Army Friends

Don Crow and his beautiful family

Friendships in the Army, and I imagine in the military as a whole (I can only speak about the Army for I have never served in the other branches) are typically made quick yet endure for years without even being near the individuals.  This may happen in the civilian sector too but I have not seen it to be as common a phenomenon as in the Army.

When you live in a world where you, or those around you, are often changing units, retiring, or just getting out of the Army every few years you learn to make friends fast, and often times those friends remain close long after you have each moved to new duty stations.

Don, seen in the picture above is one of those friends we made in the Army.  We met back in 1999 when I came on active duty.  Don was a company commander in the battalion that I was the chaplain for.  I was honored to serve with such a great Soldier and individual.  In the year that we served together we became what I would classify as good friends.  In 2000 Don went on to greater things as I remained with the battalion.  We remained in contact over the next few years.  Something that was more difficult without things like Facebook or other social media.  De'Dee and I were able to see Don again in 2002 when we made a trip down to Florida prior to our departure for Germany.

This week I had to make a trip for the Army as part of a training exercise to Maxwell AFB in Alabama.  Don had made the move back to Auburn, AL a few years ago so I look at a map in hopes that Auburn was near Maxwell.  I discoverd it was only 50 miles away.  Tonight I had the honor of having dinner with Don and his beautiful wife Katie.  It was nice to see Don and his family.  It may have been 10 years since we saw each other but it was as if no time had past.  I was honored to be able to share dinner with Don.  Thank you Don for traveling the miles to come share dinner.

Don is just one of the many we have met in our time being on active duty that have become friends with and remain good friends over the years.  They are scattered all over the world at this time.  Some are more like family then friends.

As we begin to transition this summer to another duty station, move 6 in 7 years, I look forward to seeing old friends who are already stationed there and making new friends.  It is an honor to serve and even greater honor to serve with some of the greatest people in the world.  People I call friends and family.

One of the amazing thing about friends in the Army is that soon you find out you are friends with people who are friends with your friends.  The Army is proof that there is only six degrees of seperation.  The other day I posted something on the status of one Facebook friend and a friend I met from another area posted a comment.  I had served with both in two different areas but neither at the same time.

It is an honor to serve but it is even a greater honor to call so many I have served with friends and family.  One day I will have to retire.  There are many things that I will miss about the Army one of the most I will miss is the friends.  I am thankful for social media that allows me to stay connected.  The good news is I have friends around the world that I can go visit.