[ WP ] There are too many shocking , ( albeit awesome ) ends to the stories found here . Build up to something but give it an anticlimactic ending .

“ …And now, we have a compatriot of dear Sergeant Major Renwick, who was with him in his final moments, and he would like to say a few words. ” 
 
 Father Joseph motioned to George as he stepped down from the lectern, heartfelt sympathy beginning to well up in the corners of his seasoned eyes. No matter how often it happens, it never gets any easier to let someone go before their time. 
 
 George steadied himself on the well-worn oak of the lectern, hands visibly trembling, as if the slightly crumpled piece of paper in them contained words he couldn ’ t even bring himself to hold for very long, much less put a voice to. He bowed his head for a moment, exposing the thin scar that traversed the entirety of his scalp, just off-center and jagged enough to depict the struggle his doctors endured in patching him up. 
 
 “ Samuel Renwick was many things, ” George began, head still hunched over his speech, “ a wonderful son; playful brother; loving and devoted husband and father. To some of you here, he was a kind neighbor or a loyal friend, always willing to go the extra mile for those in need. I knew him first and foremost as ‘ Sir, yes, sir, ’ a leader among leaders. ” 
 
 George rubbed his eyes with the back of his battered hand, willing the deluge to be contained just a little longer. 
 
 “ There was never a doubt in my mind that Sam knew what he ’ d signed up for. Pledging to be one of the pairs of boots on the ground, in the thick of the action… that ’ s who he was, through and through. A man of action. And he died, ” George choked back a deep sob, “ like so many before him, doing his duty. He was taken before his time, like so very many bleary-eyed, fresh-faced men at Fallujah, at Nasiryah, at Baghdad. These soldiers gave their lives, and so would Sam. Sam, who loved a good hand of poker. ”
