Mike's service was actually pretty good. After attending so many in the past few years, Ive seen some fuckin horrible ones. His was not one of them.

I arrived in Key West the morning of the service, Mullady, who I hadn't seen in ten years was waiting for me. We linked up with Matt (ST2) who I hadnt met before. We picked up Lawrence on the way to the airport. Turns out he changed his name. Hadn't seen him in a decade either. You may know him from DEVGRU?

We arrived at the Church five minutes into the service. No big deal, a preacher, who hadn't know Mike was going through the motions. Mike's Dad knew we were coming on short notice from all over the globe and had reserved seats for us. It was standing room only.

Once the Revrend had finished, when most funeral services come to an end, Mike's Dad walked to the podium, he thanked everyone for coming and asked "would all of Michael's Teammates please stand up?" The first and last two rows stood. A few guys on the other side of the CHurch stood.

He'd recieved phone calls of condolence from all over the World. Satelite phonecalls from Africa and everywhere else Americans are fighting. It meant alot to him, he knows how hard it can be to call home from Anbar Province, and these men used their time to assuage his loss and express how much they loved Michael.

He continued, " I know some of you boys have to leave immediately after the service to return to the war, my families thoughts and prayers are with you. I want everyone here to see these young men, and thank them, they are the bravest men we have. I'm so proud of my son and so proud of all of you". His face wet with tears, "so proud of you".

Holly, escorted Sara, Mike's seven year old daughter to the podium. Sara gripping Holly's hand with both of her own was angelic. She may be too young to fully understand the loss, her Dad had gone away for long trips before. But seeing her Daddy there, it was clear she was feeling tremendous hurt. She became self conscious and hid behind her Mother's dress. She looked up at her Father.For a moment..absolute silence. At that moment, watching his baby girl's heartbreak, I wished to God I could have taken Michael's place, I wasn't the only one feeling that way.

As she took her seat, I felt sick. Being shot and burnt,losing my own Mother, all that pain was put in perspective when I saw Sara McInnis's heart break in front of my eyes.

There was a lengthy pause while everyone came to terms with Sara's loss.

Gustavo Machado went up next. His Brazilian accent was amplified by the tears. But his points were clear. He'd lost someone very special to his Academy, who'd grown from a novice to Brown Belt under his keep. Mike had made Gustavo and his teammates at the Academy very proud. Gustavo, with shaking hands, placed a Black Belt with Mike and posthumously promoted him. Gustavo left his one month old son to make the funeral. Many of Mike's BJJ friends made the trip. Mike had brought Brazilian JiuJitsu to Iraq and taught a few Iraq boys who'd been street urchins. Gustavo is deservedly proud that through Michael, a few foresaken children were given something that brought them happiness when everything else in their lives was awful and void of hope.

I went up next. I wanted to share something about Mike that people who knew him from his civilian life wouldn't otherwise have known. Mike was, before all else, a warrior and the people who loved him deserved to know, at least have an idea, why he commanded so much loyalty and love from those of us who'd gone to war with him.

I did my best, while speaking through tears, to share. It was short and a bit emotional for me. The gist is what you'de expect from Mike. I'll share the story with you over a beer sometime. Bottom line was that Mike's team had a day of downtime. He showed up at my door in full kit asking if he could roll with us.

He'd heard where we were going and what we were doing. It was very tough job in the worst place on Earth. 4 clicks across the Bridge in Fallujah. He wasnt gonna let his friends ride into the Devil's Lair without him. A completely selfless act of loyalty. I cant keep from tearing up whenever I think of that moment.

I ended by quoting a single sentence from Josey Wales. "He never turned his back on his friends".

I sat my crybaby ass down.

Mullady hopped up and brought the mood up a bit. Of course he cracked a joke, and everyone laughed. About Mike's selflessness. Always helping his friends. And how when bankrupt he let Mullady sleep on his sofa for a year..or two. Mullady now owns a mortgage house and develops real estate with Lawrence.

Finally Tim got up. I think Tim knew Mike from BJJ. Regardless, he knew him very well. He spoke about how much effort Mike put into measuring his actions. Fairness and decency. Mike was always working to become a better Father, Son, Brother, and Friend.

We met for a home cooked Cuban meal and parted ways. Most had flights.

Matt, Lawrence, Mullady, and I extended our stay. We hadn't seen each other in years. Mike keeping to form had the good taste to say goodbye to us in Key West in the middle of Spring Break. Anyone who knew Mike had no doubt that wasn't a coincidence.

All the remaining family and friends met later that night at a bar. No surprise Mike had been a frequent and beloved patron. We shared stories, exchanged contact info, and thanked Mike for introducing us.I met some great people thanks to Mike.

In his life Mike was most selective of one thing: Who he accepted as a friend.

We closed out the trip with a quiet dinner. Jim, Alma and Mike's siblings.

Mike left behind Sarah Shannon McInnis. Seven years old. Precocious and sweet. She inherited his smile.

A Trust Fund is being set up this week, We'll work together to spread the word and work to ensure she is given the opportunities that Mike wanted for her, if nothing else a chance to remain loyal to our friend, even in his Death.

If you can, please consider helping our effort by contributing to the Sarah McInnis Trust Fund. She means the world to all of us.