All grammatical errors and spelling mistakes are intentional to make things feel more "authentic." I do not own anything from Saving Private Ryan. Thank you.

18 February 1943

Camp Forrest, Tullahoma, TN

Dear Sis,

I'm sorry this will take so long to get to you. They only collect mail once a week and I didn't have time to sit down and write yesterday. This won't see any kind of mailbag until next Wednesday. I feel bad but things are starting to pick up around here. Not that it's too hard for me, it's just they keep us so busy. Which I guess they're tryin to get us used to, seeing as how it ain't boy scout camp, after all.

Don't tell Tommy but I don't always read all the comic strips he sends me. It ain't that I don't appreciate what he's doing, I just ain't got the time. Any minute you get around here where you don't have a sergeant yellin at you to do some thing or other, which is pretty much always, you're either sleeping, eating, or writing home. Dick and Junior just can't hold a candle to you, Mama, Daddy, and Tommy. But I like that he thinks enough of me to share his favorite things with me, so I ain't gonna tell him to quit. Let me guess, adorable, right?

I'll have you know that I wrote Pastor Johnson for permission to write Mary but I ain't heard back yet. I didn't have the time or mind to do it before I left. But he's a busy man havin to drive all over kingdom come taking care of everyone, so I'm tryin not to get too antsy about it.

I couldn't pretend to you even if I wanted to. I don't think it's a secret to anyone in town that Mary and I like each other. Me and her talked awhile back. I told her I was enlisting, and we both agreed that after this whole thing's over and I'm back we want to go steady. I'm surprised she ain't told you that yet. She didn't want to wait that long, told me she'd wait for me, but I couldn't do that to her. Not tryin to be concerning or anything but if the worst happens, I don't want her to have to be one of those girls who lost her man in a war. Maybe that don't make much sense to anyone else but it does to me. So how is she? Tell her I miss her and I hope she's well.

How are you doin in school? You best be sticking to it, you're the smartest person I know. (Don't tell Mama or Daddy I said that.) Do you still want to be a teacher? I remember when we were kids you always used to make me play pupil and "teach" me about all our wooden animals Gramps made for us. You sure are still bossy enough! But hell, I miss it. And that's the truth.

I love you, Bon. Keep those letters comin, they're the best thing here.

Your brother,

Danny

March 2, 1943

Cedar Hill, TN

Dear Danny,

Bossy, huh? I seem to recall you telling me, and I quote, "It's up to you, Bon," all the time. Seems to me I'm the one following orders, not giving them. Curious.

Funny enough, Mary and her parents came around for supper and coffee the day before I got your last letter and she told me everything you did. I can't say as I'd have done the same thing y'all did, but I do see where you're coming from. The two of you are a lot stronger than me, that's for darn sure! Oh, and I'm pretty sure I heard Pastor Johnson talking to Daddy about you and what you wrote him about. I'd expect a response sometime soon if I were you. I don't know who will be able to tell me first, you or Mary, so keep me in the loop, will you?

Mary is just fine. She'll be graduating later this month and she wants to start shadowing Mrs. Davies at the primary school to work as a kindergarten teacher. She'd be so great at it, don't you think? She asked me to tell you she misses you, too, and she prays for you every night. We all do.

I'm not so sure I want to be a teacher anymore, though. My science and anatomy classes have really caught my interest this year. What would you say if I told you I thought I'd like to maybe be a nurse? Well, I still have a whole year of high school left. That leaves plenty of time for me to change my mind about a hundred more times or so. Boy, do I ever hate having to wait at least a week for your advice. I've just been so used to getting it in seconds whether I asked for it or not. Hurry up and come home, will you, so I can go back to shooing you away from my flowers and back to your own during out gardening sessions.

I hope you're taking care of yourself, Danny. If you need to wait on writing to me so you can get to sleep, do it! Your health is so much more important than me getting a letter every week. I love you and miss you and love hearing from you, but I care more about you getting enough time for yourself. Understand? Don't make me come down there and force you to rest. You know I'll do it and we'll both look completely ridiculous.

I'll let you go now, Danny, but remember what I said. I love you. God is with you always.

Love from your sister,

Bonnie