I went over thinking I was going to make a difference. I learned quickly that life is a precious thing that can be taken away in the blink of an eye. I’ve lost friends; seen friends wounded and made some lasting friendships along the way. Some of my friends are closer to me than my family in some ways. I can’t really talk about the things I saw or gone through with my family like I can with the guys that were there, I feel awkward when I do. My dad and older brother would probably understand as they had both served in a war. But it’s still different. The people you serve with in a combat environment literally watch your back 24/7; you had to trust the guy next to you. You hear the phrase, “I trust this guy with my life” when you and your buddies get drunk, It’s a pretty good feeling to hear that. Some things bring you closer together, like the loss of a friend in your platoon. I wish unfortunate things didn’t bring you closer, but for some reason it does. It could be the fact that all of us in some way tried to save our friends lives, or maybe we just didn’t want to lose another friend along the way. To all my friends that lost their lives, no one will forget you. Thanks for being in my life. RIP CPL Casey P. Zylman, 25 May 2007.