A Father's Letter to His Son

N/A | G. Wood

[BriansDad]

Brian;

I finished talking to you last Saturday, long distance from Germany, where you were helping load up your unit for movement to the Middle East. I didn’t get to tell you everything I wanted to say, partly because I am not very good at expressing myself on the spur of the moment, and partly because I wanted the conversation to be as upbeat as I could manage.

You are, it appears, heading off to war. Unfortunately, volunteering to join the Army, and putting yourself in jeopardy for the sake of your country does not generate the open admiration that it has in times past. I want you to know that I am very proud of you, though. You continue a family tradition of service to country that passed from my father’s service in Japan at the end of World War II, through my enlistment and that of my three brothers in our generation. I was the one who suggested that you enlist, but you were the one with the dedication and love of country to make the decision. I saw you go off to basic training right after graduation from high school…a gawky, typically unfocused teenage boy. You returned from basic and advanced training not gawky but solid and strong, not scatterbrained but with a calmness and maturity that was very surprising after three short months. You came back a man. A man that was all I ever hoped and dreamed you would be. I admire what you have become.

Your choice of combat engineers was a bit frightening…early into harm’s way is not what fathers dream of for their sons. And now, you are preparing to go fight, to follow the orders of those above you, and I am scared. Scared for your safety, and for the safety of all your fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

You may have heard of some of the dissenting voices back in the United States. As with all wars, there are those who believe we should not fight, or that the cause is not just, or that the whole thing just isn’t necessary. You will note that many of the voices raised in dissent are the same voices that we have heard many times… the appeasers, the weak minded, those with agendas we can only guess at, and, unfortunately also those who just plain hate this country. Oh, they are here…count on it. You could hear them throughout the years constantly finding fault with everything America does, belittling what we stand for and what we are. Unfortunately, those in the entertainment industry tend to be over-represented in these voices of dissent. What was it that John Adams said in “1776”? “Those cool men” (and women, of course)….who speak out loudly and with feeling, but stand back and let others do the dangerous and frightening work that must be done to protect the country and the people. You never see them volunteering to place themselves in danger. They are never the police officers, the firefighters, or the military men whose daily lives are service to country. Sarandon, Sheen, Penn, and the others….always the same names. They cry the same platitudes, “Peace, always peace”, “There is no proof”, “Why should we get involved?” Strangely, or perhaps not so, these were many of the same cries made in the late 1930’s, and by the time they were stilled, whole nations and peoples had been destroyed. No one expects Saddam Hussein to conquer countries as Adolf Hitler did (not that he hasn’t tried, though), but he is a man of intense evil, and a man who has proven to have no hesitation at using chemical and biological weapons against those he dislikes. And, my son, we are on that list. All it takes is to remember the pictures you have seen of the victims of these heinous weapons. The caustic burns, children’s chests heaving to take a breath, or, worst of all, the mounds of lifeless bodies. You and your fellow military men and women are gearing up to prevent these same pictures from appearing on our T.V. screens yet again, but with the locations being L.A., or Akron, or Washington, D.C.; and the people in the pictures being Americans, not some unknown tribe’s people from a far off land.

So, go forth with the knowledge that our cause is just, and the battle is necessary. And pay no heed to the dissenters, they are not the majority or even a significant minority of the people in this country. That majority of good people stand behind you and the rest of the servicemen. Those people know that to have a safe world, to have a safe America, we must protect ourselves against our enemies.

Go and do what you must do. Know that with all of my heart I love you, I respect you, and I am so very proud of you. The other fathers of America and I place our country, our safety and our future in your hands. I pray that God watches over all of you.

All my love

Dad

[BriansDad]

My son, Brian was killed in Iraq in April. Last year, prior to the start of the Iraq War, his unit was slated to be moved from their base in Germany to attack northern Iraq through Turkey. When Turkey denied access, the movement of the 9th Engineer Battalion was cancelled. During those weeks when we thought Brian was heading into war, I wrote this email to him. A year later, his unit was sent to Iraq to relieve the units which had been there since the beginning of the war. I had forgotten this email, and only found it when Brian's personal effects were recently returned to us. I am not much of a writer, but wish that all the men and women in harm's way could read it, and believe that America is behind them. They are all heroes, and I am proud of each of them.

To the list of people expressing hate for the U.S., I guess we could easily add Micheal Moore....

God Bless all of you, and God Bless the United States of America.

[katnip]

I am so sorry. God bless you and thank you.

[HiJinx]

Rest in Peace, Brian.

[TonyInOhio]

A wonderful tribute to your son on this Independence Day weekend.

Freedom is not free. Thank God for men like your son, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom. Generations of Iraqis will live free because of him and his comrades.

And Thank God for fathers like you.

Tony

[katnip]

Special ping needed

[babyface00]

Thank you for sharing that letter with us.

I am so sorry for your loss.

[HiJinx]

Dad, your courage in sharing those words extends beyond understanding. Your heartbreak at the loss of you son cannot be measured by those of us who haven't been there.

But your patriotism, honor, and service to our nation through three generations is something for us to stand in awe of. Please know that as long as I live, the sacrifice of our young men and women - like Brian - will not have been made in vain.

HJ

[mondonico]

I am so very, very sorry for your loss. God bless you.

[OldFriend]

Heartbroken prayers for comfort to your family. Every life is precious and no doubt your son's life was precious to you and your family. We share your admiration for him and his fellow warriors. Without them no one will be free.

[nuffsenuff]

I was sitting here speechless...

You wrote exactly what I was thinking.

[The Right Stuff]

Dad, so sorry for your sacrifice. Your son, Brian is a real hero to the rest of us. Thank you so much for publishing that touching letter. Our hearts are with you and your family.

[Conspiracy Guy]

God Bless you and your family and keep you strong. My thanks to your son and all the brave young men and women who put it on the line for a mostly greatful nation.

Stories like this make me hate the left that much more.

God's Army is full of good soldiers like your son.

[votelife]

God bless you and your family.
May the peace that passes all understanding guard your hearts.

[b9]

Please know your Brian lives in our hearts forever now, too.

Your love and courage enabled him to do the same.

God Bless you for sharing this.

[Vic3O3]

BriansDad, I am so sorry to learn Brian was killed over in Iraq. I hope you can take comfort in knowing that most of us on FR support & honor your son's sacrifice.

[WVNan]

As one who lost a young son I can only say that I know the pain in your heart and I reach out in spirit to hold you close to comfort where no comfort is found. How very proud you must be of such a son. A hero. "Greater love hath no man but that he lay down his life for his friends." Brian had the greatest love. I thank you for the sacrifice you and your family have given, and I pray that Brian is happy in God's arms. God bless you.

[nevergore]

God Bless your family....

I have two boy's in Iraq with the Psy Ops. unit, although are not my own children, they've been part of my family since they were 12 years old. They call me their adopted Dad. I worry about them and pray for them daily. I'm incredibly proud of their service.

They call me a couple of times a week from Iraq.

My daughter is at the Air Force Academy, she's safe for now but will soon join the cause directly.

Both my younger children want to attend service academies.

The reason I share this is that my family cares deeply about each and every sailor and soldier in harms way and have a deep and abiding respect for their service and sacrifice.

I am greatly saddened at your loss and I hope that knowing others truly care and are praying for son and your family will provide you and your family some solace.

NeverGore

[No Blue States]

Im so very sorry about your son, and grateful to him and you.

Your email brought a tear to me eye.

[HorsePlayer]

There is nothing that could ever be said here on Free Republic, or anywhere else for that matter, that would ease your pain. All I can say, BriansDad, is thank God for your beloved son Brian. When you see him next, and I firmly believe you will, pass on to him my highest personal regards.

[SAMWolf]

Unfortunately, volunteering to join the Army, and putting yourself in jeopardy for the sake of your country does not generate the open admiration that it has in times past.

For some of us, that admiration still exists. Please accept my condolences for your loss and know that your son's sacrifice will be remembered.