Sorry to be such a bummer, but I've got to get this off my chest. I was only lucky enough to know Abe for about a year when we staffed a training camp together. But of the 4 years I spent working that place, Abe was one of the guys there I remember most fondly. He's one of the few people I've met who earned my Respect almost instantly (and that's capital R Respect, the type I don't give out often).
Abe was the kind of guy who cared about the world around him and wanted to improve it as pro-actively as possible. He felt he could do this by helping others constantly, teaching them respect for their fellow humans when he could, always leading by example. That's why his Boy Scout service is highlighted in the article so much. Unless you've been in the Scouts it doesn't mean much to you, but all the stuff they mention is high-level leadership in service of the community and others, which reflects how thoroughly he was respected by everyone. He'd volunteer for all sorts of extra duties and was one of the few you could always trust to come through with flying colors.
When I heard he was going to join the marines right away and his reasons for doing so it made perfect sense. Abe wanted to take the toughest duty possible, enact as much good as he could through it and use it as a springboard for his next step. Whether or not you agree with military service or what we're doing in Iraq, being a marine takes some serious strength of will. Sure you can just be a "dumb grunt" with nothing better to do than play with guns; but a lot of guys, like Abe, go into the marines as a highly principled acceptance of responsibility and sacrifice for the sake of others. He wanted to challenge himself and use his experiences to help and enrich others. The Iraqis were lucky to have him training forces there; his highly competent, intelligent, honorable and considerate leadership was something everyone could learn from, regardless of culture or standing.
Gah, in that picture he looks like such a hard-ass; it's such a change. When I knew him he was, to be honest: gangly, bespectacled and geeky (hell, I still am). He also had one of the most thoughtful, considerate and service-minded hearts I've ever met. At our last farewell staff meeting I told Abe that of all the guys I'd ever met working that camp (and ALL the guys there were outstanding folks) I thought he was one of the most honorable, likely to succeed at his goals and do the most for others out of anyone. I still think so, and the fact that he won't be around anymore saddens me greatly. It reminds me how unfair the world can be that a guy like Abe can meet so undeserved an end. We are all worse off to have lost such a selfless, helpful, outstanding guy and if we ever hope for the world to improve we now need to pick up the slack on all the good that Abe is now unable to accomplish.
My heart goes out to his family. I hope they know that everyone he ever served with misses him dearly. If one guy who saw him on weekends for a year is this deeply effected, think of the guys who fought with him, those who knew him for years and those who aren't even aware of the loss they've suffered. In case I haven't been clear enough: Abe was one of the most exceptional Boy Scouts I've ever had the honor of serving with, and he will be sorely missed by all those lucky enough to have met him.
