I had chills reading this story. Feel sad for John but like you said the military is a very tough place. Honesty is a value/virtue i want to take very seriously in my life because i think it does more good than harm esp in tough situations were telling lies seems like the right option.
There was another person I knew that existed on the other side of the spectrum of humanity. I could see the things that he did. I could honestly say that I knew someone that was a superior human in physical and mental capabilities.
His wife told me she will never forget the pool of blood surrounding his body. The flow of blood around his neck reminded her about the currents she would see in a stream. How someone so seemingly perfect could bleed seemed paradoxical.
But that, is a story for another time.