something. >> i wonder if you get to the point where as much as you guys love each other, do you get to the point sometimes where you want to throttle someone? >> yeah. >> that is what the cave is for. whenever you feel like you need to wring their neck, go to the cave and calm yourself done. >> reporter: shorter says personal reminders of home keep him going emotionally and mentally. today it's letters from his family. >> it says from my wife. my dearest randy, please know how much i love you, support you, and truly appreciate all that you do. please be a great leader again. lead your men and yourselves out of harm's way and back home to our loving arms. your wife, your daughters. >> you know, letters like that can mean so much to these guys when they're out there. and when we spend time with them, we realize they could be called on a night patrol at any moment and then they're on a day patrol. there's so much uncertainty for them. so when they're back there on the base, it's just so important that they get that down time