#GotMySix: My Battle Buddy

September 13, 2017

By Michel Buterbaugh, U.S. Army (Ret)
 
When I think of someone who’s #GotMySix, it’s not just during those times we’re deployed. I want to tell you a story about my battle buddy, Aaron, who’s “had my six” not only in battle, but he also helped me through the hardest time in my life. At that time, I was the Program Manager for Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness at Fort Polk. Most people would consider me to be a very resilient person. But I had a very bad day that turned into a month of “hard times.”

It all started on a Thursday morning in October 2016. My son called and told me he’d wrecked his car. I left work, drove to where he was, and saw that he’d hit a parked car. I drove him and his sister to school, towed our car to a shop, and filed an insurance claim. On my way back to work, my sister called and told me my father was being moved to hospice. My dad is my best friend, so it broke my heart to hear that. I told her that I’d call her that night to tell her when I could come home. I looked at my work schedule and decided to leave Wednesday morning, after a big event I had to attend on Tuesday.
Michel Buterbaugh and friend
So, Friday and Saturday happened—as routine as ever. But then at about 0230 on Sunday, my wife's cell phone rang. It was her sister calling to tell us that her brother had just been shot in the back by a police officer in his own house. I gave my wife the biggest hug I could and said, “It’s time to go home.” We decided to leave Tuesday at midnight so we could drive all night. But on Monday at 10:43 p.m., my father passed away.

I’ve never felt so much pressure in my life, so I reached out to Aaron to talk, and we spoke for a few hours. The surprising thing is that when my wife, kids, and I pulled into my dad's driveway in Colorado, Aaron was there. He drove all the way from Fort Hood just to be with me at the time I needed someone the most. Aaron helped me through something that was so hard for my family, and I never even had to ask.

Through thick and thin, we’ve always supported each other. And I know no matter what life throws my way, Aaron always “has my six.” I know he’s someone who will always be there for me. So, when I think of someone who’s #GotMySix, it’s that person who—without asking—will drop everything to have your back.

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