looked at me and said, "Orders, sir?" I looked up at the men and said, "Extraction point Bravo. Somebody help me carry L.T." As I got up to my feet, I could barely walk. Needles came to my aid and said, "I'll help you." Boom and Baldy put Michael's body on the stretcher. Ready to move out I looked at Axe, "Get us out of here Axe." Axe took the lead to the extraction point. Boom and Baldy carried Michael's body with Mia closely following. Needle helped me back. And Terp covered our six.
Laying in the hospital bed, I thought about the last fifteen years of my life, I thought, 'Why did it have to be Michael." I cried. The doctors told me the bullet barely missed my lungs. If it were a centimeter higher, I too, would've lost my life. It should've been me who died, Michael shouldn't have. With regret, I cried some more. The boys came to visit a couple times. They alerted me that the Navy has yet told Sherry. They said it was up to me if I should call or not. I replied, "No, I'm flying out tonight, and I'm going to tell Sherry in person." The boys disagreed and tried to get me to stay in bed. But I struggled and I refused. "Stand down. L.T wanted me to."
We all traveled back home on the C-130. The General alerted me that the Marines and Civilians we saved, were grateful and indebted. I faintly, acknowledged his appreciation. We got back stateside a little before four p.m on October 28th. It's funny how time is around the world. After we landed, I crutched my way towards my vehicle. As I was prepared to open my door, Mia barked at me. I looked up at the van that just pulled up. "Trig, You go, We all go." I smiled, and entered the van. The boys and Mia, drove straight to Sherry's. It was the quietest ride home we ever experienced. As we got there, the Navy Pastor approached behind us. Unable to walk by myself, Doc helped me up the porch. Close to my side was Mia, holding dog tags in her mouth. I approached the door, and hesitated. Mia rubbed against my leg and whined. Tears were flowing down my face. Doc whispered, "We go brother."
I knocked on the door, twice. Sherry answered the door with a brief smile. When she realized we were all crying, Sherry began sobbing. She handed Stephen off to her mother and came to me. She hugged me as the men gathered around. "Ma'am, we have failed you," Terp whispered. She didn't say a word. Instead she shook her head and continued to sob. After fifteen minutes of sorrow, she whispered, "Thank you guys, for coming. But I know I can't hog you all to myself, you all have wives and girlfriends." The men looked at me, and I nodded to them, Okaying them to leave. I however, stayed by Sherry's side.
The next couple of days seemed to be a blur. I was in and out of the hospital, while planning the funeral for Michael. Every night, I stopped by Sherry's to make sure everything was okay. There were long nights where both of us would cry. She asked me to tell her stories of the college days Michael and I had. Like a memory from yesterday, I told her everything I could remember. And although she sobbed some more, the stories seem to soothe her and bring her at peace with the loss of her husband.
Ten.
The funeral came and hundreds of people attended. There were soldiers from every armed forces. From the Coast Guard, to the Army, to the Marines, to the Navy, to the Air Force, they were all here. Some I recognized, others were unknown. Michael's parents, my parents, Sherry's parents, and some of the Boy's parents were also in attendance. College buddies, high school friends, cousins and relatives were all in attendance. I never cried so much in my life. As friends and families spoke of Michael, my turn would be coming up. I was the last to go since I was to make one last toast.
"I know I am supposed to make a speech on Michael and the things he did, the person he was, and what not.. Most of you know who Michael was, his character, and his story. I had the privilege of spending the most time with him the last fifteen years. We all know who he was or had an idea. But I'm going to tell you all, things you should know about Michael.
"In life, we search for that meaning, that purpose in life. As humans, we look to the one thing we love, with the people we love. There are doctors, scientists, athletes, soldiers, entrepreneurs, also known as mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, friends, close relatives, grandparents. And pets. The purpose isn't always clear, or easy. A lot of times it gets depressing, lonely, and difficult. The higher authority, deceive us, discourage us, and hope that we fail. And sometimes we do, sometimes it gets rougher than we can manage. But then something unexpected happens. A close friend comes, picks you up, and helps you. Side by side, dedicating your goal to their purpose. That close friend, that individual, was Michael.
"You Go, We go." Michael's famous line he told anyone and everyone he had ever met. Tattooed, on his right hand, was this phrase. It was a message, a reminder, and a way of life, he wanted to spread to everyone. Passed down from his Medal of Honor father, Thomas, and his mother, Irene. Michael spent every second of every day in his life, being that friend. He dedicated his life to the cause to help other people. Whether it was moving furniture, executing missions, or just talking, Michael was there, always giving his hand. He once said, 'The only thing you give to you a person is your word, the only thing you give to your friend is your hand, and the only thing you give to your wife, is your heart.'
Michael was strong and able, smart and intelligent. Anything he tried, he strived at. Anything he learned, he mastered. Any weaknesses he had, became strengths. And from his own aspirations as a person became excellent, he than excelled to things beyond him. He served his Country, as a Marine and a Navy Seal. He led a few good men, he served with hundreds of soldiers, and he saved thousands of lives. A son, father, leader, teacher, friend, best friend, and brother.
Michael was a son to Thomas and Irene. He was the team leader to the boys of BL2. He was platoon leader to the Marines over in Iraq. He was a loving husband to Sherry, a dedicated Father to Stephen. He was a Christian who followed God's voice. He helped his community, his neighbors, and his strangers. To Michael, it wasn't how far you go in life. It wasn't about the distance traveled. It was about the partners during your journey.
Michael spent every second of his life as an individual pushing, supporting, and loving others. And although he's in a better place now, we are all mourning of our loss, because we truly lost someone special. But I don't ask you to mourn any more because Michael wouldn't want you to. Instead, he would want you to use him as an example, to help others. And if times ever get rough, know that Michael is there looking down on us. He was born a leader. And he will be remembered as a Legend. Please stand and remember my Best friend. Please stand and help me celebrate the journey and the life of my Brother, Michael Willis.
Eleven.
It's been a year L.T. I can't believe it's already been a year. It's like yesterday when we were back at Harvard. Remember Christmas in 96? Probably the best Christmas I had. And then there was May 11th, 1996, the decision. The military, the job that made me the soldier I am today. And how can we forget, May 31st, 2004. Sherry misses you. I do the best I can to keep her company and raising little Stephen. He's already one and he's so big. He has your smile and laugh. I've already written this book for him, so he'll know exactly who his father was.
I should be mad at you, you know. "You Go, We go," that was supposed to be to the end. But you dedicated your life for us to live, and I thank you for it. The boys miss you. We have campfires once a month in the summer, and we hit the bars every now and then in between. Needles and Terp are with me at Virginia training the new recruits. 'Semi' Retired Seals, they call us. Axe, Baldy, and Boom are still carry BL2's flag. They ask Terp, Needles, Mia, and I to regroup with them. I'm unsure of what to do, or where to go. It was a lot easier with you making those decisions Michael.
Your sisters and your mother miss you. I saw them this past Christmas as Sherry had them over for the holidays. Your mother's doing great, still volunteering over at your church in Manteca. Mia misses you. She's probably the one who struggles the most, and reminds me the most. She stays at my place now. At the funeral, did you see her in front of your casket, lying there. Someone took a picture and posted it all over the web. She got recognized nationally as everyone around the U.S labeled her as, "A Man's best friend until the End."
I forgot to give this to you. The Navy gave us an award for the last mission. They also gave you the Navy Cross, for dedicating your life to save over twenty. I never told you this, or did I ever say it at your funeral. But thank you Michael, for making the man I am today. I couldn't have made it this far without you. And If I could live to be half of the man you were, I would be grateful.
So that's the news L.T. I know your up there, looking at us from time to time. I hope the reunion with your father is going good. Now God has two service-medaled men looking out for his children. I miss you brother, I love you brother. You go, I'll be there soon.
And one last thing. About that, "Everyone Leaves," discussion. People come, people go. But we, we stayed. Since 93. 93 Til Infinity