From the “too modest” department: when you find out that a fellow you knew only as an appraiser/MAI (who once mentioned offhand that he was “in the Army for a bit before I became an appraiser”) was so much more than what you knew him as.
Yes, he was the one who taught you about appraisal science and art, and helped you pick apart the other side’s valuation. But only in his obituary do you learn that Jay Massey MAI was one of the legendary MAC-V/SOG operators; indeed a “One-Zero” (team leader), and spent years at the front lines and behind the lines. Master Blaster. One STRAC individual. One of the old school Green Berets, who answered JFK’s call to do for his country, and lived up to the label “the Quiet Professionals.”
Jay, I wish you had been less modest, a bit less quiet. You and I would have spent hours with you telling me as much as you were willing to. I learned so much from you about appraisal, but I would have loved to learn even more about your history. But day is done my friend, and gone the sun. Rest in peace, soldier brave.