Over the loud speaker the stuartess announced 'please be respectful as we honor the fallen soldier who we have transported tonight.'
Silence shot through the hearts of those who watched. His comrades in dress uniform stood by the family as the casket was lowered from the plane and moved across the tarmac. Standing witness, my father wept.
The pilots say that they could hear his screams over the radio commands and blade slap.
My brother's legs hung freely out of the helicopter, as did his comrade's. A moment later he was responding to an unexpected rescue - his own comrade's leg was shot in two places from the ground. The mission was aborted.
I stood at the airport waiting. Waiting to see him.
Amidst the commotion and anticipation
I saw him from afar
and tears fell down my face.