Eric T Paliwoda

West Point, 1997

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Erik K. Kober on January 13, 2004:

I am so sorry to hear that my dear friend Eric has been taken by the tragedies of war, and my prayers are with his family and Wendy. Eric and I were throwers together on the Army track team, and good friends off the field. He always had a smile for me, especially when it was his day to work my neck in the weight room! And Eric was certainly a confidant of mine, a friend that I turned to often for advice or just a heart-felt talk about life. One of my most serious relationships I ever had was because of Eric and Wendy, and I still look back to this day to the several weekends Eric and I shared as friends our Senior year, and to the times I shared with N.N. directly because of Eric. "Big E" (as I was "little E") was a true friend, a true confidant, and true officer, through and through. I think today, looking back, we called Eric "Big E" not because of his size, but because of the size of his heart! To some who didn't know him, he was an intimidating person, but to know Eric, he was the Biggest, kindest man, and the greatest of friends! I know we have taken an inconceivable loss here on earth to not have Eric with us, but I know that Jesus met him along his way, and has him in heaven right now. Surely everything happens for reason, and I just pray that the Lord's reason is made apparent in these hard days of loss and question. Again, I am deeply sorry for our loss. May I see you on the big throwing field in the sky, my friend!

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