Bring them home.

The reading for this week really moved me. Each letter was from a soldier at war. The soldier wrote the letter during the fighting, shooting, killing to tell whomever of life at war. The first letter was from a sergeant and he told about how he was justwaiting for the fighting to start and then suddenly it begins. AS this sergeant is amongst the "shelling" and dead men who are piling into a tunnel he is tired and waiting for guys of enemy lines to come along and finish him off. As he waits he simply eats a treat of canned pineapple. He finishes the letter saying to get this to his mother... This is my opinion is so very heart breaking. Here is a soldier, a sergeant nonetheless, who is just waiting to be shot and killed. From the letter I've gathered that he wasn't even fighting back. I don't know why but it's a sad thing to be waiting for death in a small hole eating pineapple as your last dinner.
On December 24, 1942, Christmas Eve, a man writes home to his mother and dad with sad news. This man, John, has been hospitalized with many other men because of war injuries. He lacks memory and has injury to his back which makes further serving his country impossible. He's been living a life of Hell, if I may be so bold; 4 hours of sleep out of 72, little food, little hope, fighting every day and seeing men from his platoon die next to him in battle. He writes to his parents about being immobilized and having nightmares and numerous flashbacks but ends his letter saying "Ah, well, let's not think, but just be happy that we'll all be together soon." Even through complete hopelessness he continues to look forward. I admire this man, John.
Basically all the letters were so so sad. One told of seeing firsthand the concentration camps in Germany... another told of his life day by day...moving here, fighting there, killing here, being shipped there...one man tells of his best buddy...these stories of soldiers are just so terribly heart wrenching and sad. I've always supported our troops but thsi makes me love them all the more.