I Sat at Your Gravesite

by J.R. Coleman

I went and sat at your gravesite…

I couldn’t bring myself to go to the wake and viewing, didn’t feel right.

Was like, that body… a shell, absent of life wouldn’t capture the moments we shared.

I remember the jokes we cracked while sucking on the 8-miler to Cole range in RIP.

The time we gave either other a hug and dap after donning that tan beret that we worked so hard for.

I sat at your gravesite..because not seeing my friend the way that I knew him, wouldn’t feel right.

Our first deployment, you telling me that you were praying when you heard my first mission didn’t go right..us hugging, rocking our combat scrolls..we were cherries no more.

I sat at your gravesite…

I drank at your gravesite…

Coming back from MLAT, all the food gone, but you said, ” I saved you a plate, brother.” I’ll never forget that.

I cried at the gravesite…

Us asking each other board questions, so we could be the NCOs we wished we had..the promise we made to become the best NCOs we could be…

I don’t want to leave this gravesite…

Went to 1/75, talking on the phone for hours  “was it everything we thought it would be, sitting in those chairs in RIP, waiting for assignment…?”

Left a bottle at your gravesite…

Got me asking, what would you do? Not talking to you about it, doesn’t feel right…

Said a prayer at your gravesite…

I remember the Ranger you were, the Ranger I strive to be like…

I hate your gravesite…

How many more airborne rangers in the sky bracelets do I have to wear? Even one doesn’t feel right!

Because being faded at the Ball and you’re not…

asking if I’m good, just won’t feel right…

My fellow buffalo Ranger, my friend…my Ranger buddy… my peer.. .my equal.., my fellow lover of the melodic…

I will always remember you…

Rangers Lead The Way!

You were a shining example for others to follow.

I love you,

Fam < 3 > < 1 >

Courtesy of Army Ranger Veteran James Webb

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This first appeared in The Havok Journal on September 8, 2018.