As I reflect on the life of my friend Jason DeGroot, whom I’ve known since we were fresh Navy recruits, I am reminded of his impact on my life and the countless lives he touched with his loyalty, compassion, and humor.

Jason and I first crossed paths as roommates in Aircrew SAR school in Pensacola. Back then, we were two young men with ambitious dreams—mine to become a Navy SEAL, and Jason’s to soar the skies as a Naval Aviator. I think that’s what attracted us initially.

Soon into SAR school we figured out that he could iron precise military creases better than me, and I could shine boots better than him so our Sunday ritual before Monday uniform inspections was spent prepping over beers and guy talk in the barracks.

I still remember the black Kiwi shoe polish that smelled like painter thinner and candle wax and the spray starch Jason would use to hold a firm crease as he ironed out our uniforms with a sniper’s precision. Our room must have smelled like a densely packed New York dry cleaners.

After those formative days in Pensacola and basic A school, we were stationed in San Diego as young helicopter aircrew.

A few years later Jason went on to attend the United States Naval Academy, where he would had some trouble adjusting to boot camp life all over again. He told me the first year was the hardest then things started to get better.

I eventually got my orders to SEAL training with BUD/S class 215 and ended up visiting him his junior year at the Academy.

He would earn his Wings of Gold in 2001 when I was in Afghanistan with SEAL Team 3.