I guess I just want to take a few moments to say goodbye to someone in my own way. SPC Clay Rance.
I did my Advanced Individual Training for the Army in Redstone Arsenal, AL. It was a long course, so we all got to know the other guys there pretty well. I found out a couple weeks ago that one of the guys I knew there was in a coma and was most likely not going to make it. Yesterday I found out that he passed away on the 21st of May.
Being in the active Army, maybe you get more used to losing people that you know over time, but this is really the first person that I’ve known so well that I’ve had to see them go.
From what I understand, he went home on leave, had a seizure and went into a coma for a couple weeks before he passed. I don’t think anything can really prepare you for hearing that someone so young has died.
When I was at my unit, a guy in our battalion was involved in a fatal accident in the motor pool. I didn’t know him personally, but he had done his AIT at the same base as me, and had even been there for part of it while I was there. Hearing the final roll call, the playing of Taps and the 21-gun salute at that Memorial Service was perhaps the most heart-wrenching thing I’ve experienced. I can only imagine Rance’s funeral services with military honors were just as powerful.
Any of my usual readers probably have figured out that this blog is just my way of venting what’s on my mind. And this has been weighing on my mind since I first learned what was going on.
Rest in Peace Rance.
Michael
Amen.
So sorry. I have been sad the past 2 days because an Army recruiter less than 5 miles from my house was killed by a domestic islamic terrorist. he was only 23.
So sad to experience the death of a friend so young. you will never forget him.
Comment by Hillcrest Cottage — 2 June 2009 @ 22:49
Wow, the guy that died in the recruiting station wasn’t even a regular recruiter. After Basic if you are really high speed they let you do two weeks with your recruiting station. It gives you a little leave before AIT and helps the Army out since you can talk to all the guys you knew. That means that he had only been in the Army for less than 3 months. I was really upset to hear that. That’s amazing that it was so close to home for you.
Comment by dmjohnston — 2 June 2009 @ 22:52
I think we had 16 dead that far in the deployment and I count spouses and children in this too. My husband was a friend of the guy that died last year during WLc in Fort Hood. Just came back from Iraq to die dehydrated on a base in the US. its so sad.
As a former police officer I can just give you the advice NOT to harden up to the death and pain around you. The ones that try to get numb are the first that break.
Comment by issuedwifetwo — 6 June 2009 @ 0:44