This is Billy Waugh, my first cousin. He was the son of my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lillian, my mother’s brother and sister-in-law, who lived in Mom’s hometown of Bastrop, Texas. Billy was more than twenty years my senior and was a mysterious figure in our family when I was growing up. My mother simply said that he was a “professional soldier,” but never went into detail about what that exactly meant. The one time I met Billy back in the 1980s, he mentioned he had just returned from a country where the American military wasn’t allowed. When I pointed that out, he just shrugged and gave me a mischievous grin. I had no idea that he was working for the CIA as an operative.

Recently, one of my cousins sent a link to a military event solely honoring Billy. There were four speakers and they all held the highest ranks within either the military or the CIA. Each spoke of Billy’s professionalism, passion, and plain-spokenness. They admitted he could be a handful but also stated adamantly that Billy Waugh was a legend in the Special Forces world. I had no idea.

When Mom said he was a professional soldier, I thought Billy perhaps was a mercenary. I certainly did not know or realize that my cousin Billy was a man who spent every time he was not on active duty training new Special Forces recruits. I also had no idea that he had earned 8 Purple Hearts in Vietnam and the Silver Cross. Or that he was instrumental in the capture of Carlos the Jackal and was keeping tabs on Osama Bin Laden long before 9/11. I also wouldn’t have ever thought my cousin Billy’s life would be described in a decent-sized article in the New York Times shortly after his death. Of course, remaining in the shadows was part of Billy’s mission in the military and at the CIA. He clearly was very good at it.

Rest in peace, Billy Waugh. Hopefully, you’ll find your niche up there in heaven. Of course, I won’t expect you to go around and tell people about it. That obviously isn’t your style. Being clandestine sounds as though it’s part of your DNA as well as feeling driven to protect the United States from its enemies. As one of the generals said at your memorial service, “Billy Waugh was not only a legend within the Special Forces community, but also a true American hero.”

Thank you, Cousin Billy, for your exemplary service.