Daniel Brian Hyde

West Point, 2007

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Adam Nordin on May 30, 2017:

Day, Another year gone and you give me the opportunity to reflect on what has happened and to challenge the meaning of these experiences. This past year has been challenging and rewarding. I'm still at JBLM in 2/75 Rangers, I married the love of my life, Mandy (she's awesome), and I was just offered a huge opportunity to command a Ranger Company. We will differ ILE a year to stay, but unfortunately will not be able to get out of our ongoing house sale. It's a bit of a scramble to find a place to live, but the reward of staying another year will be worth the pain. I was at West Point back in December on a recruiting trip. I saw people like Liz Verardo, Sam Perlik, and Eliot Proctor, amongst others - all are crushing it teaching cadets what it means to be an officer. All three are married or engaged and doing phenomenal in life. It was very rewarding to walk through the halls and buildings and sidewalks and reflect on the times we all spent there. It was eerily chilling and rewarding to be back. I've been thinking about some of you guys more than usual over the past couple weeks. About how we continue to age on this planet (PT doesn't come as easy as 10 years ago) and yet you continue to remain the same. Youthful, energetic, and ready to conquer the world in your calm and humble way. In a sense, thinking about you keeps me young at heart - I can only remember you in the best of times, and to put myself in that period of my life I must first remember being 10 years younger. I just re-read my words. 10 years ago almost to the day was the last time I saw you. Ranger School grads, ready to march on into the fray at a moment's notice to answer the call. Somebody said something to me a couple months ago, "you're the best of us." I heard the words and they instantly made me think of you. You are the best of us, and always will be. We will always remember you, because you are part of us. And your burden remains clear - to help guide us through this life. Somehow the complications of life continue to grow for those of us still on this earth, but your memory reminds me of how simple life can be. Stay well, my Brother. You will never be forgotten.

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