>
A little while later, I got a call from the wife. She had found a blood spot, a good-sized dark one. Oh crap I thought. On looking around, we found more. “HOLY CRAP!” aloud I said, “This is not looking very good. “
As I rounded a corner, I saw my good friend napping in his favorite chair. Oh good I thought, he is sleeping off another all nighter as usual. All’s well now. My good friend has been found. He is known far and wide for gallivanting around at all hours of the day and night.
As I approached him, I could smell urine and feces. This is not a good thing. Then I saw the pool of black blood, my heart skipped a beat and I sucked in a lot of air. Fssssippt! Crap now I can taste it. My good friend has been hit. As I rolled him over and started surveying his wounds, I was immediately taken back to The Nam. The smell of wounded comrades is never forgotten. The only thing missing was the yelling and screaming and the smell of burnt nitrates. His wounds were just small puncture holes in his belly, like bullet holes but the smell is a recognizable fatal smelling smell. I have been here before. You never forget.
My good friend was in deep shock now so at the speed of light, I bundled up my good friend and medevac’d him to the nearest hospital. I took him into the ER where the triage team immediately started working on him. There is hope now. He is with the best in the business. Bar none. They had saved another good friend of mine awhile back.
The waiting is the hardest part. After what was an eternity the doctor came out and was ready to talk to me. He took me into this little room off to the side. “Can I see him?” I asked. “In a minute but first I need to talk with you about your friend’s condition.” He put up some x-rays on the light box. Before the doctor spoke, I could already see the mass damage to my good friend’s body. Crap he’s toast I thought. Damn…
As the doctor was confirming what I already knew, I looked up at his diploma on the wall. All right! he was an Aggie; a Texas A&M graduate like my father was. It is such a small world at the craziest of times. Next to his diploma was a Bronze Star award. It stated, for valor under fire as a combat medic in Iraq. My good friend could not have been in any better hands.
I finally get to see my good friend. He is all bandaged up and there is the smell of iodine and alcohol in the air. The doctor tells me my good friend does not have much time left. I hold my good friend’s hand and talk to him for a little while. He looks at me and his eyes go empty. He is gone… I fought back the tears as I kissed my friend good-bye…
Good bye Good Buddy… You will be missed… You will be remembered…
~: RIP :~
