Garrison Charles Avery

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jeff Preston (PL w/ Garrison) on February 11, 2006:

Garrison- I really don't know what to say. This whole thing has crushed myself and the company. I think back to all the time we spent training up at Campbell, all the late night meetings in the CO's office, and all of the gadgets you were able to make appear whenever they were needed. I remember how anxious and excited we were about being deployed, but how much we dreaded leaving Kayla and Nancy. Most of all, I will always remember trying to keep up with you as a PL. You always seemed to set the standard for the other PLs. From patrol debriefs to the handling of your platoon AO, you were the man to emulate. I will also remember the day we lost you. I remember running to the TOC with MAJ Wintrich. I remember Brandon Hill and CPT Kangas flying out the gate to help before anyone knew entirely what was going on, but knowing that getting to you was the most important thing. The TOC was full of people listening to the reports and trying to help in some way. And, I remember how helpless I felt sitting there knowing that I couldn't get my platoon off guard to come help you. It was one of the worst feelings I ever felt. To Kayla- I am so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine what you feel right now, but I did get the message you told Nancy to give to us. We are working on that. Just know that Garrison talked about you all of the time. He would talk to us about you and dogs or just about missing you. You two have something very special, and nothing will ever take that away. To Garrison's friends and family- I am very sorry for your loss. I am also sorry that you never got to experience the side of Gary that I did. You never got to see the man who would lead his platoon through some of the most dangerous areas in Iraq, because you were in contact and needed help. You never got to see the man who lost his closest friend in the battalion, Britt, but rolled back out that next day because he had a job to do. Gary was a man who, when the chips were down, was there for you no matter what. Garrison, we all miss you here. The men of Dco will never forget you. Well done, be thou at peace. With Love, 1LT Jeff Preston

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