Author's Note-

To stary-I know that BJ served in the Korean War, but my dad had served in WWII. I probably didn't make the distinction between the two very clear, and I can see that when I re-read it. Sorry if I confused you, but that is what I meant. CRgirl

This story is pretty much true to my life. You could put my name in for Erin's, and the change would be minimal. My dad died when I was 18, my senior year of high school, and my mom died 15 months after that, during my freshman year of college. The work that Erin writes for her assignment is what I wrote verbatim for my dad, who served in WWII. While I knew that he served, it was only after his death did I find the letters he wrote home. After reading them, I gained a new respect for my dad, and I miss him even more. I would have rather wrote this with Hawkeye instead of BJ, but since BJ already had a daughter, I figured it would make more sense. This is dedicated to my dad, Alvin Olson, and all who serve and have served. Please read and review.

Erin Hunnicutt sighed as she thought about the assignment that her college professor had given her class. She pulled the piece of paper over of her bookbag. "Write a one page essay about someone that you have lost in your life." It sounded so easy, but how were you supposed to write about something that was so personal, private, and still so raw?

It had only been 3 months, but for Erin, it might as well have been yesterday. Her dad, BJ Hunnicutt, had died very suddenly, of a heart attack. His death devastated Erin and her mother. Although BJ and Peg had wanted to have more children, it was not to be, and Erin grew up as an only child. She didn't mind really, because she always had her parents, and she knew that she was loved very much.

Back in her dorm room, Erin sat at her computer, a blank screen in front of her. What could she write about? She thought back to the earliest memories of her father. He was over in Korea, and her mom would read her the letters that he wrote, and pictures that he sent. Erin got up from her desk, went to her closet, and dug deep in the back for the old box. She brought out the worn box, and got out some of the letters that BJ had written to Peg about his time in Korea. Re-reading the familiar handwriting made her feel a little better. Erin smiled and grabbed a notebook off her desk. This assignment was too important to write on the computer. She began to write.

What were you like, during that time in the war? I have a lot of questions, now that you are not here to answer them. I remember when I was little, I would bring you my inflatable globe beach ball, and once you showed me where you had been. I don't remember where those countries are now, but the memory of that small childhood encounter is burned into me. I knew that you had served, but it was never discussed, and I never really knew anything about this time in your past until I found the letters. I was so naive. Naive about you, war, hard times, family, and the way you were. I have so many questions. If I had found these while you were alive, what would you say about the letters? Would we talk about it? Would we talk about it? Would the subject be dropped, and avoided, or what? You wrote home a lot. Were you lonely? I guess that if you were alive, the letters never would have been seen by me. What can I do now? I can read them, and look at the familiar handwriting. I can preserve this bit of history for generations. I will do that. Other people may not understand, but I will. As I look again through the many letters, I wonder what were you like, during that time in the war?

Erin sighed. A tear slipped down her cheek, and yet she smiled. Although her dad may be dead, he wasn't gone, and he wasn't forgotten. And she knew that one day, she would find out the answers to her questions.