What is a Hero?

A man that gives himself at all times without questions
A man that takes the heavy load when no one else can
A man that makes every one around him feel special and important
A man everyone is proud to have known
A man that loves his family and thinks of them always
A man that runs to the aid of a fallen soldier
A man that is loved and respected by all that he meets
A man that is stronger than life itself
A man that no one will ever forget
A true Hero is Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey

Jeannette Sarla

...'I know that you saw the pictures of the
Abu Graib abuse-episode with the
prisoners and few bad US
soldiers....believe me, Mom, many of us
are ashamed of them, and they don't
deserve to wear our colors'

Sgt Patrick Ryan McCaffrey
June 2004

I Am PROUD to Have Known You

From Dan Nevins
Friend & Brother in Arms

My Brother,
we didn't talk much while serving together, but when we
did, there was always substance and the more I got to
know who you were at your core the more I respected you.

I would have loved to have you in my squad as I am sure
every squad leader would have. You always went above
and beyond and that is a testimony to what a great person
you were. I want to tell you that I feel that your sacrifice,
though tragic and untimely, was not in vain and history
will tell the tale much differently than it is in the present.
So, as you look down on the rest of us, I hope that you will
understand that. At least that is the way I feel.
You left too early to know, but on 10 Nov 2004, when
another of our brothers (SFC Mike Ottolini) paid the
ultimate sacrifice, I was severely injured in the same
explosion. I lost my left leg in the explosion and after 27
surgeries, after being evacuated to Walter Reed they were
able to save my right leg. Now, three years later, I am back
at Walter Reed having the right leg amputated. It was just
too much pain to deal with daily and the recurring bone
infections were "show stoppers". Now that I have had the
surgery on the 23rd of January 08, I feel much better, and
Hopefully I will be walking again soon.

I know that we have made our sacrifices for a just and
good reason, and I am PROUD to have known you and
served with you. I will ALWAYS remember you, as well as
Andre and Mike, in addition to all of those who made it
home on their own power, but have their continuing
battles that go unseen.

Again, Thank You for being the man who you were. I am
honored to have served in the same unit with you, in the
same Army, and for the Greatest Nation in the World, and
Proud to have fought with you as a brother in arms for a
cause that history will view as necessary and just. God
Bless you and yours.

Your Brother,

SSG (R) Dan Nevins

To the McCaffrey Family:

Although I didn't know Patrick, I can tell from everything I read in the paper of what a wonderful hero he was. As he lives on in all of our hearts and minds, he is the definition of what a true American is. Thank you Patrick for keeping us safe at home. We will never forget you.

Your entire family will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless Patrick and the entire McCaffrey family.

Mrs. McCaffrey - thank you for your efforts to bring us the truth as to what happened to your beloved son. I know it has to be excrutiating to keep reliving it over and over again, but the true story must be told. Keep up the great work!
Sharon Rossell (San Jose, CA)

I just read your story on cnn.com No bond is greater than that of mother and child. I know he watches over you all. Blessings and hope.

Dear Friend of Fallen Marine 9/3/2004
Lois Gareis (Annapolis, MD)

..."We bedded down in some worn out foxholes. Everyone was scared and confused. No one knew who the enemy was. Why are we out here? Night was coming and death would be all around us. The guys and I slept close together. Once night came there was artillery fire all over us. The once black sky was now covered with bullets and tracers. I was the only one to stay down. Their bodies dropped like bricks, one by one. I was too scared to return fire. Where would I fire, they were everywhere. What could I do? I waited till morning Why wasn't I dead? Why didn't they come and finish me off? Were they tormenting me? I awoke to my friend’s dead faces. I cried in confusion. I didn't even bury them. I just ran away to nothing, when I arrived there I found no one except the emptiness in myself".....

Written by Patrick Ryan McCaffrey (1970-2004) at the age of 13 (1983)..."

"Nadia and Family, this message board is a wonderful thing. It has taken me awhile to truly put my thoughts together and memories to where I want to share of the love of a great friend. Patrick was one of my first friends and many who he knew later in his life may not have known him as I did when we were children. Patrick lived in the house behind my Grandma's in Sunnyvale on Roosevelt Street and always came to our family to share in with us and our parties, Christmas and Birthdays. Patrick and I would always play in Grandma's back bedroom with her multitude of thrift store toys that seemed like gold to us. We were friends, and the best kind of friends. Everytime My 2 Sisters Tammy and Wendy and my Cousin Kathy would be over Grandma would tell us to go into the back and get Patrick so he could join in the fun! Patrick always was a leader even as children, and so smart. He loved my Great Grandma and she loved him too. They always remembered Patrick at Chrsitmas with gifts, they loved him as their own. When Great Grandma died in March of 1985 Patrick and his Father Bob attended the funeral in San Jose and brought yellow roses, Great Grandma's favorite. He was always thoughtful and we have many happy memories of him in our childhood, always talented and speaking well of his Father and the many adventures traveling to see his Mother Nadia. He even gave me some Tahaitan Francs from one of his trips to which I still have and treasure to this day! He once had a yard sale and sold me a ventriliquist dummy to which at age 9 he wrote me out a receipt for the $7.00 I paid! He always knew how to take care and handle business, even as a child. I will always remember Patrick as a great childhood friend to which I share many memories and his dog LuLu!!!! His gentle Father Bob and beautiful Mother Nadia- My prayers are that God let him rest and that the world may know the sacrifice of this great person. My only goal is to continue to support Nadia in her efforts and Patrick's children in their future so they may know their Dad was a very awesome guy. My familys love to his."
Mark Nelson of Sacramento, California

Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.

The Wind on The Downs

“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”

(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )

Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….

“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”

I did not know Patrick, but I am remembering
his service. He is my hero. !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Other Side

i'm over on the other side
where life and death softly divide.
left my skin and bones behind
now i'm over on the other side.

can you feel me there with you?
my breath is gone but i'm not through.
loved you then and i still do
from over on the other side.

i can fly. really fly.
below the earth ... all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

it's good here on the other side.
the sweetest songs...the bluest skies.
thank you for the tears you cried
but it's good here on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth...all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side

the world is smaller than a needle's eye.
where life and death softly divide.
when you leave your skin and bones behind
i'll be waiting on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.
go tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti
C Desert Muse/SESAC
www.donconoscenti.com
(Used with permission)

“I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.
Peace on you. DonCon” 4-2008

The Other Side –
http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol

Sincerely,

Deb Estep ~ Ohio
Proud Air Force Mom and MIL

Remembering The Fallen – Blog
http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55

Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
http://tinyurl.com/6gey8b