My recollection and my tribute

I remember hearing and reading about the outcome of Operation Red Wings in 2005. I was in the Air Force and stationed in the U.K. at the time. Although the military branches like to give each other a hard time about their service, I remember our base came to a grinding halt upon hearing about this event. I had only been in the military a little over a year at the time and I was only 20 years old, but the sadness and anger that I felt then still rages now and then some. To the folks reading this: I'm not telling you what to think about the wars in the Middle East or what your political stance should be, but just know that there are many folks like me who are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for you if that time should come. RIP my fellow military men and women who paid the ultimate price.