I wrote this poem to remember my brothers in arms that I have lost in the last couple of years.

Dear Lord, on this day I pray to you. I pray for my friends, my comrades… my brothers. Lord three of us five have passed onto you. We all know our debts to you. I ask you to judge us as combatants, as Airmen.

You of all know the emotions we felt on the day the shells came. We were in disbelief. Then came the adrenaline. Then came our hate, the desire to kill. That’s when our shell hit so near…Am I OK? ... Is he OK? Then the blank in time. Thanks to you Lord, we don’t remember what came next.

It was only after it was over came the shock… then the fear…to realize the shell hit so near. It was thanks to you God, we were still here. Then came our guilt.

Now today I speak in sorrow. This year another brother left me and passed onto you. This leaves two of us here. We both carry our memories, but these and our lives are all that is left of the “C.L.A.T.E. Heavy Fire Element”.

So Lord, knowing all of our debts to you, I ask of Your Grace for us who have passed and us still to come.

I ask in your Son’s Name …. In Solemn Prayer.