"Let's go drink."

"Did they fit you for your legs yet?" one asked.

"They measured me," Hennagir replied.

"You look good," the Marine said.

"I was so scared I wasn't going to make it," Hennagir told his platoon leader, Lt. Cleary. "I needed to be here so bad."

"It felt like a brother was gone," Cleary told him.

The men were called into formation.

The entire platoon, home from Iraq not 15 minutes, stood at attention while Cpl. Raymond D. Hennagir was awarded a Marine Corps Achievement medal. This was a surprise. His contributions in Iraq were recited, and a medal pinned to his chest.

And then 27 United States Marines, one by one, hugged him again and congratulated him.

He held back his tears, as they held back theirs, or tried to.

Until the last two men in line.

The first was his squad leader, Cpl. Scottie McDaniel, who couldn't help himself. He let the tears flow.

"I'm going to miss you," he whispered in Hennagir's ear.

Hennagir held McDaniel tight, hoping his squad leader would regain his composure so others wouldn't see him weeping. Hennagir couldn't hold him any longer, let him go.

Still, Hennagir held back his own tears.

Until the very last man hugged him.

Sgt. Kevin Proffitt, who looked as if he could start at linebacker for any team in the National Football League, wept in Hennagir's arms. Hennagir didn't see the sergeant's tears, but he felt the sergeant's heaving chest against his own.

The moment was as short-lived as the tears Hennagir shed, but it was also one he will remember all his days.

He was a Marine, with his unit. They were home safe.