On a hot afternoon in the month of July, 2025, as Miley was making breakfast for her husband and two children, the phone began to ring.

"Hello?" Miley answered.

"May I speak with Sargent Oken please?" the voice of Sargent Goodman was ringing through the phone and in Mile's ears.

'No, not today, he can't go...why now? Why not with the other men during March? Why did Goodman have o call today? Look at Oliver, he's just sitting there, smiling at Maria, and now at me...' Miley thought. "Just a minute." she replied. "Honey, phone." and Miley sat down at the table, a tear rolling down her face.

"Hello?" Oliver asked.

"Oliver, it's Goodman, we need you to come to base. Now! How fast can you get here?"

"Uh...now's not a good time..."

"Now, Oken!"

"But, sir..I..." and before Oliver could finish, Goodman hung up.

I'm just trying to be a father

Raise a daughter and a son

Be a lover to their mother

Be everything to everyone

Up and at 'em bright and early

I'm all business in my suit

Yeah I'm dressed up for success, from my

Head down to my boots

I don't do it for the money, there's bills that I can't

Pay

I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway

Providing for our future's my responsibility

Yeah, I'm real good under pressure, being all

That I can be

And I can't call in sick on Monday's when the

Weekends been too strong

I just work straight through the holidays

And sometimes all night long

You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf

Growls at the door

Hey I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true

Down to the core

And I will always do my duty no matter what the price

I've counted up cost, I know the sacrifice

Oh, and I don't want to die for you

But if dyin's asked of me

I'll bear that cross with honor

'Cause freedom don't come free

I'm an American soldier, an American

Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand

When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right

I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight

American soldier, I'm am American soldier

"What...did he say?" Miley asked, wiping a tear from her eye.

"I have to go, but I promise I'll be back." Oliver said.

"Please, don't...go."

"I have too, you know I do." Oliver said, kissing Miley on the cheek before going to the bedroom to change. Soon he came out, and Miley jumped into his hands. "Miles, I have to go, but I'll be back, trust me." Then he kissed on last time, grabbed his bag, and kissed Maria and Jake on the cheek. Suddenly, there was a honk, and it was another Sargent.

"C'mon Oken! They need back up!" the man yelled.

"Well, I have to go...I'll see you in a while...bye Miley..." Oliver said, and ran out the door.

'Will he really be back? Dear God, let him come home!' Miley thought, and hugged her children while they watched Oliver leave.

'No, I can't cry.' Oliver thought, wiping a tear from his eye. 'I have to stay strong, for Miley, Maria, and Jake... everything's going to be okay.'