Whoa — that gave me chills. Truck driver dad, worn leather band, 3-star general salutes you in front of thousands… then drops Sergeant Burton’s rescue band? That’s one hell of a cliffhanger.You want the next part? I’m in. Let’s pick it up: The stadium stayed dead silent.
I could feel Jessica’s hand tighten on my arm. I looked the general in the eye. My voice was rough from eighteen hours on the road, but it didn’t shake. “Sergeant Burton didn’t make it out that night,” I said. “But he made damn sure I did. Gave me this before the medevac lifted off
. Said, ‘Get it to someone who’ll remember what it cost.’” General Henderson’s jaw worked like he was swallowing something heavy. He dropped the salute, but his eyes never left the band. “I was on that medevac,” he said quietly. “Kandahar. 2009. The IED that took his legs…
