Geez. I went to school with this kid’s older brother, whom, incidentally, I had the biggest crush on at the time. I remember going on a camping trip with friends and they were both there. After the trip, as I’m getting ready to go home, Ross looks up at me questioningly and says, “My brother says you’re mousy…” Hah!

He’s now being awarded a Silver Star. I’m sitting here listening to his story knowing my husband went through a similar incident while he was overseas. Only he was the one who was in ops and had to take the call when the guys in his unit were hit. They lost one and another kid lost his leg. I still remember getting that call from my husband and how absolutely devastated he sounded. I’m watching Ross on the video and there’s that same far away look in his eyes that Husband gets.

What do you tell someone when things like this happen? “Hey, congrats on the Silver Star, man!” ….Geezus. Hope he’s hanging in there. My heart goes out to him, his family, his soldiers and their families.

P.S. I probably shouldn’t call him “kid” because a) he’s an officer and b) he earned that title at West Point but I can’t help remembering him as young Ross Pixler, Ryan’s kid brother from back in the day.