Dear Mom,
I know it's been a month since my last letter, but they have been keeping us so busy here. We are now doing all the clean-up after the first bombs were dropped. Try not to worry much, as they are keeping our missions at a minimal risk in my zone. I got the hometown paper the other day and I'm so happy the girls won the state championship. I bet the town is really going crazy...
Dear Dad,
I know from your last letter that you are worried, I can't tell you not to be, because this war is scaring the Hell out of me. I can't sleep without seeing the faces of so many killed over here. I lost a buddy that went through basics with me the other day. He was killed by a car bomb. I am so paranoid, I can't even think straight enough to write. I think I now know why Uncle Ken spent so much time in the backporch swing. I wish I could get the thoughts of dying everyday out of my head. I only have 3 months left over here, if they don't change their minds and make us take another tour. I miss home so much Dad...
...Oh man, what I would give for a piece of your German chocolate cake. I miss the smells coming from the kitchen, but don't worry Mom, the camp cookie is pretty good with S.O.S. laughs
Mom, can you do me a big favor? Call Katie and tell her I'm just fine and I'll be home in 3 months. Tell her I love her.
I know you all are so worried, but please don't be. Ole Uncle Sam is taking good care of us. Mom there's one more thing, give Dad a hug and kiss for me. Since you say we look so much alike, it will be like I'm giving you the hug.
All my love
Love,
Rich
...I miss us going fishing on Sundays. All I see over here is sand and smoke. The smell of death has cut into me so deep, I don't think it will ever leave. Dad I really think I'm going crazy. I should have listened to you and gone to college.
I don't even know what this war is for, they say it's to help these people to have a better life. As I see it, their lives can't get much worse than this. Little kids are dying just to divert our attention, so their army can catch us off guard. I feel like a shadow, dark and full of nothing. It ain't me anymore Dad, I just want it all to go away. Please make it go away. Please...
Author notes
This was written for anyone that has suffered the trials of war.
The letter to Mom represents how the war or any war is reported to the masses. A candy coated version so-to-speak.(Life)
The letter to Dad is how war is, filled with the harsh realities.(Death)
I dedicate this to my Uncle Curt, he fought in Viet Nam and he would swing on the backporch for hours, drifting through the memories of his war...Peace Muddy
Written May 8th, 2005
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Comments
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thanks for this! I liked the way the writer comes at the two peopl in different ways, I liked the differences that they see. thanks for the entery! Many Blessings- Krystal
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thanks for the entry,
blessings-
KRystal
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This is really written well. It's very sad and I think you did a good job writing it! I will keep your poem in mind! Thanks for entering my contest and good luck!
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OMG! you made me cry! i loved it, its emotional and real and so so real, its what i've read first hand, as a cousin though, my cousin is going through it and the letters to his dad and my dad arn't coated, but the letters to us are...its sad but he says he dosnet want me to worry that its all okay and that its really not terrible but the others i read make me cry for him, i love this! very well written you truely have a handle on hwo it is...congrats
~kate~ -
I was going to enter this but after yours I feel neither the need or the inspiration to do so.This poiniont entry personalizes the war for the sheep who wave flags and display aptly colored ribbons on their pickups without the first clue what war is or why we are fighting it.The servicemen and women deserve to be led into harms way by the one who deems it worth the lives of heros.He had his chance to serve in an unpopular war and avoided it like the plague.
Great write.
Support the troops, don't spend them foolishly.
Peace,Rob -
This is beautiful but you are mising things in you author comments could you please re read the rules and add them
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So sad and true.
Awesome job on this.
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What can I say, really? it was...extreme. Well done, I just want to wish you the best of luck in the contest (I'll try to have it judged by the end of tonight) and good luck in all your future writing.
FallenLeaves
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V.Good
Contest Comment
This entry is truly an inspired, I have numerious points so i will be blunt, superb...
Thankyou for entering the contest and I wish you the best of luck in the joint judging. Please note two people will judge and the marks corralated. Therefore my comments are not a absolute decision maker.
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I think this piece really portrays what war is like. It's not an exciting quest to improve the lives of people. It's just being scared and frightened of death.
My Grandpa was a vet of the Korean War, and I grew up in a very patriotic home. I don't support war as long as it's preventable, but once it's here, I feel that we're obligated to support the troops overseas.
Even though most of them don't want to be there, once they figure out how it really is. -
well ill admit i clicked this in the hopes that it was an ode to Creedence Clearwater Revival...but i sat down to read...and i was not disappointed...the raw emotional aspect of this work really tugs at the readers heart
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Powerful
I thought I had commented on this.. Pfft..
Well, This piece really touches my heart.
I'm an Army brat and my daddy has fought in 2 big wars, So.. I've seen the letters, Pictures, And hear the horrible stories They are all so heartbreaking, But in my eyes my daddy is a hero, Just as every other man/woman in the service is.
This piece really portrayed alot of - Reality.. Even though it isn't a pleasant one.. I personally am not against the way (I'll probably get alot of grief about that statement).. But I do hate seeing our men and woman being killed and wounded every day. Beautiful write, This was very unique, And well thought out Good luck
Tragedy
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aww, you made me all sad.. but this work of yours is the beautiful sad.. this is so touching, too, maybe because this is a reality that's happening to a lot of people in war-torn places. i love how you constructed this as a letter type thingee, i think that it's more "realistic" to let us glimpse how a soldier's letter would look like and how different a letter to mom and dad would be... thank you so much for this...
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wow. this is a very powerful write. seriously. for this alone, you have my full respect as an author. the cross section of the letters was quite perfect...
phenominal is really all the more that i can think to say. -
well done
Really touching write not many people know just how it feels or what goes on over seas but you put it into perspective. Very lovely job on a touchy subject. Keep up the good work. -
very good
Beautifully done. A good read while we sit back and try to imagine what they went though, what they are going though.
Best of luck.
John -
I have sons the age of those soldiers, this is heart crushing, and eye opening. Excellent writing Muddy.
Red -
This was heartbreaking. I'm sick of seeing war glorified on the news, especially a war that's making millions of dollars for large US companies. People tend to forget that there are real people fighting to make those old white guys rich. Very nicely done.
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Richard-
With this piece alone, I think you have single- handedly moved yourself up to the very front of the pack. So far, you have used to least amount of space but conveyed the larget message yet. It was one that truly touched me, and left quite the impression on me.
You and Tom both have chosen to tear at the judges' hearts. I can only vouch for myself, but you really have won me over here. It was amazing in every way, shape and form.
Justin
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