Kristol: Thomas Cotton Emails from Afghanistan

Dean Barnett's friend Thomas Cotton writes:

Thanks for your fitting tribute to Dean. I learned about Dean's death early this morning (local time) before going on my first really long patrol here. We drove about 8 hours round trip, so I had lots of time to think. Like you, what struck me most about Dean was his remarkable courage in the face of his disease. Dean had the heart of a lion, as brave as any soldier I've known.

And there was his generosity. I first started reading Dean's writing while in Iraq and he always returned my emails quickly. When I got back stateside, he went out of his way to meet me when I visited Boston and always made time for a phone call.

Like so many, I was lucky and honored to call Dean my friend. I will miss him dearly.