Rowan County – DC Current

I haven’t said or written much about Collin since his interment, and to be frank I have tried not to think about it. In the last year or so I’ve attended several services for lost friends or loved ones and it does start to wear. Best thing to keep from dwelling on them is to stay busy and not think on it at all. I mean what is there to say? It hurts, it sucks, and then what? When you are a nostalgic person like me, memories are overwhelming enough as it is.

Even so, the last few days Collin had reentered my mind. This is usually the time he would get some shore leave, and stop in for a visit. Sometimes he’d be in for a week, sometimes just a day. That was the nature of his life and career. However short or long, we always tried to make the best of it. Maybe the guys would get together and head out for some Lexington night life. Maybe we’d hang out at Cody’s to relax and shoot the breeze. Or grab some guns and go bird hunting, in truth nothing more than an excuse to walk around the woods. Sometimes we just listened while Collin would tell what little he could about his experiences.

So a few days ago I almost caught myself calling up Cody to see if he had heard anything from Collin. That of course was a painful reminder that none of us will be hearing from Collin again. It seems I do this a lot, and may continue for a long time to come. Not just about Collin, but about anyone that is no longer with us. I wonder, is this the same with others? Do you sometimes find yourselves acting as if someone was still there? Anyway, in a strange turn of events, Cody actually called me up the same day to let me know a memorial was taking place at Collin’s grave site on 11/5/2010.

It should come as no surprise that many of Collin’s team, officers, and others couldn’t make it to his funeral service. That again is the nature of their work. So to give them a chance to see his site and a final remembrance, a large contingent of his fellows were flown and bused in for an informal grave side memorial. Close family and friends were also invited. The notice was short, so Cody and I made an effort to get the word out among our circle of friends, thankfully with some success.

It was a spectacular sight once we were there. No less then a full sized tour bus and several more small vehicles were needed to carry all the personnel who came just to get a glimpse at Collin’s final resting place. Army, Navy, even the Air Force were represented, and I’m not talking about new recruits either. These guys are the ones doing things you don’t hear about in the news, themselves all laden with medals and accolades. Collin’s commanding officers were also on hand, speaking on his behalf. It all served as a powerful reminder of the type of person he was. The overcast and chilly day was also in my opinion a more somber and fitting setting then the blazing summer sun during his funeral service.

Afterward a lunch gathering was held. It was great experience to meet some of the men serving with Collin and I wish we could have chatted some more. It was also wonderful to speak with the Trent and Thomas family. I’d be lying if I said their being kindred political spirits had nothing to do with that. Also, I consider it a huge honor they wanted a copy of the article I wrote on Collin. It’s always nice to know that good people think well of anything you do. Adding to that was the opportunity to converse with rarely seen friends like Brandon, Justin, and Paul.

I think all in all it was a fitting tribute to Collin and Veteran’s Day. Not just for the speeches and honors, but undeniable proof that a forthright man or woman can have influence even when their physical presence is gone, and they need not be famous to do it. In this case the type of influence to bring people together from literally around world and haling from all walks of life; common civilians, retirees, and the most dangerous warriors this world has ever produced all standing together at a tiny cemetery in the middle of Appalachia. That’s what one man did this November, and to me, that is what Veteran’s Day is all about.

Navy Times Article
Morehead News Article
Service Announcement

2010-08-19 07:39 on my way to work, I got a phone call from my closest friend Cody Bumgardner informing me that Collin was killed in action during an Afghanistan operation. I honestly don’t know what else to say on the matter, so this may well come out as a lot of rambling nonsense. If it does I apologize.

I’m not a hero worshiping type – outside of family I can count on my fingers the number of people I genuinely look up to. But Collin was at the top of that list. The things he did spoke for themselves. He was a Navy SEAL, and a highly decorated combat veteran whose list of medals and accolades would lengthen this article to absurdity. In short, he was the quintessential badass. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Collin was to put it simply, a good man.

For the most part, he was a clean cut, low key kind of guy. It made a hilarious contrast with operational pictures where he sometimes resembled Grizzly Adams meets Deliverance. At all times Collin had a wry sense of humor and quick wits to go with it. I’ll never forget a bird hunting trip the day after Thanksgiving in 2004. I jokingly asked what the birds must think about us. Without a second’s pause he brought one down with an all too casual crack shot and answered “He’s tired of being a bird. Eeeking out a living on seeds… We’re doing him a favor”. Another one I recall (after having his watch broken) “…now I can’t tell time, I’m gonna clean your clock!” Yeah, these might not sound funny in text. But the quickness, ease, and delivery just made it perfect. Replaying them in my head with his voice still gives me a chuckle. Any time spent with Collin, and it was rare considering his profession, was loaded with moments like that. Collin wasn’t without a temper either. I could tell you a few stories about some individuals he put in their place here and there. Never a pretty sight, but always hilarious.

All in all though, what I admired about Collin was the general panache in which he carried himself. He wasn’t gung ho or pushy, he just took calamities in stride and got things done. Plans go bad. Make new ones. Girlfriend did him wrong? That sucks, time to get another. No shore leave? Send a postcard and go back to work. Guys like that command respect, and they deserve it.

He was the only human being I’ve willingly shared a “bro hug” with. If you knew me, that’s saying something. That goes double for admitting that as I write this I find myself holding back a tear or two. The one solace I can take from this is knowing through proper channels and other means I can’t talk about that he took plenty of those sub human heaps of excrement with him. I don’t have to wish or imagine Collin didn’t go down easy.. I KNOW he didn’t, and the rest of his unit is still out there taking the fight forward.

My heart goes out to the Thomas family, who also lost Edward (Collin’s cousin and another good friend from football) at the Pentagon during 9-11. They are a proud military family, but this is a hard blow no matter who you are.

If you read this, please recall that Collin died protecting the comforts and freedoms we repeatedly take for granted. Right now there are many more out there just like him. Sadly, he isn’t the first or last to make the ultimate sacrifice. Remember to keep them in your prayers at least. Freedom has not, nor will it ever be free.

Should you be a friend of Collin’s as well, I hope to see you at his service. Be well.