Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of LCPL Adam Thomas Puckett. At the time of his death, just 25 years old, Adam had just returned from his second combat deployment with the United States Marine Corps. He was home on leave.
For the past year, the lives of countless people have been affected because LCPL Puckett died an unexpected death. Our lives will never be the same because he is no longer with us, but the difficult part to come to terms with is how he died.
It’s normal to worry, and we almost come to expect our troops to die in the war zone, but it’s not within the realm of our understanding to get our loved one home from war only to find them dead a few days later. According to the coroner, the cause of death would likely be “overdose”, but the true cause of this combat related death is Post Traumatic Stress.
We all knew something wasn’t right. After his return from his first deployment to Iraq, his parents were concerned about him, but as all Marines do, Adam insisted that he was fine. He returned to his base to train and prepare for the next deployment just a few short months away.
Beth, yet another compelling, thought-filled and compassionate article. I appreciate your gift for writing.
I know first hand that life as you know it ends the minute you lose a child. In that respect, I was oblivious to the first year anniversary, because time had already stopped. There was no going backward, just as there was no going forward. Sean had become timeless, just as Adam has.
Might I suggest, that their purpose in life, as parents, has not come to a screeching halt. Their love for Adam is still very much alive, and my prayer is that that love will empower them to face what life has in store, and what it has to offer. The richness and experience that raising and loving Adam has brought to their lives uniquely equips them to continue to enrich others lives as well.
As you so eloquently stated, their brothers are continuing to come home in need of our help and understanding. There are untold opportunities for paths to cross and for lives to be mutually enriched. I am reminded that we don’t get to know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow.
Thank you, Tricia, for your words of wisdom. Your positive perspective, despite your loss, is truly inspiring to all of us. I know Sean and Adam will always be greatly missed, but you are so right. They don’t want their loved ones to stop living. They will always live on through the lives of those who love them. Thank you for sharing your heart.