Losing sleep...

I've often wondered why veterans have trouble sleeping at night until recently.  I haven't slept very well the last few months.  As much as we try to make our lives as normal as possible, there are just so many things you think about when you're deployed in a combat zone.  Going back to work at our respective jobs and/or finding a job.  The safety and well-being of our friends, families and loved ones back home.    And then, there are other factors on top of that.  The experience of being deployed adds to all of that.  You have this military family that you become a part of.  And just like back home, you don't get to choose your family,… you're born into it.  You become vested in your military family and the well-being of those around you becomes equally important.  Others are depending on one another to do their jobs in accomplishing a mission.  We're well trained and sometimes it's easy,… other times it's not.  The recent loss of my roommate from flight school is weighing heavily in mind and in my heart.  Jarett Yoder was a proud Yankee from Pennsylvania.  He graduated last year from flight school as an Apache pilot.  Since I was a proud Texan, he and I would often spend what seemed like worthless hours upon hours explaining to one another why our respective states were better than all the other states in the union.  We never would give in to one another's claims although I have to admit, I had no problems drinking Yuengling with him from time to time. We met at Warrant Officer Candidate School and lived together afterwards through our primary flight training.  My fondest memories of Jarett are from the nights we would hang out at our house with our other roommates and play beer pong,.. the occasional games of golf and the countless hours playing xbox (mostly Call of Duty/Blackops) while we were on hold waiting for flight school to begin.  Jarett was a good man, faithful and loyal to his family.  The loss of him will forever linger in my heart.  I hope and pray his spirit will live on through those of us who continue to serve and that he may never be forgotten.  May God's grace be upon us all… I miss you brother