How odd and unpredictable are individuals men's destinies. One dies. One lives. A third observes each and writes about both. How long will the snuffing out of a life live in my memory? The taking of that life for no sensible reason, what will its aftereffect be? Will it change who I am? -Lt James Michener
Uncle Jake,
It's a comfort to know they're getting along all right. Sometimes, I can't be sure and it's nice to know you're watching over them while I can't. I've written Mom and told her I think she should let Bernie watch the news, and hopefully she'll listen. Stubborness does seem to run in the family, but it's not always a particularly bad thing. I've also written Bernie and I suspect I know why he got into a second fight, and if it's for the same reason as the first... he was well justified and whoever he fought deserved it. I don't agree with the fact that he got into a fight, but like I said, if it's for the same reason as last time... well, it may not be the right thing to do, but it wasn't without reason.
It amazes me, and consequently surprises me, that after only a couple months in country, I'm so strongly against violence that I fear what I'll do the next time we make contact. The past weeks have seen me become fast friends with the men in my unit and along with it the wartime brotherhood bond of soldiers, especially in battle but... I don't want to have someone's blood on my hands. It's not my mistake to bear, therefore I should come away with clean hands but I don't think I will. Did you feel the same way in Korea? Maybe not, seeing as Americans accepted that war. It's just that I think this whole thing is wrong. I think, if communism actually worked and not just in theory, that I wouldn't mind communism spreading to the World. Since it doesn't though, I suppose I shall have to live, and maybe die, fighting it and its spreading. If only there were a better way. Two months here and I've seen a friend shot and another blown to pieces. A unit has been decimated in combat. Guys I ate with, now dead. Good guys. I can only wonder how I will feel after another ten months here.
If you don't hear from me in a while, it means we're out humping. Word around camp is a company "outing." Makes it seem like a picnic. Never underestimate the ability of the Army to make war sound like a walk in the park.
Love,
John