Perspective: The Bravest Front of All

Mike Hardgrove with his wife, L'Angel

On the day that he left, the alarm clock went off just after 4, in that shadow hour between darkness and dawn. L'Angel Hardgrove slipped out of bed while her husband was showering to brew their favorite coffee, and would remember the cozy aroma of hazelnuts filling up the hotel room. She put on a pink sweater and matching eye shadow, and Mike buttoned his uniform.

They made their way across the parking lot to Shoney's, where the tables were full of men in fatigues. The Fredericksburg National Guard Armory was just down the road, and this past Sunday was the morning the 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion was leaving. Mike was going to Iraq.

He was wide awake already, full of nervous energy. L'Angel watched Mike pick at some fruit, but she couldn't eat at all. They'd been married for 2 1/2 years, but she would say it was only now that she realized he belonged more to his country than to her.

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