Page 112 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine

Brynn Naylor "I Know Where I'm Going":
t was not uncommon for me
to wake in the middle of the
Inight after my oldest son left
for a tour of duty to Iraq. I had
asked God to wake me if Brynn
ever needed an extra prayer. I
was usually sleepy but would
pray for protection and courage
for my son and his Army unit,
then drift back to sleep. But, on
December 13, 2007, the morning
awakening was different. I was
aware of being wide awake.
I went about a normal day of
work and ran a few errands
afterwards. Then I got a call
from my youngest son, James – a
call that changed my day and
our lives. James had not wanted
to go on my errands with me, so
he was home when the Casualty
Notification Officers came to
our house. James didn’t realize
at first what they were there
for but knew it was important
and called me when they left. I
tried to tell him calmly that I’d
112 Lubbock Senior Link
The Story of My Son
by D'Ann McGuire
be right home, but few days in disbelief and grief,
my hands were rather than the excitement of
already knowingly being packed up to go home.
shaking. I called
my husband and Brynn had told us of this
told him what dedication his unit had toward
James had said. one another as they were
Robert had served protecting each other as well
in the Army in the as our nation. He was also
Old Guard, and he concerned about their souls. He
knew this was not once told me that several of the
good news. men asked him questions about
Jesus, heaven and religion. He
I called a couple of answered them the best he
friends to go to our knew. I have been told that, in
house to be with the face of a dangerous situation,
James more quickly Brynn was calmer than some
than I could get and encouraged some others,
there. The officers, too, by saying, “Come on, this
apparently is what we came here to do.”
watching for my They asked him, “Aren’t you
return, came back. scared?” He replied, “Yes, I’m
So, when I did get home, they scared, but if something happens
were waiting inside and told me to me, I know where I’m going.”
that Brynn had been killed when They asked him where he was
his unit came under small arms planning on going, thinking
fire. I was devastated! But, even he was referring to an earthly
through tears, “When?” was my escape, and this opened the door
first question as I remembered to be able to talk about heaven
the prayer that morning. My and Jesus with them. Several
awakening and his death were of the men and officers have
within a few hours of each said they noticed Brynn had a
other. Perhaps
I was awake
to pray for
Adam, who was
Brynn’s current
roommate in
Iraq, when he
knew that Brynn
was no longer
alive. And also,
for Ryan, who
found Brynn and
told me that the
whole demeanor
of the unit was
changed as they
spent the next Kevin, Brynn, Brian, and Adam