“Captain,” I said quietly, “that was a long time ago.”

“Not to my family,” he answered, his eyes brimming.

He reached into his jacket and took out a small framed photograph, holding it out for me to see.

A young lieutenant in full uniform, smiling wide, beside a young woman and a newborn.

“The driver of that lead vehicle,” he whispered, his voice cracking.

“The one you pulled out through the flames, right before the fuel tank went.