I feel your pain Chad. I became friends with Chris back when we were in high school. We spent a lot of time together back then, hanging out together almost every day. Lots of good memories. Didn't see him for a while when he joined the Navy until he first got stationed in San Diego. Me and our friend Jared would drive from Phoenix to San Diego about every other weekend to visit. Unfortunately that didn't last forever and I started to see Chris less and less.
Last time I saw him was the summer of 2011 while he was visiting back home. We got to hang out and had a great time just like we always did. Got to catch up on each other lives and reminisce about all the crazy things we would do. I didn't get the chance to see him the last time he came home because it was just a quick trip to visit his mom before he deployed. Last thing he said to me was "Coming home parties are always more fun." Like you, I never though that was going to be my last interaction with him. Every time I think about that, I crushes me to know that will never happen.
He was one of the best friends a person could have. He is leaving us all way too soon. He'll never be forgotten.