http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=vqAtkS3W_08BeachJohn thought about those who died, those who sacrificed themselves just to make sure that humanity would survive to see another day. They were more than just soldiers to him, they were his friends in the truest sense of the word.
The sounds of battle rang in his ears as he remembered those who died.
Solomon-069 was headstrong and sometimes violent, but he was a Spartan nonetheless. He was a part of the sort of family. He died when the Spartans were assigned to rescue Dr. Halsey from a Covenant fleet. Solomon made the mistake of boarding one of the Covenant Battle-cruisers, thinking that Halsey was aboard the ship. Little did he know that it was a trap by the Covenant. The entire ship was destroyed by an Anti-matter charge.
John never really got to know Arthur-079. He died when he was providing cover-fire for Kelly-087 via a Booster Frame. He was crushed between two Covenant Battlecruisers.
Kurt-051 was perhaps the closest when it came to a Spartan being human. He was very sociable and would talk with everyone, hoping to make friends. Kurt was different from the other Spartans. He would try to get to know his teammates on a more personal level. The only other person to do this was Samuel. Kurt held the well being of his teammates above the mission and his orders. John was originally uneasy when it came to Kurt, but John grew to trust him. Kurt died when he saved many of his fellow Spartans on the shield world Onyx. Kurt held off the Covenant forces by detonating two FENRIS Nuclear Warheads. Kurt's last words were, "Die? Didn't you know? Spartans never die." That was his final moment of defiance against death. He knew that he was going to die, but he gladly did so, knowing that his sacrifice would protect those he cared about.
Samuel-034 was the strongest of the Spartan-IIs, towering above the others and capable of throwing tanks. He was one of John's closest childhood friends. He died to ensure that everyone aboard the UNSC Commonwealth could survive from the onslaught of a Covenant Frigate. A hole was burned in his armor when he took a plasma shot to protect John from harm. The only way out was by EVA, but Samuel's suit was damaged. Accepting his fate, Samuel opted to fight off as many Covenant as he could and protect the bomb that was aboard the frigate. Samuel died so that the other Spartan's could escape safely. Samuel died to protect John.
Avery Junior Johnson was the person that worked alongside John in many missions, providing support, and always lightening up the mood with his wisecracks. Avery was a Spartan-I, one of the very first Spartans. He and John became friends through the course of the Human-Covenant War. They formed a close bond that only brothers-in-arms could form. Avery died when 343 Guilty Spark shot him in the chest with a high powered laser. Avery didn't die immediately, but he knew that he didn't have much time. Avery handed John his Spartan Laser and said, "Kick his ass." Once John defeated Guilty Spark, Avery handed John Cortana's AI chip and said, "Don't you ever let her go." John promised to get Avery out alive, but Avery told him that he was finished. His final request was, "Send me out...with a bang." Cortana and the Arbiter tried to condole John, but he simply ignored it, refusing to acknowledge Avery's death.
Cortana... She was the closest to John. She held a special place in his heart. He went so far as to fight an entire city of Flood, just to save her. She was by his side through it all, always having faith in him. She was the one that urged him to be more human. She spent her last moments protecting him, saving him from death as he detonated a HAVOK nuclear warhead aboard the Didact's ship.
John then felt Renamon's paw on his shoulder.
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
John continued to cry, too saddened by the loss of everyone he knew.