Arshad Sami died on 22nd of June 2009 at Mumbai in the home of his son Adnan Sami. For me, it is tragic to write the obituary of someone so much younger to me and fought on my wing in a war like a true warrior. Arshad Sami was a man of many seasons. An intrepid fighter pilot, he flew the most number of war missions in 1965 war in the entire PAF to win a most deserved Sitara-e-Jurat. That award ceremony was to change his life. Ayub Khan, while pinning the medal on his chest, decided to have him as an aide. Arshad excelled in the Presidency and remained an aide to three controversial Presidents. He also served as the most popular protocol chief in our history. Arshad also served as the GM Khaleej Times in Abu Dhabi before returning to GOP to be the federal Secretary Information. After retirement, he authored an eminently readable book on his stint in the house of power with the title "Three Presidents and an aide". Our last encounter was on the day I convinced him to go to India with his son Adnan Sami to give himself a change of environment. One of my lasting memories is that of Sami recounting the 1965 war in high spirits, as if telling death that it had been unable to frighten him then and would not frighten him at the fag end either. May his soul rest in peace. -AIR CMDRE (Retd) S. SAJAD HAIDER, Islamabad, via e-mail, June 24.