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Potomac Falls graduates don’t stop believing for fallen soldier and friend

  • September 10, 2011 at 5:30 am

U.S. Army Spc. Doug Green wrote home a couple weeks ago, explaining his final wishes if anything were to happen to him while he was serving in Afghanistan. Green made a list of songs that were to played at his wake. but, for any family member, those final wishes aren’t something they want to have to go through with.

On Aug. 28, Green was killed by an an improvised explosive device and small arms fire in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, he was 23 years old.

Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, where Green graduated in 2006, opened its doors on Sept. 3 to more than 300 people who paid their respects to Green and his family. the memorial service held friends, family, teachers and members of the Army who spoke about the impact Green had on their lives.

Each song Green chose played after each speaker spoke along with a collection of photographs that spanned his 23-year life. within minutes of the ceremony starting, emotions ran high in the high school gym. Oasis, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Coldplay echoed through the room.

“He grew up to be a handsome, strong and wonderful man. He never gave me one day of heartache or trouble … never,” Suni Erlanger, Green’s mother said at the ceremony. “When Dougie was a boy he was a fun, loving child and he grew up to be adored by his friends and family. He was especially close to his sisters, Krissy and Paige. He was always there for them. his strength and his bravery will remain an inspiration to everyone.”

His family held strong through the ceremony, grasping each other’s hands, embracing one another and lending a shoulder to cry on.

“I just want to tell him how much I loved him and how I adored him more than anything in this world,” his sister, Krissy Green, said. “He was my best friend and I tried to talk to him as much as I could while he was over there. He was my hero.”

Green’s sisters were accompanied by their mother and stepfather Don Erlanger, Green’s father Doug Green and stepmother Donna Green.

The crowd wore shirts that said, “our hero, our friend” with a silhouette of Green on the back with the dates 1988 to 2011 and angel wings that spanned the back. Others were also wearing the color green in honor of Green’s last name.

Green’s girlfriend Alicia Swamstrom knew him in high school because she was friends with his sister, Krissy. She said that she was never really interested in him in high school and always saw him as “Krissy’s little brother.”

“When I finally saw him last December, there was something different about him. He had grown up, he was a man and despite all that he had seen [in] the Army he had still held on to all those wonderful qualities. He wasn’t Krissy’s little brother anymore. And with that smile of his … I was done for,” Swamstrom said.

“the connection I had with Doug was unlike any other I would ever experience. I felt like we had been together for a lifetime already and that’s what was so great about him.” Swamstrom continued. “He was warm, safe and comfortable because he was so accepting and never judged anyone. I knew life with him the only way life could go was up. He showed me what true love is and life can be good. no one can or ever will replace Doug because he truly was one of a kind.”

Green’s squad leader, Staff Sgt. Bryan Eulle of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, told stories of how Green’s personality was so uplifting to the other soldiers.  Green would quote Hans Solo and make up songs and routines for the next big musical he would produce, Eulle said.

But Green wasn’t always the jokester, those who knew him said. He took his job seriously and would often volunteer himself to lead his squadron on missions.

“He accepts the most danger and responsibility than anybody, because what’s on the other side of that door is unknown,” Eulle said. “It showed his kind of courageous character.”

Eulle even told a story about when they were stationed in Iraq, Green said how much he wanted to be drinking daiquiris with everyone. so, Green’s mother sent over daiquiri mix and a blender.

“All of sudden Cinco de Mayo was an official Iraqi holiday,” Eulle said. “that small gesture, it snapped everybody out of this trance, this auto pilot they were on.”

A group of Green’s high school friends reminisced about the crazy stunts they did growing up. one story was about how they all crowded into a car with a bunch of cartons of eggs. the arrived at a house, piled out of the car and egged the home. not only did Green propose the idea, but the house they chose to egg was his own.

“we immediately became best friends. There’s so many great stories about Dougie it’s almost impossible to pick out just one great memory. Growing up we always found a way to have fun or get into trouble. I saw my first rated ‘R’ movie at Dougie’s house and his sister Krissy was one of the first girls I asked to be my valentine,” Green’s friend, Ben Spear said. “the word empty does not even begin to describe the hole that has be left by the loss of Dougie. I feel honored and blessed that he was a part of my life for so long and I’m sorry for the people who did not get to know him.”

The ceremony closed out with Green’s best friend Micheala Ottenberg telling of the days they had sleepovers and how Green always protected her.

“I have known Doug Green for 18 years. I don’t remember my life before him. A lot of people say things like that, but I mean it in the most literal sense. I actually do not remember a time in my life that Doug Green is not a part of,” Ottenberg said.

When Ottenberg learned that Green had enlisted she said she wasn’t surprised. She said she was proud that he could do such a selfless thing, but that’s just what Green did.

“Losing great people isn’t fair, especially when they are so young. we cannot think of the times we have lost with him, but cherish the times we were so incredibly blessed to have,” Ottenberg said. “most people will go their whole life never meeting, never knowing, never loving someone like Doug Green. but what’s even worse is that most people will never get to be loved by someone so amazing.

“He wasn’t just my best friend, he was yours too, he was ours.”

As her words faded, the last song played. the piano sounded out through the PA system and it was Journey’s “Don’t stop Believin’” and everyone stood up and sang.

Spc. Douglas Jay Green’s funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 14 at Arlington Cemetery.

Potomac Falls graduates don’t stop believing for fallen soldier and friend

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