1/3/05
Dear family:
I am glad to be writing to you once again. I know when I am going to be home now. I will be home for Thanksgiving of this year. Just ten more months and I am coming home. I will be home and not returning.
Last week we got more newbie's from Mississippi, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. One of them is only 19 and his name is Aarik, he just graduated from high school and decided to serve his country, he is also engaged to a girl named Erika, whom he had gone to high school with. I am so happy for him….I am glad that he is fighting for someone special besides family.
I found out that Thomas was KIA and I am sorry that his nine month old will never remember daddy with his sense of humor and his wittiness. I am also sorry for the family that he left behind. Each day I am glad that I am alive and get to fight each day wondering why we are even here to begin with. It is hell over here and each day there is a possibility that you could die.
The other day a soldier named Katie came up to me and say: "it's Lucifer's country and not a goddamn thing God can do about it now". I am starting to believe her. She has four kids back at home and she is from Mississippi. She had wanted to go to the Nay, but ended up in the Army.
We had a concert here tonight.
I would say more, but I have to go.
Love,
Francis