I can not believe that it has been 7 years. When I think back to that morning, the hurt and sadness is just as great as it was that day. I miss my big brother every day and think of him often. It is really hard to forget him when his son is the exact copy of him in so many ways. I also find it weird to think that I have now out lived my brother by almost 2 years. It is crazy to think what he would have done with his life over the past 7 years and how all of our lives would be different if he was still here. I will always think of him as my big brother who I knew loved me but had his own way of showing it. I remember the last few phone conversations that we had and how we were just moving past the "I am the annoying little sister that really isn't human and doesn't have feelings, to the sister and friend who has feelings, thoughts and isn't as dumb as he once thought." lol I was one month away from being 21 and I think he was starting to see me as a real person in the months before he died. We had some great conversations and he was mostly over practicing his wrestling moves on me. He taught me how to be tough, laugh off the stupid people in the world (according to him almost everyone was stupid), and I learned SOOO many things from his mistakes! haha that is one of the advantages of being the youngest, I got to learn from my older brothers about what TO do and what NOT to do. I will always remember you and be proud of everything you did. I remember you as my brother and not how you died. You were courageous, brave, strong, loyal and so good at fighting to help those you loved and needed your protection. You were these things long before you joined the Army, the army just gave you a way to express them in a way you were most comfortable with. I love you Eric and wish we had more time together.
Here is my story from the day that changed my life forever:
July 9th, 2005 was a Saturday. My parents were out of town, in Minnesota, doing wedding things with my brother Brian and his bride to be Kyle. There were going to go look at different venues and what not that weekend. Matt and I were at home that weekend and I had plans to hang out with my friend Leeanne later that morning. I was still asleep when I heard a knock on the door and a ring of the doorbell. I was confused about why someone was so persistent so early (8:15am) on a summer Saturday morning. I remember laying there for a few minutes wondering if they would just go away. (Note that back in the day, NO ONE ever knocked or rang our doorbell, they just came right in so if someone was knocking or ringing the doorbell it meant they didn't really know our family.) So I was thinking it was a sells persons or something. I finally got out of bed and went to my parents bedroom where you could see the doorstep to see if I could tell who it was. When I looked out the window, I saw a black SUV that looked like my youth pastor Matt. I was then really confused about why he would be here but decided to go answer the door.
I opened the door and my heart sunk. Standing before me was a man in a military uniform. He was by himself and I knew why he was there before he could say anything. He asked for Chuck or Jan Woods and I told him they were in Minnesota. He stood there trying to figure out what to do because he was now out of protocol but he knew he had to tell me something. He asked who I was and I said, I am Amy, Eric's little sister. At this point he hadn't mentioned anything about Eric but I knew why he was there. He then said, "I am sorry to tell you this but your brother has been killed in action. May I come it?" I stood there in shock but still composed. That was the start of me being the strong person in the family for the next few months. I let him in and he began to tell me about what had happened but they didn't have all the details yet. (I don't think we really got all the details until we talked to the guys who were there. There were so many different stories and details seemed to change daily.) So then he began to ask about where my parents were and how the best way to get ahold of them. I gave him their phone numbers and the address to the hotel and Kyle's parents house. I didn't know what their plans were or where they were going since they were going to go look at different venues. He then told me to let the Army tell them because they have found it is better for it to be done in person rather than over the phone.
In the middle of him talking to me, the house phone rang. I saw that it was Jamie and answered it. We were both still composed and she started off the conversation very casual. She asked how I was and that was the first time I broke down. I answered, "probably just as great as you are." She then said, so they have been there too? I said yes and that he was still there. I said I would call her when he left. He then asked if I had anyone to come stay with me and after I said my brother was asleep upstairs, he gave me his business card and said to call if I needed anything. He gave his condolences again and then left. It was the oddest and not professional visit from the Army ever. I was not happy with how he handled things and how he just left me to fend for myself. I now had this big sceret that I wasn't supposed to tell my parents and that I would now have to tell my brother. I called Jamie back and decided that I was going to stay in Des Moines for now, her family was on their way to her in Omaha, and wait things out. The Army was going to send the Minnesota Reserves out to find and tell my parents.
So now I was off to wake up Matt and let him know. I didn't know what I was going to say. I opened his bedroom door and just stood in the doorway not moving or saying anything. He looked at me and asked what was going on. I said, "Eric's dead." He jumped out of bed so fast and I then told him what I had just been told. We paced the upstairs hallway not knowing what to do. We got dressed and I called my friend Leeanne to let her know that I wasn't going to be able to hang out anymore that day because Eric had died. Matt called his friend Mike and then we got in the car. I was driving and we debated on where to go or what to do. We finally decided to go to my dad's parents house. I pulled in the drive way and we knocked on the door. My grandma opened the door. She is busy making pies and my grandpa was getting things ready to go out for the day to sell his veggies. We started to walk back into their kitchen and my grandma looked at us and asked what was wrong. She was all happy and cheery as she normally is until she noticed both of our faces. I was standing in front of her and once again had to tell someone that Eric had died. She literally fell into my arms. I am glad I was there to catch her. I guess I now know why they tell people to sit down before big blows like that, even if my army man didn't have me sit down. My grandpa came running in and I told him too. We somehow made it back into their living room and sat down.
Once back there, I told them what I knew and what the army man had told me. My grandma called my aunt and I could hear her crying. We sat there and I am not sure how word spread exactly but I know I called my youth pastor to tell him but he was playing softball at the time so I talked to his wife. Finally we began to feel guilty that more and more people here were finding out before my parents knew so at about 1pm, my grandma called my dad on the phone. It had been over 4 hours and we hadn't heard from them yet. My parents were at Kyle's parents house and my grandma told my dad who then had to tell my mom. The Army had not yet caught up with them but later when they got back to the hotel, the Army men were just leaving. My parents were home 3-4 hours later with Brian and Kyle. The rest of the day/night is a blur. I remember news cameras were there that night and Sunday and many days after that. People were in and out of our home, bringing food, flowers, love and support. Our block was lined with small American flags and a big banner was made in honor of Eric.
The next few weeks I was numb but also the strong hold for my family and to others who came to offer they love. It was kinda weird being the one to comfort others as it was my brother who had died but I know that is how God made me, to take care of others first. I know all my strength came from God and that I could not have done it without my faith in Him. I was in shock and didn't believe that Eric had really been killed. His body came back to Iowa about 8 days later and we had his funeral 10 days after he died. It finally hit me as I was sitting in the limo next to Kyle and we were getting ready to pull away from the grave and I saw them lower his body into the ground. I broke down and wept. My poor not even sister in law then probably didn't know what to do with me but I am thankful for her and her shoulder. By the time we got back to the church for the lunch, most people had left, there were SOOO many people at the funeral and it took forever to get back to the church. I am thankful for everyone then, since then, and now that have provided my family and I so much love and support.
So this is my account of this day 7 years ago. I know everyone had their own stories and I know this day changed my life in more than the one big way of losing my brother but how I live my life today. If you made it all the way through this post, congratulations and thanks for listening to me. :)
Oh in case you by some chance are not sure how exactly Eric died, he was a medic in the Army and was out with his troop that morning as they were raiding a school that was being used as a training and storage for the insurgents. Another soldier was shot and Eric went into the battle to rescue him and transport him to the helicopter. He made it to the front line, got him, had to return fire of some insurgents and finally made it back to his ambulance. He was on the way to the helicopter, he was driving, and his tank was blown up by an IED. We know it was targeted because 2 other tanks passed over the same place right before him and it didn't go off until his tank went over it. It was remotely detonated. We know he was killed instantly by the explosion and the tank was flipped onto the top where Eric was at driving. The soldier he was rescuing was also killed that day. It is a day that binds my family and the Bradfeilds together forever.
Love you Eric and I miss you so much!!!!!
