One thing we lost as we transitioned out of the military to civilian life is the use of battle buddies. That one person that not only knew where you we at all the time but was usually with you. That one person who could tell something was wrong with you or off that day. That person you could rely on no matter what.

I know having been in the military for a while. I have had a few battle buddies. My first was in the School of Infantry, and his name is Everett White Jr. I still talk to this man to this day. We stayed close for many years, and the distance of duty stations is all that really divided us. He may think I hold a grudge about a tooth, but to this day, I have never really cared too much about him knocking that tooth out. I can call him to this day and get an answer and vice versa. He hit me up on text a few months back, saying he loved me, and it sent a shockwave through my system. I ran out of the church building and called until I got an answer. It was just out the blue and not something he usually says, so trigger signs went off only a true battle buddy would know.

My next battle buddy I got was Jason Kauke, my favorite Eskimo Jew.  He was my first roommate in the military. Though me and White were still close, the bond of room mates out plays most other bonds usually. Me and Jason stayed roommates or headmates for years. We still talk from time to time when my kids tell me I don’t know an Eskimo. I call Alaska and talk to him as he is one wheeling around Anchorage.

My next battle buddies name was Jared Linville. Oh, my old ginger team mate and the man I would spend countless hours in Iraq beside. I shot my first round in battle beside him and took an rpg to the fencing beside him. I also took a mortar round to the feet with him inches to my left. I still have no idea how that mortar didn’t kill me it went off. Me and him have a camera video that is still viral of a sniper shot hitting the bullet-proof glass on our post we were at. He was the one who told me to move there is a red dot on your chest right before a round wizzed through our post. Jared is now married with kids and a life. We talk now and again, but mostly, we just laugh at each other’s memes when we see them

My next and most precious Battle Buddy is Hans Palmer. Hans was more than a brother to me and still is. Me and Hans were so close I spent most weekends at his place, and his wife (ex now) is still to this day like my sister and always will be. I sat beside Hans in many places in Asia. Me and him did a lot of really dumb things together. We would run off from the group and hide. We spent a lot of nights just being ourselves together. One of my most precious memories of my life is sitting in the phone center in Camp Ramadi Army Base in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, and listening to the play by play of Jenny his daughter being born. Me and Hans have somewhat grown apart for periods of time because of dumb political reasons but never to far apart because we always have an avenue to talk and do when we need to I keep track of him via his food pictures on Instagram. Though he is not in my everyday life, he is my brother. I will never not care for him, and his daughter I watch grow up via Facebook photos.

I have had a few other battle buddies over the years. John Jacobs, my little gremlin, Jay Olson, the biggest boot ever, and Korey Bromery, my brother from another mother.

I could go on about many of my closest friends that I see as battle buddies throughout the years. I might be a little different than most as I tend to keep in contact with many of my old friends and check on them and one of them is the one who called me the day I was about to end it all. My relationship with many of them has helped me make it through many hard days, and I hope it’s the same for them. If not, oh well, I’m just using them for my own sanity then.

My advice to any of you struggling in your own little world is to reach out to the ones who had your back in combat as they are struggling to. Yeah, they may not admit to it, but a call from you may be the thing that gets them through the week. At the very least, it will be a little enlightening for you about that one old friend you were wondering about.

Do it give the one on your mind a call say Hi. Check and see how they are doing. Worst that happens is they don’t answer, and then you leave a message and call another friend. I dare you to atleast try.