The dreaded words of a teacher ''Mr. Morrison would like to see you in his office. Since he was a director, that made the words even more disgusting. It was more than enough to tear me away from my daydream of seeing Glasgow Warriors win the illustrious Heineken Cup. The rule-breaking activity I committed instantly rushed into my mind. After a very lethargic walk to her office, much to my astonishment and fear, I laid my eyes on my mother who was standing at the entrance to the office. At this point I had sweaty palms and the need to run, jump and hide. The next six feet of walking felt like I had walked the West Highland Way ten times. However, I was greeted with a smile and, much to my relief and for my mental safety, it was not me who was in trouble. Seconds later, I laid eyes on what was eventually revealed to me to be a BBC cameraman. For the next fifteen minutes, I was completely overwhelmed by why I was in a small room with my mother and a strange woman. It was only after a photo of my brother was revealed that I realized it was about my brother and his heroic actions on the front line and his mention in dispatches. It is the oldest infantry award available in the British Army for bravery. We were asked about our feelings about this and how we think it will affect his career. Ryan was posted to Afghanistan on September 16, 2012. He was scheduled to serve as part of a seven-month period in which he would work with the Afghan National Army to eradicate Taliban oppression in the North. He will participate in numerous joint national missions with the ANA and ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), the most important being Operation Tuufan whist on the Herrick 17 mission. On September 19, Ryan arrives... ... middle of paper .... ...had been shot. His actions would have gone from heroism to fatality. This is what horrifies and haunts me. That thought alone made me realize how close we all are to death and how fragile we all are. It was October 2013 when Ryan was told he would receive a mention in the dispatches. For some it would be worth it, but as proud as I am for him that he received such an incredible thing, I am angry and haunted by the fact that I was inches away from burying my brother and this summarizes the army's security measures. in Afghanistan. This could be my reflection on my brother the hero who is no longer with us, but I am fortunate to say that he is fit and healthy and frankly lucky, very lucky and the idea that he Finding myself in this situation again woke me up in an aggressive sweat. at night. However, can a man be twice as lucky. I beg God that he may.