I made it to the memorial service yesterday. At first we were quite sure that we weren't going to make it but we finally got a flight.
I spent the Afternoon talking with the other medics a lot of whom were taking it rather hard. A lot of them worked with him (Paredes) real close and knew him quite well. There was quite a bit to talk about as he was quite the Hero.
One time the only way he could treat someone who'd been shot was climbing inside the tank upside down. Someone started shooting at the vehicle, so he slid in head first and saved the guys life without even thinking that maybe that wasn't the best position to be in.
Another time he rode on the hood of a HMMV through the city treating someone there cause he didn't have any other space to do it. When he got back he didn't brag about it either. He just was concerned that the guy he worked on was ok.
Well, I'm happy I got the opportunity to say my goodbye's to him, and now I'm on my way back to continue doing my job.
I hope the opportunity never presents itself where I have to prove my medic skills. But if it does I'll be thinking about him and trying to live up to his example for sure.