The Unexpected Letter to a Soldier

He had not been expecting a letter so soon while he was deployed to Iraq. Unfortunately, it wasn't the type of letter any soldier would ever want to receive especially while serving his country and putting his life on the line. It wasn't like he already had enough to worry about.

As he sat there on his cot in his quiet tent listening to the world falling apart outside he realized that this was the end to something good. He read the letter at least a hundred times in the short time that he sat there alone. He couldn't grasp why this had to happen to him. All he could think about is if he were home then this wouldn't be the letter held so tightly in his grip that was slowly shattering his heart, but there was nothing he could do.

Every time he would kick in a door and run through the streets of Iraq all he could picture was the beauty he had left behind to preserve the freedoms of all the United States. He knew in his mind he signed up with good intentions, but never the thought of what was to come once he served.

As he sat there with tears in his eyes and his heart thumping he couldn't help but feel anger seep through his body. The kind of anger that brings tears to your eyes, tingles through your body, and a sense of numbness that can't be shaken. All he wanted to do was yell as loud as he could, because inside he felt as though he had nothing else to fight for.

He had to read the letter again that was so suddenly unexpected to bring to reality what no soldier ever wants to face, loss of love. The letter read:

Dear Jason,

I do love you with all my heart, but things just haven't been the same without you. I have tried to stay home and do nothing in remorse for the fact that you are gone and won't return for some time to come. We are young and there are so many things to do to live full lives. I know this has come to a shock to receive such a somber letter when you are there protecting our lives and the way we live, but I can't keep pretending that when you come home that things will be the same. I don't honestly know what I am doing and perhaps I am making or have made a mistake that cannot be retracted from memory.

Jason, I have fallen in love with someone else and have become pregnant with his child and I must do what is right and be with the father of my child. I love you and always will, but at this time I just can't remain a part of your life. I wish you safety and good health and please don't do anything crazy. I will still be here upon your return and we can be the best of friends.

Love Always,

Stacy

This last time he read the letter it set his anger into full swing and he heard the sirens outside the tent going off for him to seek cover from incoming fire. He didn't care he just wanted to fight. So he wadded up the picture of her in his left top uniform pocket and he angrily wadded the letter he was holding so tightly in his hands. What was Jason to do now?

He walked outside the tent and MAJ Jacobson, Platoon Commander told Jason to pack his gear because they were going outside the wire on a mission that would put his skills to the test and his life on the line; they were going to assist the Marines in Fallujah.

So that is what Jason did, he packed his bags and cleaned his rifle. He was ready for war and he had just a little bit more wanting of war than ever before. In that battle, Jason ended up saving the lives of 5 fellow members of his platoon, was shot 3 times, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star. The last thing Jason said to his best friend before he took his last breath was, "Tell Stacy that I love her and I am sorry for not being there."