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Stepp keyed the vic intercom system in the truck...
“Sir, can I shoot this guy?”
“No, what, wait why?”
“Look how’s he walking, he isn’t moving his arms at all. I’m guessing an S-Vest... can’t I just shoot him?” 1/
“Sir, can I shoot this guy?”
“No, what, wait why?”
“Look how’s he walking, he isn’t moving his arms at all. I’m guessing an S-Vest... can’t I just shoot him?” 1/
We were at the NTC ahead of the 2012 deployment to AFG.
I said no, but keep an eye out.
Within an hour that dude, who had indeed been wearing a simulated s- vest, detonated it. A MASCAL ensued.
It was a painful exercise. 2/
I said no, but keep an eye out.
Within an hour that dude, who had indeed been wearing a simulated s- vest, detonated it. A MASCAL ensued.
It was a painful exercise. 2/
In the AAR, the only feedback he had was a reminder to everyone that he had asked to shoot the guy early on and save us the trouble, but I wouldn’t let him. 
3/
3/
There was the time before that, we’d just finished Table VI at Shelby and were at the ramp turning in dunnage.
He dropped out of the turret and sat in the back seat. In the dust of the window he used his finger to draw an extremely life-like dick. Something to be proud of. 4/
He dropped out of the turret and sat in the back seat. In the dust of the window he used his finger to draw an extremely life-like dick. Something to be proud of. 4/
As I approached, walking with the commander, the white light of the ramp hit the window perfectly and it was like the thing was glowing in the dark. I got talked to...
I piled in the truck. It was a quiet movement back to cantonment. 5/
I piled in the truck. It was a quiet movement back to cantonment. 5/
I piled in the truck. It was a quiet movement back to cantonment.
“You gonna yell at me about the dick, sir?” JD broke the silence.
“No, not this time. I reckon I’ll have to pick my battles. This doesn’t feel like one I care to fight right now” 6/
“You gonna yell at me about the dick, sir?” JD broke the silence.
“No, not this time. I reckon I’ll have to pick my battles. This doesn’t feel like one I care to fight right now” 6/
It was after 0300, we were all tired.
“If it’s any consolation, I’d hate to think you got any crap for it, but it is a good reminder that dicks are gonna happen.”
Dicks are gonna happen.
I laughed so hard I cried. That kinda laugh you only get when youre slap happy. 7/
“If it’s any consolation, I’d hate to think you got any crap for it, but it is a good reminder that dicks are gonna happen.”
Dicks are gonna happen.
I laughed so hard I cried. That kinda laugh you only get when youre slap happy. 7/
JD wasn’t perfect. I know he struggled. I often disagreed with the way he chose to handle himself and his life sometimes. He was in a out of trouble a lot after he got out of the am Army in 2013. 8/
He was a gifted warfighter though. He noticed things all the time that probably kept us out of trouble, maybe even kept us alive. Who knows.
I often teased him and said he was simultaneously one of the best and worst Soldiers I’d ever served with. 9/
I often teased him and said he was simultaneously one of the best and worst Soldiers I’d ever served with. 9/
I loved that dude, despite all his flaws. He was at his best when in a scuffle, a dude you’d want by your side in a gunfight.
He was also a guy that probably needed a chaperone for life. 10/
He was also a guy that probably needed a chaperone for life. 10/
I’d lost track of JD over the years, but found out he died this past weekend. Not sure how he died, but I know I’ll be sad when I find out. It doesn’t matter to me though. I probably knew him when he was at his absolute best. That’s how I will choose to remember him. 11/
Be good y’all. Look out for each other and and be kind, man. Life is too short. 12/12
