By God, they sent us over here to kill Communists and that's what we're doing. -Harold Moore, Jr, US Army
John,
I'm glad to hear all is well. You were right, your mother says 'thank you' entirely too often. I've told her almost as many times not to worry about it, I don't mind, we're family, but she doesn't listen. And I thought your father was stubborn. Of course, it seems as if you're younger brother has inherited that particular trait. After getting into a fight (his second, your mother tells me), he refuses to tell anyone why or with whom. Perhaps if you write him, he'll let you in on his secret. Your mother says he's told you once before. He really looks up to you. I've noticed it before, but now that I'm living with him, it's all the more apparent.
Despite you being in harm's way all the time, I'd say they're managing very well. Your mother comes from work everyday and makes dinner. The only times I've seen her worrying about you (without actually saying anything to me) is when she calls Bernie to dinner. She holds onto the door frame (the one between the living room and kitchen) and calls up the stairs, then stands a few seconds, still looking up, but I can feel it's not because she's waiting for Bernie. She's waiting for you. And Bernie, well, he's Bernie. Only time he gets visibly upset is when your mother won't let him watch the evening news. She's afraid of seeing you dead before she even gets the news from an Army official. And if she's scared of something, you know she won't let Bernie near it. He's been getting real angry over that. I've tried talking to your mother, but stubbornness just runs in our family it seems. Maybe I'll catch her by surprise.
John, if there's one thing I learned living through two wars, it's believing you're going to make it out is going to get you out. Now, somehow, that let your father and I survive concentration camps, and your mother and her father survive too. Let me survive fighting in Korea, along with a couple good friends of mine. You have to believe. If you don't believe you're going to come home, you're not. Last time I checked, you have a real nice home to come to, a mother, a brother. If you want to be strong for them, believe.
Believe, John.
Love,
Uncle Jake