No Word Is Gold
Anyone who has ever served in the military, whether you were a combat soldier on the front lines or not, will be fully aware that “no word is gold”. So no matter what you’ve been told by your commander, no matter what you’ve heard from your comrades, you always have to be prepared for the fact that nothing is for sure happening until it is actually happening. Even then, everything could change at a moments notice.
Last Names
Most soldiers will probably not remember the first name of anyone you served with. They might have told it to you when they first introduced themselves to you. But over time, first names gradually fade in significance and have no meaning, as everyone calls everyone by their last names. Soon enough, before you know it, that’s their only name, always has been and always will be! At least in your eyes!