Shane Swanberg

Just passing your 43 birthday. It is a very strange day for a parent to have such a wonderful event like a birthday come and go and have nothing really happening except the reflection of who you would have been on that day. I imagined you celebrating with friends and family as you always loved to do. You loved having people around you...maybe not like the center of attention as much as a wonderful crowd of people to just have a great time together. I imagined you huge smile seeing so many...

I never got to meet your son but I was there on the day he died. I hadn´t been in Iraq long either, maybe a month. His death on that field will always be with me. For along time I couldn´t remember his name. There were so many casualties they blurred together over time. Recently though, I started looking back at the individual events so I could see the faces and the people again. I know one day all the army, marines, sailors and airman will meet again in Heaven and it will be a glorious day.

Dear Linda,

I received your letter a few days ago and it was such a heartfelt and moving letter. I have no idea why I never left my condolences or sympathies to you and your family previously. Please except my apologies now. I can tell you this, after 16 years it was, still is, and will always will be my greatest honor and most humbling experience ever to have escorted your son home to you and your family. After I escorted your son home over the next three months after Shane's...

It's been a long time - now 15 years - since I got a call from a friend, asking if I would stand a flag line at Shane's service. I could and did; having no idea how such a small gesture but me, would change the course of my life, and my commitment to our Veterans.
Humbled and inspired by that day;l these years later I'm an active member of a "Vets Helping Vets" association of Combat Veterans.
As a "biker" I'm currently in custom build of a motorcycle honoring LCPL Swanberg. I...

Semper Fi. Rest in peace, brother.

The day after....13 years ago today I'm still not able to "move on" and thankful for that, honoring "that" day with reflection of Shane and all 3/7 buddies that were impacted as well. Remembering he was only the first of that tour..knowing families like ours would be held in a paralyzed position by the trauma to our inner core. I've read and reread these posts that have so lovingly represented what he has meant to oh so many. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and your...

I miss you Shane. Deeply. I think of you and miss you daily. Even now 13 years later your loss is difficult to except and the grief can be overwhelming, I look forward to day we will be together again with our Lord Jesus Christ. I know from talking with your Chaplain, that you had re-established your faith that we had raised you with, and that is the only joy I can hold onto from losing you.

I will see you again my Son. I love you.


Dad

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice, young soldier.
A citizen

Happy Birthday Shane, miss you so much big brother. So many times I wish you were here. Love ya

Travis