How to Write a Eulogy for Your Platoon Mate - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Saying a few words about a platoon mate feels heavy and important. You want to honor the bond you shared, reflect the reality of military life, and speak in a way that feels true under pressure. This guide walks you through practical steps, gives military friendly examples and fill in the blank templates, and explains any terms or acronyms you might see. Read through, pick a template, and start writing with confidence.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone who has been asked to speak about a platoon mate at a funeral, memorial, graveside service, or unit ceremony. Maybe you were closest to them in the barracks or on deployment. Maybe you were the one who trained with them or shared late night guard duty. This guide is written for service members and veterans from any branch and for friends or family who want to include military context in their words.

What makes a military eulogy different

A military eulogy honors service and shares personal stories. It often sits alongside formal elements like military honors, bugle calls, flag folding, and remarks from a chaplain or commanding officer. The tone can be formal, casual, or both depending on the unit and the wishes of the family. Above all, the eulogy should reflect who your platoon mate was inside and outside the uniform.

Terms and acronyms you might see

• Platoon A military unit made up of several squads. It is one level below a company in many armed forces.
• CO Commanding officer. The person in charge of the unit.
• NCO Non commissioned officer. This includes ranks like sergeant who lead smaller groups and handle day to day leadership.
• KIA Killed in action. A military term for someone who died while engaged with the enemy.
• POW Prisoner of war. Someone captured during conflict.
• Casualty assistance The service the military provides to families after a death. This includes guidance on benefits and funeral arrangements.
• Taps A bugle call played at dusk, during flag ceremonies, and at military funerals.
• Honor guard A team that performs ceremonial duties like folding and presenting the flag.

Before you start writing

Preparation makes the actual writing easier. Use this quick plan.

• Check protocol Talk to the family or casualty assistance officer about what the family wants and whether you should include rank, awards, or specific service details.
• Decide the tone Do you want to be formal, conversational, funny, solemn, or a mix? Check with close family to make sure the tone fits.
• Gather material Collect dates, deployments, positions held, nicknames, habits, and one or two stories that show character. Ask other squad members for a memory each.
• Pick three focus points Choose three things you want people to remember. That gives the speech shape and keeps it tight when emotions are raw.
• Confirm logistics Where will you stand, is there a mic, and how long can you speak? Coordinate with the chaplain or event coordinator.

Structure that works

Simple structure keeps you grounded. Use this shape.

• Opening Identify yourself and your relationship to the deceased. A short sentence sets the context for the audience.
• Service snapshot Briefly acknowledge their service. This is not a full record but a nod to the role military life played.
• Life sketch Share a few non military facts. Family, hobbies, hometown, or a job outside of service can make the person more relatable to civilians in the crowd.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short stories that show character. Keep them specific and sensory.
• Traits and lessons Summarize what they taught others or what people will miss.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, a simple call to action like standing for a moment, or invite everyone to share a short memory after the service.

Opening examples

• Good morning. I am Corporal James Miller and I had the honor of serving beside Sergeant Diaz in Second Platoon for four years.
• Hi everyone. My name is Riley and I was his buddy during deployment. We learned to fix a lot of things and to laugh when nothing made sense.
• Hello. I am Chaplain Harris and I was here to support this unit. Today we remember Specialist Reed for how he showed up for other people.

How to write the service snapshot and life sketch

The service snapshot is short and respectful. Mention rank, unit, and deployments only if the family wants that included. The life sketch humanizes the person beyond the uniform. Keep both short and specific.

Service snapshot templates

• [Rank] [Name] served as part of [unit name] and completed deployments to [locations]. He was a leader in training and a steady presence on patrol.
• [Name] enlisted at [age year] and worked as a [job Military Occupational Specialty]. He loved the team and was proud of his service.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] grew up in [town]. He loved [hobby], made the best [food or craft], and was always the person who fixed the bad coffee machine in the barracks.
• Outside of service, [Name] was a devoted sibling and a fan of [sports team or musician]. He welcomed people to his apartment for movie nights and care packages.

Anecdotes that land

Stories are the heart of a eulogy. In military settings short stories about teamwork, a helping moment, or a quiet act of kindness resonate deeply. Use a setup, an action, and a line about why it mattered.

Examples of short anecdotes

• On a cold night in the field he took off his own sleeping bag and wrapped it around a younger private who was shivering. He joked about being cold so the private could sleep. That was him in a sentence.
• During basic training he failed the obstacle once and laughed so hard he made everyone else laugh too. He taught us to keep trying and to keep our sense of humor.
• After a long convoy he always walked the vehicles to check for small problems. He believed small things kept people safe.

Addressing trauma and complicated feelings

Military losses can bring complex reactions. Survivors guilt, anger, relief, sadness, and numbness are all normal. If you are speaking from that place, short honest lines can be powerful without becoming a therapy session.

Examples for complicated emotions

• We all have complicated feelings about this. We miss him and we wonder why. Those questions will stay with us for a while. For now we remember what he taught us about taking care of each other.
• There are nights when I replay things in my head. I am learning to let those memories be part of gratitude for the time we had. He would want us to keep living.

Using humor the right way

Humor can feel like permission to breathe during a hard day. Use small, earned jokes that reveal character. Avoid anything that could be seen as disrespectful to families or the unit. Test a line with someone you trust.

Safe humor examples

• He believed in coffee so much that we joked the espresso machine was his first sergeant. If it was empty, you knew where he went.
• He was the only guy who could fall asleep standing up. We used to call him a tactical hammock because he found a way to nap anywhere.

What to avoid in a military eulogy

• Avoid long lists of awards without context. Tell a story that shows what an award meant rather than listing it alone.
• Avoid gossip or private family issues that could hurt people present.
• Avoid making the eulogy a political statement. Focus on the person not broader political debate.
• Avoid sarcasm that could be misread by civilian attendees.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples aimed at different tones and settings. Replace bracketed text with your details and adjust rank and unit as needed.

Example 1: Graveside eulogy, brief and respectful

Hello. My name is Sergeant Alex Carter and I had the privilege of serving with Specialist Marcus Lee in Third Platoon for three years.

Marcus loved routine. He showed up to PT early to hand out water and stayed late if someone needed help with kit. He served overseas twice and always came back talking about the same thing. It was the people. He said the job was about watching each other s backs and making sure the person next to you came home.

I remember a patrol when our vehicle broke down and Marcus stayed out front talking calmly on the radio while the rest of us fixed the problem. When the job was done he handed out chewing gum like it was some small victory. That is the small thing I will never forget. He made small victories feel like wins for everyone.

We will miss his steady voice and his terrible jokes. Today we say thank you for the way he showed up for us and for the light he brought into our day. Rest easy, Marcus. We will keep looking out for one another like you taught us to do.

Example 2: Unit memorial with humor and camaraderie

Morning. I am Private First Class Jordan. If you met Shane you knew two things. One was that he owned more socks than anyone I have ever seen. Two was that he would put your name on any of his snack hoards and then remind you about it for weeks.

Shane had this way of making the quiet times feel less quiet. During long shifts he would tell these ridiculous stories and then act them out for no reason other than to get a laugh. He also could fix an engine with duct tape and a prayer. We counted on him for the impossible and for the laugh after the impossible was done.

We are broken and we are better for having known him. If you have a short memory to share about Shane please step forward after this and tell us one thing that made you laugh. That is the kind of company he kept. Thank you for being here and for holding his memory with us.

Example 3: For a civilian family member to read with military context

Hello. My name is Maria Alvarez and I was proud to call Corporal Ethan Alvarez my brother. Ethan joined at nineteen and he loved the structure and the people he met in the unit. He spoke often about how the team became a second family.

Ethan loved soccer, cooking, and putting together impossibly tiny model planes. He also loved showing up for others. When our mom was sick he flew back on short notice to help. He said that caring for people was a job that ran across uniforms and family lines.

We will miss his focus and his hands that could fix household messes and also tenderly fold a letter. I am grateful for the men and women who stood with him and who stand with us now. Thank you for honoring him by being here.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates as a starting point and then edit to make the voice sound like you. Read aloud and trim anything that feels forced.

Template A: Short and formal

My name is [Your Name] and I served with [Rank and Name] in [Unit]. [Name] was known for [one trait]. One memory that shows who he was is [brief story]. He taught us [lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here.

Template B: Casual unit tribute

Hi. I am [Your Name]. To know [Name] was to know [quirky habit]. He would always [action]. My favorite memory is [short story]. He made us laugh and he had our backs. Please join me in remembering one way he made our days better.

Template C: For a family member

Hello. I am [Your Name], [relationship]. [Name] served as [rank] with [unit]. Outside the service he loved [hobby or family detail]. One thing I will always remember is [story]. Thank you for being here and for supporting our family.

Delivery tips for speaking while grieving

• Print your speech Use large font and bring a backup copy. Paper is easier to handle than a phone when emotions are high.
• Use cue cards Small index cards with one or two lines on each card help you keep place without reading verbatim.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket where you want to breathe or where the audience might laugh. Pauses help you regroup.
• Practice out loud Read the eulogy to a teammate, chaplain, or a trusted friend. Practice tells your throat what to expect.
• Bring tissues and water A quick sip calms a shaking voice.
• Coordinate with the chaplain or CO Let them know if you might need a moment or if someone should be ready to step in.
• Mic technique Keep the microphone a few inches from your mouth and speak slowly. If there is no mic project to the back row rather than rushing.

Military honors and logistics to confirm

• Ask the casualty assistance officer about what military honors will be present and how a eulogy fits into the schedule.
• Confirm whether a flag will be presented and when. That moment is often followed by Taps.
• Coordinate with the chaplain about any religious language or prayers you intend to use.
• If family requests private remarks or a closed casket, respect those wishes in your words.

Glossary of useful military terms

• Casualty assistance officer A service member assigned to help surviving family members with arrangements, benefits, and questions after a death.
• Funeral honors Ceremonial elements provided by the military. These can include an honor guard, playing of Taps, rifle salute, and flag presentation.
• Bugler The person who plays Taps at military services. Taps is a short bugle call played at the end of the day and at funerals.
• Honor guard A team that performs ceremonial duties such as folding and presenting the flag and sometimes firing a rifle salute.
• Memorial service A gathering to honor a person who has died that may occur without a body present.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a eulogy for a platoon mate be

Keep it short and focused. Three to seven minutes is a good target. Short speeches tend to carry more emotional weight and fit better with ceremonial elements like honors and music.

Do I have to mention rank and awards

Mention rank and awards if the family wants them included. Military achievements can be meaningful but they are best when paired with a personal story that explains the person behind the medals.

What if I am not military but I want to speak

That is fine. Identify your relationship and avoid military jargon unless you are sure of the meaning. Share personal memories that help people see who the person was beyond service details.

How do I handle tears during the eulogy

Pause, breathe, and look at your notes. A slow breath can steady your voice. If you need a moment, take it. The audience will wait. If you cannot continue have a friend, chaplain, or commanding officer ready to finish a closing line.

Is it okay to include bad memories or complex feelings

Short honest lines about complexity can be healing. Avoid long critiques or airing private disputes. Focus on truth with dignity and aim to honor the person s life even when it was complicated.

Can I record or share the eulogy online

Check with the family before posting. Some families prefer privacy. If sharing is approved keep the post respectful and offer context about where memories or donations can be sent if applicable.