Our story is both interesting and funny. In October 2023, Katelyn arrived at the 1-135th AHB unit at Whiteman AFB, while Dallas had already been there for a while. We didn’t know it at the time, but a few months later, things would start falling into place. In April 2024, our unit had a drill down at Fort Leonard Wood. While we were there, we had to qualify on our weapons using the ranges on base—ranges that, in Katelyn’s words, were “VERY broken.” Both of us were supposed to be on ammo detail for the whole battalion; however, that didn’t quite happen the way it was supposed to. We were both front-loaded to get through qualification early so we could prepare the magazines and ammunition for everyone else who was there to qualify on their weapon. However, only one of us qualified early enough to actually complete that task. We’ll give you a hint: it wasn’t Katelyn. As she still says, “The range was broken, and I should have qualified long ago. I’M NOT THAT BAD OF A SHOT!” After a very long day, Dallas never did get the help he expected—but in the end, that worked out pretty well for both of us. That evening, after everyone got back from dinner, we sat outside the barracks and started talking. What we thought would be a short conversation turned into hours of effortless conversation, the kind where everything else fades away, and the only thing that matters is the moment—until we finally realized it was already past midnight. That night was really the start of everything. After we got back home, we started spending more time together—going on dates, taking late-night drives while jamming out to music, and making a lot of hilarious memories along the way. Eventually, we both told our parents about each other. Dallas told his parents he had met the most wonderful woman and that he planned to marry her someday. Katelyn, on the other hand, told her parents about her “friend from Whiteman.” For a while, we both tried to keep our relationship a secret, both in and out of uniform. Earlier on, our commander had told Katelyn, “We are not here to date,” which made her a little worried. Even though we tried to keep things quiet, it seemed like he might have already been catching on. In August 2024, our unit held its annual training in Michigan. Dallas initially wasn’t eligible to attend because he had already completed military training earlier in the year. Wanting to be there with Katelyn, he volunteered to compete in the Brigade Best Warrior Competition. With a little luck and success, Dallas was extended on orders for the year, which allowed him to compete and also make some great memories with Katelyn and the rest of the unit in Michigan. On the way up north for annual training, we both volunteered for baggage detail, which was definitely not an easy task in the summer heat. As a reward, we ended up sitting together in first class on the flight. We laughed the whole way and made some unforgettable memories. While we were there, and especially after we got back, people started speculating that we were dating. Even as our faces turned red from the joking accusations, we still tried to keep it a secret. Fast forward to March–April 2025. We were both getting ready to move to Lee’s Summit, MO, together when our two-week training rolled around again—once more at Fort Leonard Wood. While Katelyn was there, our commander approached her and asked, “How are you and Larsen doing?” It turns out he was actually really happy for us, and Katelyn realized she had completely misunderstood what he meant when they first met. At that point, the secret was officially out. From then on, we heard plenty of jokes about us during drill from everyone in Echo Office. Hopefully, if those individuals read this, they’ll think back on those moments and laugh. The months after that seemed to fly by, and before we knew it, we were engaged and planning the Larsen wedding. In conclusion, we are more than “friends from Whiteman”.