A former co-worker, Nelson Long, died in a car accident slightly under two weeks ago.  He was very devoted to his family (you could always tell where his priorities were) and a fun person to work with, generous and willing to help out whenver needed.

What I remember about him is how he was always willing to help out at work, but never at the cost of sacrificing his family and priorities.  And when he was at work, anything "extra" that needed done, you could count on Nelson to do it.  The only time he ever said "no" was if it would keep him too late from getting home to his family.

So it did not surprise me at all to find out that he just returned from Iraq two months ago.  Nor did it surprise me to learn he had received awards for heroically pulling soliders out of a burning vehicle when it was hit with a bomb just behind his vehicle. 

He wouldn't have called it "heroic".  He would have said he was just doing what needed done, and from who he was, I don't picture a "hero" in the sense of grandness.  He was a hero because that's how he lived every part of his life, regardless if it was burning bombed vehicles in Iraq or rearranging his work schedule to be home with his family...He did what was most important when it was most important, without hesitation.  That's just who he was.

It was an honor to know him.