A LAST LETTER HOME

Oregonian ^ | 3/28/03 | Brandon Tobler

[SAMWolf]

Family members of Brandon Tobler shared the last e-mail he sent to them:

hey mom and dad,

how are things with you, i hope you are both doing ok i am doing fine, things here are going ok we are just keeping busy i am a little stressed but other than that i am alright, i have been loaded down with a lot of tasks that i have not even been trained for, but i think i am doing an ok job, anyways i am sorry that i have not written you guys lately and i know I have been writing val a bit more than you guys and that is something I really intend to change, i just want you guys to know that i miss you guys a lot and love you guys even more and i thank you both for the person you made me become and all of the things you have struggled to get me over the years, i really appreciate the support that you guys have given me and accepting my enlistment in the army i feel that if i can make a difference out here than i have done my part if i can save one life if i can do something that makes a family sleep easier at night without fear than i have done my purpose, cause i know now thats what my calling is in life not to make money or be powerful and wealthy but to simply make a difference, and i thank you my loving parents for all that you have done to get me this far, but now i have to take the next step and make a difference for someone else out there, well go ahead and pass this around to everyone in the family val too.... and to the family my love and best wishes and prayers go out to you, little veronica or Shall i say big veronica i miss playing with her and being her big cousin but at least my being here well help keep her safe and grow up happy and full of life as she is already soo too my family if you see a soldier one of my comrades in arms please thank them for the service they give pray for them because we as soldiers give up sooo much to come out here and in sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and soldiers could always use encouragment and a thanks... well my love to you guys and ill see you soon.... Love to all, Brandon

[SAMWolf]

Sorry for the lack of editing but this is the way the e-mail was recieved by Brandon's Parents.

[KantianBurke]

"i have been loaded down with a lot of tasks that i have not even been trained for"

wonder what he's referring to...thoughts?

[SAMWolf]

Portland Soldier Killed In Iraq

19-Year-Old Was Franklin Graduate

PORTLAND -- A 19-year-old Portland man was killed over the weekend when his Humvee crashed into another heavy vehicle during a sandstorm in the Persian Gulf. Army Reserve Specialist Brandon Tobler was killed Saturday as his convoy made its way to Baghdad. He was assigned to the 671st Engineer Brigade in Portland.

Tobler's uncle, Scott Tom, says Tobler joined the Army Reserves to pay for college.

He says Tobler dreamed of returning home to go to college and perhaps become a policeman. He also was interested in attending art school.

Tobler graduated from Franklin High School in Portland.

Tobler's uncle also says another female solider in the Humvee was critically injured in that accident

[Huck]

if you see a soldier one of my comrades in arms please thank them for the service they give pray for them because we as soldiers give up sooo much to come out here and in sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and soldiers could always use encouragment and a thanks

bttt

[Alberta's Child]

Maybe driving a Humvee, or maintaining one.

That's not supposed to be a wisecrack, either (sorry if it comes across like that).

[lodwick]

bttt

RIP soldier.

Thank you.

[SAMWolf]

I'm not sure. As an engineer he may have been trained for a specific task or piece of ewuipment but found himself doing something else.

It happens a lot in the service, you may be trained for one job but if they need you to be doing something else you get "on the job training" it's not that unusual.

[HiJinx]

Especially true of a Reservist?

This is always a hard thing to accept, to lose someone who was so full of life and was loved by so many people...you see that in his letter...the girlfriend, the young cousin, you know he had High School buds...

Prayers up for his family, that they may find Peace.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"if you see a soldier one of my comrades in arms please thank them for the service they give pray for them because we as soldiers give up sooo much to come out here and in sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and soldiers could always use encouragment and a thanks..."

BUMP

[Aquamarine]

Thank you Brandon, you made a difference. May you rest now in the comfort of God's arms.

[Cate]

Brandon was an angel on earth and now is a greater one in heaven.

[Rocky]

Thank you, Brandon, for going on our behalf. May God comfort your friends and loved ones, and may they be assured that you have made a difference. And through your e-mail message, you are still making a difference.

[Jen]

"i have been loaded down with a lot of tasks that i have not even been trained for"

wonder what he's referring to...thoughts?

Every military job description I ever had always ended with "and other duties as assigned". Even though I was trainied as a public affairs specialist, I was assigned duties such as how to marshal equipment and pallets for loading on cargo aircraft and other warfighting skills. Most additional duties came with on-the-job training. Then there were often "details" such as painting, mowing grass, cleaning equipment, inventory, etc. Perhaps that's what Brandon refers to.

Thank you Sam, for posting this moving email from this young soldier. Tears and prayers for his family and loved ones. Dear God, please protect all our men and women in uniform and give them swift victory.

[Ben Chad]

my calling is in life not to make money or be powerful and wealthy but to simply make a difference

God bless our brave soldiers whose sacrifice we must always honor.

[GHCubana]

God give his family strenght. I don't have sons in the war but everytime I hear of another young man dying my heart breaks as if they were my own. Their sacrifice will be fully honored when we bring Saddam to justice.

It's Mother F of All Bombs time, right now !No more delays!

The sooner the better Mr President, let's not have any more of our precious brave men die!

[Soaring Feather]

bump

[Victoria Delsoul]

OMG! this is so sad, Sam. I just noticed that the email you posted belonged to the soldier who was killed recently. Very sad, indeed.

May he rest in peace.

[SAMWolf]

Yes.It makes it sad knowing that it was his last letter.

[Victoria Delsoul]

It sure does. :-(