Big tears from my heart. These tears have blood in them. Lots of blood. No way to articulate this properly. Just. No. Way.
A long, long time ago a small group of Green Berets deployed to the Kunar Province in Afghanistan. The path was unclear. The way forward uncertain. We trained, we planned, we fought often. We loved. We won. We lost. We laughed. We cried. Did I say we loved? Did I say we fought? We became more than brothers.
The years passed and passed and passed…and now – it is done. Last week the last line of the original team – Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 316 has retired.
It is the end of an era.
No man alive was more blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by such warriors.
Thank you, thank you – thank you for it all.
Your country, your regiment and most of all – I – can never repay you for all you did.
Strength and Honor,
Jim
1COR13:13
“With It Or On It” was not some bullshit motto. No…warriors died upholding our mantra.
I am honored to this very day to have fought alongside you.
BUILT TO LEAD 