Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Continuing Toll

A member of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s FAST (Foreign-deployed Advisory and Support Team),Special Agent Forrest Leamon died this week in Afghanistan.

He was killed in the line of duty, when the helicopter he was riding in went down following a firefight with Taliban drug traffickers.

He was 37.

He leaves behind a wife, Ana. They were were expecting their first child in February.

Forrest was a friend and shipmate, one of my students, a fellow teammate and Owl, and a hell of a guy.

Fair winds and following seas, Forrest. You will be missed.

 

 

Don’t expect much from me today.

18 comments:

  1. I am so sorry.

    My deepest sympathies go out to his wife, the rest of his family & his friends. Especially you, Jim.

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  2. Jim,
    My deepest condolences to your friend's family, as well as to you and your family. You are in my thoughts this day.

    If you need anything, you know we'll do whatever we can for you.

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  3. I'm so sorry.

    Thank you for sharing his name and a bit of his story. They should not be faceless.

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  4. I'm so very sorry to hear this. It makes me angry, and sad.

    You have my thoughts and sympathy.

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  5. Fair winds and following seas, Special Agent Leamon.

    You're in my thoughts, Warrant.

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  6. My sorrow and condolences, for whatever they're worth, Jim. My best wishes to his family.

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  7. My condolences Jim - to you, his friend, and to his family.

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  8. jim,

    i am so sorry, and offer my condolences. words seem entirely insufficient at times like this. thank you for adding a little backstory.

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  9. I'm... sorry.

    And aware of just how inadequate that is. :(

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  10. Jim -

    Thank you for shedding a little more light on such a bright shinning star.

    Forrest was one of my best friends and truly one of the most honest and generous guys you would ever meet.

    Thank you all for the kind words they do help.

    Forrest is dearly missed.

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  11. It is important that we learn the names and stories rather than the statistics. Thanks for sharing. My condolences to your friend's family and to you, as well.

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  12. Sorry to hear of this. Condolences to all his friends and family.

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  13. Thank you for sharing this. It's a good reminder that there are others besides the military putting their lives on the line for us.

    Thank you Special Agent Leamon. May you rest in peace, and may your friends and family find some comfort in this time.

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  14. Oh, Jim.

    I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.

    My deepest thanks to him, and to all who serve.

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  15. My deepest condolences to Special Agent Leamon's wife, to-be child, family, and Jim. I have been thinking about this for days and watching the news as they were met in Dover upon their return.

    "You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here" Sara McLaughlin.

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  16. Jim,

    If there is any fund being set up for the family, will you please post details here?

    Thanks

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  17. Nick, there may be a college fund set up for his unborn child - I'll let you know.

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  18. Inadequate as such things are, I also offer my own condolences.

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