Thanks, Lilith and skipthisone. I didn't know that.

I just read some letters from soldiers and , through my tears, realized the incredible stress they endure and I don't think the best shrink in the world could predict how someone can react to the strain.

Everything is going great'

Mary Vallis
National Post

SOLDIER'S LETTER ARRIVES HOME TO MOTHER ON THE DAY HE DIES: Gregory Sanders, a 19-year-old ammunition loader from Hobart, Ind., was shot dead on March 24 by an Iraqi sniper in fighting south of Baghdad.

Leslie Sanders received her last letter from her 19-year-old son, Corporal Gregory Sanders, on Monday, the same day she learned he had been killed by an Iraqi sniper in the desert south of Baghdad.

It is written on paper from a small office pad she had sent him in a care package. It is not dated, but was postmarked March 11. Cpl. Sanders, an ammunition loader, wrote the letter just before his regiment moved into Iraq from Kuwait. He was killed in action on March 24.

The letter home is one of several shared with the National Post by wives and mothers of soldiers from Fort Stewart in Georgia.

Most of the 13,300 members of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) from Fort Stewart have been deployed to the Gulf. Some have been away since last September.

Hi Mom,

Just got some free time so I'm writing to say hi. I'm sitting on my tank about 20 km from the border just doing some training. How's everybody doing at home? This is the weirdest country ever. There's no water but plants and grass still grow like there is. It's been raining a lot here, though. There is a really bad flying insect problem here also. Everything here is going great. Can't say if we're going to war or not, just watch the news and you'll know before I probably do. Each company here has their own media crew following them. Sorry about not writing earlier but I've been a little preoccupied getting ready to come out here. My lieutenant is talking about being home anytime from late May through August, but my crew's morale is unusually high. I guess we are just enjoying ourselves. Tell everyone I said hi and that we are doing well here in Camp Able (what we call it).

See you,
Greg

Letters

Staff Sergeant Rannulf "Randy" Pinkston and his wife, Heather, are high-school sweethearts who met in Denton, Tex. They have two children: Victoria, 8, and Julia, who just celebrated her first birthday. A tank commander, Staff Sgt. Pinkston, 27, left for Kuwait in September. Heather, who is also 27, received a one-page letter from him yesterday. It is dated March 14.

Heather,

Hey baby. I miss you like crazy. We have been out here for two weeks. Two weeks since we spoke last. I miss you so much. All I want to do is go back home and be with you to see our daughters.

I got to see the video of Julia's birthday. She sure did eat a lot of the cake. Our daughters are so beautiful. I love that she kisses my pictures. I'm so afraid that she'll cringe when I try to hold her. You looked damn fine in the video. Damn, baby! You really got it going on. You looked absolutely beautiful.

Still haven't got the shoes. I got the other boxes, thank you so much. That salsa was great. Please send more and Kool-Aid too. We are just sitting here waiting to go home, just don't know if I gotta go to Baghdad first. I know that if I go in, I've gotten over my fears. I'm not afraid to go to war to make the world a better place for you and our children.

The standards are pretty relaxed out here. We all have crew tents, one per tank, so there's four of us in each tent. It's really cramped. I just took pictures so you'll be able to see. We built a shower.

The water's ice cold but at least we get to have one. I sure could use some more CDs. Some other stuff, whatever you want to send is cool. Lots of junk food and pictures of you guys. I'm running out of books.

I'm so lucky to have you, baby. I miss you so bad. I'm so in love with you. I didn't think that two people could ever be this in love or as close as we are. I'm so lucky to have you in my life. You are what makes me happy.

You are what makes me complete. Tell Victoria she looks so pretty and real tall now. Kiss them both for me. Tell them how much I miss them and how much I love them and how sorry I am for being gone so long.

I love the watch. It's exactly what I would have picked. We are so meant for each other. Be strong and know that I love you more than anything in the world. I love you baby.

Love,

Randy

- - -

Jeni England, 23, had her last telephone conversation with her husband, 1st Lieutenant Jeremy England, on Feb. 16. The 24-year-old has been in the Gulf since September. He has deluged his wife with letters, and she says their tone has changed dramatically over time. She has received at least four this week. This letter, one of the most recent, was written just before he left Camp New York in Kuwait. Jeni believes he is now somewhere near Baghdad. The couple have two children, Troy, four, and Savannah, 14 months.

Hey baby, how are you?

...I still see no end in sight. I just don't know when we're coming home. I just know that I'm thinking of you every minute of every day. I love you more now than ever before. I'll be home one day. When that day comes, you'll never go another day without me showing you how much I love you.

I'll show you how much I love you in other ways. Every night, I dream I come home to you. It's so hard to have to face reality when I wake up.

I sure wish I could be there for Troy's first T-ball game. Hopefully I'll be there before his last one.

... Our children are such gifts. It took me a long time to realize that. You've helped me. All I need is to come home even for one day, one more day, that's all I need, one more day to show you all how much I miss you, how much I love you, but that's only going to make me wish for another day.

Your devoted husband,

Jeremy

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