Note: The following ”letters” are completely fictitious…
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Sept. 3, 2001
Dear Mom,
Well, I finally got moved into my new apartment, and just in time since classes begin tomorrow. It’s hard to believe I’m finally starting my senior year! I’m a little nervous about my chances of getting into law school even though I’ve managed to maintain a 3.7 GPA so far. I plan to start applying to the ones I’ve decided on in a few weeks and I hear that getting into all of them is pretty tough. But I know the Lord will see me through. Well. I guess I’d better go for now because I still have to pick up a few things at the bookstore. Talk to you again soon!
Love, Me
PS. Tell dad I love him.
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Sept. 11, 2001
Dear Mom,
I guess you’ve heard the news by now. A bunch of guys hijacked a couple of airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center towers in New York. I don’t have any morning classes today so I decided to lounge around on the sofa and watch TV for a while, and all of a sudden the news guy broke in with the news. Smoke is billowing out of the tops of both towers and traffic in Manhattan is a real mess. I guess the world is full of idiots.
Anyway, I got my grade back on my first test. It was in ”Public Speaking”, and I aced it! It’s a good thing too – after all, a future lawyer had better be able to get his points across, right? So far everything is going great this year and I hope to finish the semester with a 4.0.
Tell Billy I miss watching him play football but I hope to catch a game when I come home for a visit next month. It’s a little lonely here since I spend all of my time studying and working so it’ll be great to see you all when I come in. Gotta go hop in the shower now, so take care.
Love, Me
P.S. Tell dad I love him.
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Sept. 14, 2001
Dear Mom,
Now they’re saying it was terrorists who knocked down the twin towers and smashed into the Pentagon and that field in Pennsylvania. I knew there were people in the world who hated us, but this is ridiculous! The sad thing is there’s nothing we can do about it because the morons are dead! Oh well, at least they won’t be able to harm anyone else.
Mom, I met a girl at the restaurant the other day. It was her first day at work and the boss asked me to show her the ropes. She’s really nice and we have become good friends. If it’s ok with you and dad I’d like to invite her to our house for Christmas dinner. Just let me know. I think you’ll like her a lot! Oops, gotta run or I’ll be late for class!
Love, Me
P.S. Tell dad I love him.
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October 17, 2001
Mom, I have something to tell you. Please don’t be upset but I’m dropping out of school. Yeah, I know it’s my senior year and I have law school to think about about, but the terrorists aren’t gonna stop until we stop them. They attacked us once mom, and they’ll do it again whenever they get the opportunity. I love my country and I’m gonna do whatever I can to make sure they don’t get that opportunity.
I’m going over to the Army recruiting station in the morning to sign up. I know this is probably going to upset you and dad a lot, but I’ve mulled it over for several days and I know it’s the right thing to do. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be just fine. Great-grandpa fought in France and Italy in WWII and he made it through just fine. And so will I. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think about joining the Army, but I know that my country needs me so that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m gonna be a soldier. I’ll call you when I get everything sorted out and give you all the details. Bye for now…
Love, Me
P.S. Tell dad I love him and to try not to worry. I really will be fine!
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February 18, 2002
Dear Mom,
I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold in all my life. Afghanistan is nothing but rocks, dirt and mountains, and the Taliban could be hiding around every corner. We’re heading out first thing in the morning to check out a bunch of caves where they think Bin Laden might be hiding so it might be a while before I can write again, but don’t worry. I read the 23rd Psalm a little while ago and I know that Jesus will be patrolling right alongside us. And besides, I’m a well-trained fighting machine – I’m an American soldier and I know how to take care of myself!
Oh, tell Billy I said to keep his eye on the ball this season. Man, how I miss playing baseball! Anyway, you all take care and pray for me. Hopefully we can get the job done here and I’ll get to come home soon.
Love, Me
P.S. Tell dad I look forward to going fishing with him again someday soon. And be sure to tell him I love him.
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July 4, 2007
Dear Mom,
Summertime in Iraq must surely be the closest thing to hell that I’ll ever experience here on earth. Between the 120 degree temperatures and the constantly blowing sand there isn’t a single moment of the day when I’m not in misery. Sometimes I think I was a fool to re-enlist, but then those horrible images of September 11 come flooding back into my mind and I realize that I have to force myself to keep on going. We have to complete the mission here and win the war on terror or we’ll never be able to enjoy our way of life again. Besides, I stood at attention and cried when they raised Old Glory above the camp this morning.
We lost two guys today when their humvee was hit by sniper fire and it ran off the road and rolled over several times. One of them had just three weeks left in country and a baby on the way. But I guess that’s just the way it goes here – we get up each morning and go to work with the knowledge that today might be our last. Such is the life of a soldier during wartime I suppose. But don’t worry about me mom – next week I’m being transferred to a unit up north where it’s relatively safe so things will definitely be a little better for me after that. Keep praying for me now, I really need it!
Love, Me
P.S. Tell dad I’m sorry for hurting his feelings when we spoke the last time. No matter what, he’ll always be my dad and I’ll always love him. I look forward to seeing you and him again real soon – just 84 more days and I’ll be coming home for a 30 day leave before heading to my new duty station in Korea. This soldier has done his part in the sandbox and it’s about time for me to move on out and let some young whipper-snapper take my place!
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August 8, 2007
Dear Mom,
I don’t know what happened. All I remember is seeing a bright light, and the next thing I knew, I was here. This place is even grander than I ever imagined mom. Everyone is so happy and I got to meet Great-grandpa for the first time just a little while ago. Can that man ever tell a story!
Mom, I heard about Billy being sent to Afghanistan and I don’t want you to worry about him too much. Trust me when I say this – he’s gonna be fine. He’s a well-trained fighting machine - an American soldier who knows how to take care of himself. Besides, I just talked to Jesus a little while ago and He told me that He’ll be walking with him every step he takes and He’ll keep him safe and sound. I don’t know how He does it, spending quality time with everyone up here and looking out for everyone down there at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking! But He is Jesus after all.
Well, we’ll talk again real soon mom, but right now I’m gonna go find Uncle Ernie. He passed away before I was born, but I heard so many great stories about him that I just have to meet him! Take care.
Love, Me
P.S. Tell dad that the Father sends His love - and so do I.