Dear Dad,
I guess I would call you dad. Father does not seem appropriate. Dr. Pierce does not fit, either. Benjamin is too informal. So, I suppose I will stick with 'dad', even though that does not work for me either. I could call you 'pops', but to be frank with you, I do not like that term.
I am rambling. I do that from time to time. I always have. It bugs mom to death. She says I got it from you. Mom told me that you rambled when you were nervous or were passionate. I never noticed if I do it when I am impassioned, but I sure know I do it when I am nervous. And, boy, dad, I am nervous.
I am your son. My mother is Sandra Hudson, Sandy for short. You dated her in high school or college. She never told me who my dad was or anything about you, except that you were cocky and loved pranks. She said I was a chip off the old block. I hope that is a good thing.
You probably want to know a little bit about me. My name is Eric Hudson. I am 26 years old. I'm a surgeon, just like you, but I am doing my residency in the Army. However, I only learned that when I got to my MASH camp. I was born July 4th, 1942. Mom got sent away from home and was told never to contact you, so she didn't and that's why you did not know I guess.
I have lived most of my life in Montana. We have a huge horse and cattle ranch that I'll be inheriting when mom is gone. I'm her only kid. I have a little girl and another child on the way – he or she should be born in about 10 or 11 months. She is five years old. Her name is Theresa. She has black curly hair and a round face with the sunniest demeanor. Sadly, she got mine slightly too big nose, but she also got my blue eyes. The curls and smile is all her mom though. Jo is a wonderful woman and a great wife. She is headstrong and ready to take on the world. She has piercing green eyes and chocolate brown hair. She is just beautiful, smart, and funny. You would like her I think. Maybe when I get back from the war we could meet at the ranch.
I just found out about you a few weeks ago, if that. I came to my MASH unit and met the Colonel. I thought I was going to give her a heart attack. She turned paper white and then screamed. After that, her face turned ten shades of purple and then another ten shades of red. It was amazing. I don't think I've ever seen a woman do that before. At least I have not seen a women do it all at once. She kept mumbling. She said stuff like, 'He looks just him' and 'you look like Hawkeye'. I was perplexed. I asked what she meant.
At first, she did not tell me, but I finally charmed it out of her. When she told me the name Benjamin Pierce, I instantly knew what she was talking about and I remembered my mom talking about a 'Benny Pierce'. I demanded that she give me your address.
Well, here we are. Oh, the woman Colonel is Margaret Houlihan. She said she worked with you during the Korean War. I could not believe it.
I have to go. There's a helicopter coming in and I'm sure it's loaded with injured.
Your Son,
Eric
Hawkeye stared at the letter. He could hardly believe he was reading this. He had had a son for 27 years and never knew. That was shocking. He laid the letter on the desk and began to write back.