CHAPTER ONE

The Accident of Life

On Top of the World

On January 8th, 1998, I felt like I was on top of the world. I had accomplished all of the things that I had set out to do. With a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in Communications with studies in International Marketing and Military Science, I was just the person the army was looking for.

As a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army I had exceeded my own expectations, as well as those of family members who had preceded me in military service. Numerous awards for outstanding service attested to my success. In addition to all that, I had just completed coursework at the Army’s Pleasant Valley Medical Center and School in Nas Tonyia, Texas to become a medical officer.

On the final day of class, all the medical officers were turning in their supplies and clearing post before the graduation ceremony the next day. When I finished, I went back to my room to relax and enjoy the overwhelming experience of finally completing my heart’s desire. I had not made plans to go anywhere that day. I was thinking about seeing my daughter and sharing with her the joy of accomplishing my dream. I knew I had just received a great blessing, and I was so thankful to God for helping me make it through the years of hard training. I was excited! Tomorrow wasmy day and I was going to graduate.

The Celebration

After completing training, military personnel always have cause for celebration. The friends and bonds established during training are like none other. The memories will remain long after everyone goes to their respective duty stations. However, two of my close fiends, French, and Ivine wanted to go out and celebrate. I was at home relaxing when they came by and woke me up around 8:30 p.m. “Come on man, this is the last time we are going to be together. Let’s go!” I hesitated, but they persisted. Finally, I agreed to go. I first met French and Ivine when I arrived at Pleasant Valley Medical Center and School. We were classmates in the Medical Officer Basic Course and quickly became good friends. Ivine was a smart guy who was really smooth. He had just graduated college and was getting started in his military career. He was the first of the many friends I made at Pleasant Valley Medical Center and School. French was an awesome guy, a proven military leader with a great heart. He was also a loving father of four daughters and a member of the college fraternity Omega Psi Phi. We shared two common bonds; we were both fathers of daughters and both Army Airborne Paratroopers.

Once the three of us decided to go out, other friends from class joined us. Sannan, a good friend of Ivine’s from college and my fr