A fallen warrrior.

One of those who was a double-warrior. A police officer and a military reservist. With a Castle connection - he was one of 1SG Keith's troops. What follows is from 1SG Keith. This post will remain up top all day. New content comes in below.

We lost one of our own today. Staff Sergeant Eric Barker, my broadcast section NCOIC, was killed in a shootout in Atlanta at 1240 am Wednesday morning. When not serving our country in the US Army Reserve, Barker was a Dekalb County Police Department officer. Last night, while working an off-duty detail with another officer, Barker and his partner were gunned down in an ambush.

Watching the news reports, I could see the little yellow evidence markers. A lot of them. I saw a number 57 on one. Hopefully they were marking more than just bullet casings. Barker was a good NCO and a very cool guy. He was always joking. We talked several times about family. He and his wife have 4 kids, the youngest of which is only 3 or 4. I'm sure they won't understand why Daddy's not coming home. They won't understand for a few years anyway. I hope they catch these guys. I hope they try to get away. I'm angry, as is everyone who knows Barker. I want revenge. I don't care if some panty-waisted liberal claims the perpetrators were disadvantaged youth- fact is, they killed two police officers; one of which was also a friend of mine.

I like what the Chief had to say during his many press conferences today: "Of all the avenues I've gone down as police chief, this one was the darkest, and the toughest hour I've ever had, because it was about nothing -- senseless... today's act of senseless violence is a display of what we're seeing around the country where people will shoot down a police officer without regard to any repercussions."

My respect for Chief Bolton doubled when I heard him say, "For those witnesses and those people that are here [at the apartment complex]: Don't lie to us. Tell us the truth....For to witness the life, the whole life, of a police officer, who represents us all, lie there on the asphalt in the middle of the night, leaving behind children -- and we're going to remain silent. I submit to you today, you're not my brother, you're not my sister if you go down that road."

Staff Sgt. Eric Barker is my brother, and he will be sorely missed.

Those we love
can never really leave us.
We feel their presence,
like a gentle touch,
whenever we remember
moments shared
and do again
the things they loved to do.
In so many ways,
they remain with us,
their gentle spirits part of
all we do and all we are.

May you find comfort in the gentle words, helping hands, and warm thoughts offered in loving sympathy.

Take care, Staff Sgt. Eric Barker. We will meet again someday on the other side.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance, In Memoriam.

Update: Click this link if you are unfamiliar with the backstory for this post. A suspect in the shootings has been apprehended.