My father was 51 when he lost his life on July 22, 2008 after shortly returning home from an active combat tour in Afghanistan/Iraq. He was around year and half from retirement from the Army from serving all the years he did shortly after I was born. He served in an active tour in Korea and was active duty during Desert Storm.
He is survived by his parents (my only grandparents I have still living which are in a drastic health decline), his 4 children along with many uncles, aunts, and cousins. He unfortunately never had the chance to meet his first great grand child along with most of his grandchildren of many.
God bless all that continue to serve and fight for our freedoms that we hold so true along with the veterans who gave their all to live in this great country we have today.
