"Give your mother a big hug and kiss for me and remember you are the man of the house while I'm away. I know you are helping your mother and making things easier for her. You must do this because she has an awful lot on her mind and a lot of work to do to see that things run smooth. Remember me and all the others over here in your prayers at night and ask Him to help people see the folly of all this fighting and bickering that goes on in this troubled world. Above all I want you to know that I'm proud that I have a chance to do my part to make all of these things available to you. Again I'm proud you're my son! Don't let me down. Tell your teacher and all your friends hello for me. I miss you but soon we'll be together again. The time will pass soon." - CS1 James C Kline
Bernie,
I'm sorry I haven't been able to write to you sooner. They've been riding us hard over here. According to rumors among the camp, the colonel is worried that the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) is going to attack us, seeing as they haven't in a couple weeks and he feels that we're long overdue. Preparations are being made, most of which that I am involved with being the filling of sandbags for refortifying bunkers. I've already been on five patrols, after little more than a week with my unit. Stanely Klaiman,a man I travelled with on the plane over here, is also from Baltiomre and once we arrived here, we discovered that we're replacements in the same unit. The other men don't talk much about the guys we replaced, but I suppose they have their reasons.
Mom mentioned in her last letter that you got in a fight. I'm surprised at you. Last time I checked, I was the slightly oversensitive, prone-to-fight one. The only time you've ever gotten into a fight is when a boy at school mentioned something about Dad. Is that what it was this time? I don't know if you noticed, but Mom is worried about your behavior. She said that maybe, with me being over here and all, you're not handling yourself as well as you'd hoped. Well, let me tell you something, I'm coming home in a year. One year. And I'll be coming home in one piece. You and Mom will pick me up at the airport and we'll all go home. I know you've never liked the way that I sometimes "baby" you or act like a father towards you, but Bernie, I only do it so that you'll grow up into someone you, along with everyone else, can be proud of. I'm sorry if it ever felt otherwise.
Anyway, time for dinner and I wouldn't want to miss the slop they give us, so I'll say goodbye for now. And remember, Mom will tell me if you haven't been doing well in school. Ask Jack if you need any help. He told me he'd look after you.
Love,
John
P.S. Watch after Mom for me, and don't get into anymore fights. It breaks her heart to see you like that.
A/N: Just a reminder, John's father committed suicide when John was a kid. (Painless, s5)