Cpl. Brad Davis
30 December 1987 - 22 April 2009
Fox Company, TF 2-505th PIR
Baghdad, Iraq
I went to a funeral
yesterday. I did not know the young man. But, as often happens in
life, people I know…knew him…some of those people that knew him… know
people I work with…and their children…and some…know The Boy. Round and
round. Degrees of separation.
Even though I’ve never met Cpl. Davis, I feel a sense of
connection and loss and pride. He belonged to his family first and my
heart breaks for his parents, sisters and brother. He was also a part
of the community I live in, the grade school I attended, the church I
was married in and my parents were buried from. As more people
gathered near the church, I could hear greetings of recongnition.
People that knew each other with varying degrees of separation. Coming
together in front of the high school, the church, lining the streets.
It seems to me, most of us don’t give much but a passing
thought to most of the people we see in the course of a day. There are
those we say hello to in passing and those we recognize but don’t
necessarily acknowledge in any way. But…yesterday was different. All
these people, known and unknown to each other came together to honor
“one of us”. One who had the strength and courage of heart to do what
none but a small brotherhood can claim…he was an American Soldier.
And finally…to Grant Segall of the Cleveland Plain Dealer
Regarding the first and last paragraphs of your article.
While Cpl. Davis may represent one name on that list of four thousand
you felt necessary to reference…he represents a longer list. A line
going back to the founding of this country. Of men, who when asked to
do their country’s bidding, answered the call with honor and courage.
That, Mr. Segall, is a HERO, not a victim.
However, thank you for reminding me why I canceled my PD subscription.