Blake Cook

Social media now, when you think of something sexy, you think of beards and like plate carriers and cutoff t-shirts and, you know, the special operations community. Like it's, it looks cool. And it's, you know, a lot of guys in the 82nd, they're really good dudes. And I think they feel maybe overlooked sometimes. You know, maybe like we're not as important anymore because we're just in the 82nd.

I've heard guys tell me their story. Well, I was just in the 82nd. Hey man, be proud. Be proud of what you did. You're still in the infantry. You're still in the 82nd. You're still jumping out of planes. Be proud of what you, I'm so proud to be in the 82nd. I don't go around and try to act like I was in SF or anything. I'm proud of what I did because what I did set me up for where I'm at now.

I've heard guys tell me their story. Well, I was just in the 82nd. Hey man, be proud. Be proud of what you did. You're still in the infantry. You're still in the 82nd. You're still jumping out of planes. Be proud of what you, I'm so proud to be in the 82nd. I don't go around and try to act like I was in SF or anything. I'm proud of what I did because what I did set me up for where I'm at now.

I've heard guys tell me their story. Well, I was just in the 82nd. Hey man, be proud. Be proud of what you did. You're still in the infantry. You're still in the 82nd. You're still jumping out of planes. Be proud of what you, I'm so proud to be in the 82nd. I don't go around and try to act like I was in SF or anything. I'm proud of what I did because what I did set me up for where I'm at now.

That was where I'm supposed to be. So I tell all those guys, anybody to this day in the 82nd, be proud of what you're doing. Your service is not overlooked. You guys, there's a lot of really good young dudes who are changing this. They're changing the 82nd.

That was where I'm supposed to be. So I tell all those guys, anybody to this day in the 82nd, be proud of what you're doing. Your service is not overlooked. You guys, there's a lot of really good young dudes who are changing this. They're changing the 82nd.

That was where I'm supposed to be. So I tell all those guys, anybody to this day in the 82nd, be proud of what you're doing. Your service is not overlooked. You guys, there's a lot of really good young dudes who are changing this. They're changing the 82nd.

You know, I've been reached out by several guys and I will go on post and train any of those guys for free from the 82nd because I didn't get that. I didn't get any CQB training except for basic. And it was the whole like grab, lean, rock, lean, rock, like old school stuff. My heart is with them guys, man.

You know, I've been reached out by several guys and I will go on post and train any of those guys for free from the 82nd because I didn't get that. I didn't get any CQB training except for basic. And it was the whole like grab, lean, rock, lean, rock, like old school stuff. My heart is with them guys, man.

You know, I've been reached out by several guys and I will go on post and train any of those guys for free from the 82nd because I didn't get that. I didn't get any CQB training except for basic. And it was the whole like grab, lean, rock, lean, rock, like old school stuff. My heart is with them guys, man.

If they ever need anything from me, like they message me all the time and I will do whatever I can for you. If any training, any shooting, any advice for like after the military, like I got you because I'm proud of what, and I'm proud to know you. Be proud of your service. So we had one of the SF groups, I don't know which one, that was on FOB Warrior too.

If they ever need anything from me, like they message me all the time and I will do whatever I can for you. If any training, any shooting, any advice for like after the military, like I got you because I'm proud of what, and I'm proud to know you. Be proud of your service. So we had one of the SF groups, I don't know which one, that was on FOB Warrior too.

If they ever need anything from me, like they message me all the time and I will do whatever I can for you. If any training, any shooting, any advice for like after the military, like I got you because I'm proud of what, and I'm proud to know you. Be proud of your service. So we had one of the SF groups, I don't know which one, that was on FOB Warrior too.

So we would see them around, and they just had like a different life, right? Everything was just kind of carefree and big boy rules. You know, they're treated like big boys because they are, right? They come from an amazing family. group or amazing unit or amazing team. And something about that, I was like, man, when I leave here, I talked to Bochez and he's like, I'll help you.

So we would see them around, and they just had like a different life, right? Everything was just kind of carefree and big boy rules. You know, they're treated like big boys because they are, right? They come from an amazing family. group or amazing unit or amazing team. And something about that, I was like, man, when I leave here, I talked to Bochez and he's like, I'll help you.

So we would see them around, and they just had like a different life, right? Everything was just kind of carefree and big boy rules. You know, they're treated like big boys because they are, right? They come from an amazing family. group or amazing unit or amazing team. And something about that, I was like, man, when I leave here, I talked to Bochez and he's like, I'll help you.

He's like, we'll get all the paperwork done. When we get back, we'll do everything. And I was so excited, man. I was like so excited. And then May 24th, 2012 came. We were, that week, we were the QRF. And whatever outposts that the SF unit had, they were taking contact. And we were going out to help them.

He's like, we'll get all the paperwork done. When we get back, we'll do everything. And I was so excited, man. I was like so excited. And then May 24th, 2012 came. We were, that week, we were the QRF. And whatever outposts that the SF unit had, they were taking contact. And we were going out to help them.

He's like, we'll get all the paperwork done. When we get back, we'll do everything. And I was so excited, man. I was like so excited. And then May 24th, 2012 came. We were, that week, we were the QRF. And whatever outposts that the SF unit had, they were taking contact. And we were going out to help them.

The fastest road to, I later found this out, the fastest road to them was, they labeled it as a black road. It hasn't been cleared of an IED in two weeks, but it was the fastest route to them. So that's the one that our amazing leadership decided that we were gonna go take. And we hadn't turned off Highway 1, but maybe more than a half a mile. And I'm the gunner. And we're driving.