To Cayden Gray: Last Friday I received an e-mail from a friend of my son's. It informed me of your father's death in Iraq, and I forwarded it to my son, as he had served with your dad there.

I spoke to my son yesterday and asked him if he had received it. There was a long pause, and I knew in an instant that he had. That pause, from the toughest and finest man I know, spoke volumes about Brent and my son's respect and admiration for him. Please know that there is a large family of brothers out there who feel the loss of him -- for you and your mother, and for our country.

Stand tall, young man, your father is our hero.

Thomas F. McMahon

Tucson, Arizona