'To you, Valnea.

Well, its official. America was fully committed to another fight on the world stage. I write this from aboard a Victory ship, taking me and my fellow tankers, to the shores of Korea.

I am sure its all over the news by now. We're sending forces to battle again.

5 years after they had previously.

I don't think anyone thought the US of A would be in another conflict so soon. We just finished putting down the Nazis, prying their hand off Europe, and rolling back the Japansese tide in the Pacific. That wasn't a quick fight, or an easy one. We earned that victory, with some of the longest, hardest fighting, I am certain, of this century.

But, that was still a righteous fight. I'd rather not think of what would've happened if we'd failed. That's not a world I'd want to be in.

That's one of the things that drove me on, what kept me going. Its not only that we all have our orders, and our assignments to take us to these far off fronts, so far from home. I knew that everyone back home was counting on us to win. Every one of the millions of my fellow Americans was one more who we on the front lines were defending. They have the right to live that kind of normal life, and all of us soliders were once one of them. One day, we will be again.

For now, though, we fight for them. That much is true.

But, its only half of why. Its a big half, but I want to explain, what I don't think anyone would tell you.

We, when we get out here, we're in the fight, for each other. Every day, wether its in the middle of battle, or not, you are comitted, because your brothers are comitted as well. You are strong, because they are strong.

Its the other half of what I had to push myself, in the damp and fetid jungles of the Pacific. My men and I used each other, to stay strong in our minds, so we could be strong against our enemies, so we could defeat them, and return to you.

I wish I had told you. Somehow, you were patient, and waited for me while I was away out there. You were patient while I shifted back into domestic life after VJ day, and you didn't ask me much about what it was like. Maybe you thought you were being respectfull, and that it wasn't something that should be mentioned again.

Well, that's not entirely true.

I was so eager to be back and enjoy what I'd fought so hard for, that I didn't assure you, that it was worth it. That I was proud to have served with them, proud we endured and proved ourselves over there. You were so worried about me, and I should've told you, that as hard as some days were over there- as a lot of days were, actually- I didn't ever doubt myself. Or my brothers.

Or, stopped thinking about you.

Now, we're about to do it all again. Again, we're headed into the cauldron, so to speak. I know it.

There still comes a point, where a solider must finally lay down his sword, and accept the former life he had. Even for me. Our Creator willing, I will live through this fight as well, but still, I think it will be my last.

That, though, won't stop me from honoring the bonds that exist between me and the others. The band of soliders who I live with, who are very much my family.

I pray they will come home along with me, becasue I want you to meet some of them, at least. I can't ever leave them behind, even if I leave the armed forces that I gave my life to. And, if I know you, you will accept them as well.

We are all brothers here, and they can be yours too.

Wait to here from me again, as soon as I am able.

I love you

- Lt. Zachary Collins, 2nd Armored Division, United States Army