This is seriously a punch in the gut for me. I apologize if it appears as though I'm drunk posting, because I am. Wasn't planning on drinking tonight, but shit happens.
SWACQ was still on active duty when I went through TACP school. He taught me how to be a FAC. I was the Battalion AirO when my Battalion was the host battalion for an EWTGLANT TACP shoot post deployment. SWACQ found me, wanting debrief items from our deployment.
I left active duty and found myself in a civilian job that I loved - working alongside SWACQ (now a reservist with 4th ANGLICO, and a FSR for StauderTech). My desk faced SWACQ's. He lent me his RV for the 4th of July Weekend. We worked closely together on getting his Marines jump qualed (My squadron sent two planes - me included - to Vero Beach, then sent another two planes to AP Hill when we didn't get it done in FL). We had a beer tasting in my office (that included MB). His son told him that he thought I needed a new callsign, because "Stinky" was mean. MB, SWACQ and I did a secretive beer tasting in the office one day (I told my department head about it today, and he's going to arrange for a memorial beer tasting with the department sometime next week).
I've been to his house. I've met his wife, dog, and his two awesome sons. His sons gave me a fairly detailed tour of the RV before we borrowed it. Fuck, I miss you brother...
According to the Virginian Pilot:
"His memorial is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Vineyard Community Church, 4444 Expressway Drive in Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in his name to the USO, his church or the sender's favorite charity."
If I get a chance to talk to Casey (his wife, not MB), I'll ask about us doing a scholarship rather than generic donations (for the record, he would read AW to his wife while sitting in bed on his phone). Just not now. More beer. Fuck, I miss you brother...