No infringement on the rights of the owners of "Combat!" is intended. This story is for the enjoyment of "Combat!" fans only, not for any monetary profit by the author.

Thanks to JML for proofreading and to Susan Rodriguez for beta reading.

The Last Letter

by: Queen's Bishop

This incident takes place soon after the squad returned to the CP following 'The First Day' (a).

Hanley stood, arched his back and stretched. He was so tired, tired of the war, tired of ordering young men out on patrols they never returned from, and tired of having to write the letters to their parents or wives. How many was it tonight, two, no, this was the third one.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Tate,

What could he say? He didn't even know their son; a know-it-all kid who Saunders said had frozen the first time the squad came under fire. Unfortunately, the lieutenant knew from experience that happened to many soldiers their first time out.

I know nothing I say can ease your pain, but I wanted you to know that although I didn't know Pvt. Tate for very long, I could see that he was a fine young man. His sergeant told me that when his squad first came under enemy fire, he stood his ground.

Later, for all of his big talk, when the sergeant ordered the men to hold their positions and wait for a Kraut half-track to pass, Tate had panicked and run. Hanley sighed. Perhaps, with a little more experience, the kid might have been all right. But, as Saunders had told him back when they were both sergeants, there are seldom second chances at the front and Tate had already used his.

The first days of combat are always difficult for young soldiers. But, rest assured, when it mattered, Pvt. Tate did his best.

He looked at the file, a life reduced to a few sheets of paper; no more hopes, no more dreams, no grandchildren to carry on the family name. He checked to make sure he had the first name right.

You can be proud of your son. Matthew died in service to his country and will long be remembered by all who knew him. It was an honor to have served with him.

With deepest condolences,

Some nights, he thought he would scream if he had to compose and sign his name to one more letter.

(a) From season 4 of "Combat!"