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Another New Feature

Information July 27 2005
 — By CJ

While I was in Kuwait and Iraq, I got a lot of mail. A lot of the mail wasn’t even addressed to me. When we’d visit the Red Cross room on Camp Doha, I’d always look through the Any Soldier mail and grab a handful. My thinking was that if people were taking the time to write, I’d take the time to read. Not all the letters had return addresses, but some did. I made it a point to write EVERY person back that left a return address. The closer to Christmas I got, the more letters I ended up writing. At one point, I was literally writing 30 letters a day, by hand. I also made it a point to make every letter personal by handwriting them all. I even took a package of envelopes that was sent by an entire elementary class and made sure to write every single student in that class. There were about 32 students, I think. I didn’t want to run the risk of only taking a few letters and writing back, when some of the students probably wouldn’t get a letter if another soldier picked it up.

When the war kicked, my letter writing died down a little. Since I didn’t have access to a Red Cross Any Soldier site, I had to rely on mail that was directed specifically to me. However, I always made sure to respond to EVERY letter I got. Every now and then I’m going to publish a letter I was sent that stood out for some reason. Most of these letters I read were from children, so I’m titling the new category “Letters From Children.” Most letters from children were only one page so they’re easy to scan and publish. Some will make you laugh and some will make you cry. Children are so innocent and their sincerity could work miracles. And without further ado:

aaron

“Dear Soldiers,
I am glad you are fighting for this country. If it wasn’t for you I would be dead. I love to here good news on the TV.
Love, Aaron [last name deleted]
Central School
Blytheville, AR”

Some letters that kids send are straightforward and right to the point. Aaron makes sure that he doesn’t mince words and thus confuse me. Letters like this were a delight and really brought a smile to my face when life really sucked.

(5) Readers Comments

  1. 07/28/2005 at 2:42 am

    At first I smiled then I almost cried. It is harsh realizing I didn’t have a clue about war as a child. It was not talked about nor was it evident on every tv station I watched. Now look what Our Children have to see. It is good that they get to feel like they can help by writting these letters. How sweet of them to be so supportive.
    Your a good man CJ. Your heart overwhelms me at times. Thnak you for showing me this. Can’t wait for more.

  2. Sabo

    07/28/2005 at 8:52 am

    What a contrast in your letter writing endeavors is evident in your last two posts. It is very touching to read about how you made such an effort to respond to the kids’ letters and let them know the value of their messages to you. I bet it meant alot to them to receive a letter from Iraq from a “real soldier”. On the other hand, you can really be such a smarta** to the scammers, which they deserve. I think you must have a cape lying around somewhere (perhaps it’s in the laundry) that you put on when you are fighting injustice and protecting the innocent, for you are one of the special superheroes. Maybe you can’t fly or leap tall buildings in a single jump (maybe you can???), but your superpowers consist in your ability to care about right and wrong, your strenth, courage, honor, your conviction to stand up for your beliefs, your sensibility, and your talent for putting your thoughts out so eloquently! Now, don’t let this go to your head…a true superhero wouldn’t do that!! And…mostly don’t even think of employing Alfred as your trusted butler!!

  3. Hilary

    07/28/2005 at 10:38 am

    That was a very cute and awesome letter from that little boy. I’ve been to Blytheville a few times. When we would travel up to Michigan we’d drive through it. On our way home from Michigan (back to Texas when we were there) we’d actually stop and stay at the Holiday Inn there in Blytheville.

    When Paul was there, he got a few letters from people he didn’t know. One of the ladies that adopted him had her Sunday School class write letters to Paul. He, like you, took the time to write each of the kids back…handwritten letters. He said they were short letters, but he wrote them all back. And those who did adopt him, he would make sure he wrote them all back and let them know he got things or letters from them although they put in their letters for him not to worry about writing back since they were sure he wouldn’t have time. It really made him time easier over there when he received mail.

  4. 07/28/2005 at 12:09 pm

    Yeah, I obviously didn’t write full page responses, but I made sure that each letter was specific to the person who wrote me and not some static form letter. I wanted them to feel special individually.

    One thing I didn’t mention is that one of the middle schools that I wrote to was about 90 minutes from Fort Stewart. When I got back, they invited me as a special guest to talk during one of their assemblies. I got to meet personally some of the students I had written back and forth to and made an “Honorary Eagle”, the school mascot. It was truly a humbling experience, but I had a chance to explain to the entire student body what kind of difference just one letter makes to a soldier.

  5. 07/28/2005 at 3:40 pm

    CJ I have to agree with Sabo. Having met you personally and gotten to know you, I know how much of a smarta** you can be, but I also know how big of a heart you have, what a wonderful caring person you are and how much you love your country and what you do for a living. I’ve been able to gather some letters from young children to send to my soldiers and always have taken the time to read them and smile and yeah sometimes cry after reading them.