The last words of SPC Jordan Shay
April 20, 2017 by Kevin Dayhoff
I awakened early this morning to an odd email that
enigmatically resulted from a series of events from 2009 – August, late summer
2009. On any given day, I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, much
less, recall events from eight-years ago.
But it came to me quickly. The email came from a commenter
on a post on one of the several ‘milblogging’ conflict-blogs that I followed a
number of years ago. Some of which involved writers, and folks I knew, or areas
of the world in which I was somewhat aware, or had colleagues, or friends, or
friends of friends who were participating in operations in the area.
Many of them were sad, and often reminded me in many ways of
reading about the events involved in the Boer War, as depicted in the Bruce
Beresford, 1980 cult classic, “Breaker Morant,” about un-real events in 1901,
in South Africa - or Peter Weir’s 1981, “Gallipoli.”
Storytelling about unremarkable specific events in a
character’s life that are compelling because they provide an insight into a
larger narrative about war, conflict, heroism, empire – and ordinary folks
involved in ordinary events who step-up to accomplish extraordinary
accomplishments that defy any reasonable explanation.
Shortly after his post, “
The
Promised ‘Real’ Post,” was published in August 2009, he was killed in
action on September 2, 2009. He poignantly left behind, dedicated friends, avid
readers who had gotten to know him through his excellent writing, and a loving
family and girlfriend.
This reminds one of the great writers that were killed in
World War I. Spc. Shay had gifted voice that brought to life the moment by
moment otherwise unremarkable daily events that would become a part of greater
collage of a war zone – that made sense, because it made no sense.
To be certain, I did not know Spc. Shay, but to be reading
his writing, just before his death, quickly became a touchstone that gave you
chills and a pause for thought – a trigger event, if you will, for all the
folks on the Carroll County Vietnam Memorial that I knew – or knew of through
mutual friends and family. Carroll County was much smaller in those days and in
many ways, much-much more closely knit.
I learned early in life, by way of writing experiences,
leadership events, the Marine Corps, the Vietnam War, advocating for Civil
Rights, sports, or binge-reading southern gothic literature; that success in
life is hinged upon how well one deals with tragic setbacks, extreme difficulty
and abject failure. The unexplained sudden loss, and totally unpredictable
random setbacks that seem to have no relationship to how hard you tried.
During the Vietnam War, we did not talk about the war, our military
service, or G_d forbid, our feelings. Even those of us, like me, who never
deployed and stayed stateside. And we sure as heck did not write about our experience
on a website that could be accessed from all over the world. We kept to
ourselves to ‘protect ourselves’ against all the folks in society who
brandished the peace symbol, burned the flag, and plead for tolerance for their
point of view, who heaped scorn upon us.
The post, “The Promised ‘Real’ Post,” is compelling – as are
the heartfelt and meaningful comments, for a change, that filled-in many of the
missing pieces of the puzzle. One writer wrote, “This is very painful. We
writers take loss very hard, especially when one as young as Jordan passes. We
realize that he had so little time to share his gift, and regret he didn't get
to share more. But these words --what he saw, how he thought, what he felt,
will be with the world forever. Writing was part of his legacy…”
We seem to have some sort of primal-programming to accept
loss, and move-on quickly. I guess when the dinosaur ate your best friend, you
were not going to survive, if you hung around wallowing in grief when the
dinosaur choose to chase you for dessert.
Rest in peace brother, your watch is over we will take it
from here, you duty is done here, God has your place in heaven.
Or better yet, paraphrased from someone far brighter than
me, “God will be merciful to his good soul. Thank you for your service,
dedication, and sacrifice. Rest in Peace. Semper Fidelis from an old Marine.
Now for the last time, set that weapon down on pods, on the deck of Heaven's
chow hall.”
There are no guarantees in life. Every morning I put on the “The
Whole Armor of God” God will be merciful to his good soul. Thank you for your
service, dedication, and sacrifice. Rest in Peace. Semper Fidelis from an old
Marine. Now for the last time, set that weapon down on pods, on the deck of
Heaven's chow hall.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the
power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet
with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of
faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for
all the saints— Ephesians 6: 10-18
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Related:
The last post of 5/20 Milblogger Jordan Shay KIA Iraq Sept 2
2009
*****
*****
Thank you Jordan
for all your work. Rest in peace, your labor is done. We salute you. Your
sacrifice will not be forgotten. Kels, let us know if there is anything you
need.
*****
A 22-year-old Amesbury soldier was killed this week on his
second tour of duty in Iraq,
town officials said.
Jordan Shay, an E4 leader in an attack company assigned to
the 5th Battalion of the 20th Infantry regiment, was killed Tuesday, said
Kristen LaRue, director of veteran’s services.
Details about how Shay was killed have not yet been
released. But he belonged to the 3rd Stryker Brigade, based in Fort Lewis, Wash.,
and was on his third tour of duty, LaRue said.
The day before he was killed was the last time he logged on
to his MySpace [
website] page, where a
clock counting down how many days he had left in the Army is still running.
“Our hearts and our prayers are with the Shay family,” she
said. “As a community, we are standing together to assist the family in any
way.”
Flags have been lowered to half-staff across town in memory
of Shay, who graduated from Amesbury
High School in 2005.
*****
Friday, September 04, 2009
At times he must have been no more than two hundred feet
from me, but I never had the privilege to meet Jordan Shay. Together we chewed
up the most inhospitable terrain on earth, and back on
Ft. Lewis,
we worked daily in the same dilapidated Korean War era barracks. The only
connection I shared with
Jordan
was through the comments section of his blog, which I keep linked on the top of
the page under our unit crest. Though our companies faced a heated
inter-battalion rivalry, Attack Company was always in the thick of combat with
my company,
Battle.
They shouldered a far greater burden than us, sustaining eight KIAs to our two.
Jordan,
at 22 years old, saw more combat than a lot of crusty old vets before he could
legally buy a beer. For his third combat tour with the 3rd
Stryker Brigade, Jordan
started a blog to chronicle his experience. He named it
Through Amber Lenses, the
color of his sunglasses. He wanted to explain to the world what he saw with a
bright amber tint.
What I read when I checked his most recent comment section
hit me straight in the gut. "RIP
Jordan." I rushed to the DoD
announcement page and found nothing. Through a Google search I confirmed my
worst fear:
Jordan
Shay, 22 years young, killed in Iraq.
Here, pasted below, I want to preserve his last post:
20090905 sdsom last post 5 20 Milblogger Jordan KIA Sept 2
2009
Keep his family & Kels n your prayers as you enjoy Labor
Day brought 2 you by t sacrifice of men & women n uniform
20090904_ArmyofDudesmokebannerfinal
