Our Nation’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) took a massive blow this week that will be felt for life by those who choose to be a part. As an old Special Operations Soldier myself, once one, always one, I felt that lingering dead hole in my chest first placed there by the loss of mates in Vietnam. There is no solace, there is no consoling, there is only darkness in the hole in our collective chests, for the magnificent flower of American greatness killed in the crash of one CH-47. Only Super SEAL Pete van Hooser has come close with words. Pete’s words quoted here are as appropriate today as they were several years ago when he spoke them after another tragedy.

“Last week when these fallen warriors launched on this mission, their SEAL teammates were fighting the enemy-fellow SEALs were in peril-as always in the teams-in this-situation there is no hesitation. It is not about tactics-its about what makes men fight. As you are going in hot-you can’t help it-you must allow one more small block of personal time. You think of those at home-the people you-the people you left behind. For this brief moment, there is no war.

Our souls have touched a thousand times before this moment

Boundless undefined shadows quietly surging through and waking each other

On a moonless star rich night we patiently wait for the dawn

There is no distance

You smile a cool wind that takes away thirst

I will never know hunger

I have never known fear

Unspoken-Unconditional-Unending”

Basic Underwater Demolition School, makes tough guys tougher, stronger, and smarter. It takes four-time volunteers to a different level and establishes this unspoken, unconditional and unending bond, between and among these Warriors. American Frogmen are in fact Special! And just as importantly so are their families. When asked “what is that thing around your neck, or pinned to your lapel’ referring to the Trident Symbol family members will reply, “my husband, father, brother, son is a Navy SEAL.” Enough said! Like the symbol of the Commando Dagger inside a Greek Letter, like the scroll signifying Rangers, like the eagle, globe and anchor, like the wings on the SOF aviators, that symbol says Special Warrior.

We mourn and pray for that solace and peace that will not come. America has gone dimmer because of the loss of the blazing brightness of these fallen heroes. America will never be the same without them, but a million ghosts in olive drab, brown khaki, blue and gray, camouflage, welcomes them to the Temple of God in Heaven. Freedom, yours and mine has been held in their hands and they have never let us down.