Letters From Home

Letters From Home'Mail Delivers Emotion'

    As we have studied and watched different war stories throughout the semester, we have seen many different viewpoints on how things are overseas and back home.  The different angles that we have seen have provided us with various opinions of war and soldiers.  One thing that has been constant, however, is the fact that a soldier in any era goes through trials and struggles during his term of service.  One song that always reminds me of this is “Letters From Home” by John Michael Montgomery.  This is a song of a soldier overseas receiving letters and explaining how much those letters mean to him.  What do these soldiers really feel when they receive these letters?  Realistically, we would think that these soldiers feel very happy when they receive letters from home, but is this how they really feel?

    I believe that many soldiers feel uplifted when they get letters from loved ones.  Hearing from them probably gives them a reminder of why they are fighting.  Wives make it known to their husband how much they miss them and love them. PArents make it known to their sons how proud they are of them.  These letters can make you feel better about your duties and job.  What about the ones that don’t have anyone to send them letters?  We think that all soldiers have a strong family connection back in the states, but this is not true.  Not all soldiers have someone that they can Facetime three days a week and talk on the phone too.  Soldiers with families have an extra backbone helping them withstand the pressures of war during their time of leave.  The ones with no family are facing some of the world’s toughest challenges with no one assisting them besides the men fighting with them.  Their fellow soldiers offer some great support, but they just can’t offer the love and affection sent from home.

    I believe that some soldiers would also feel very upset for leaving the states when they receive letters.  A father might only get to tell his daughter happy birthday through a letter if he is in a very remote place.  A father might break down when he realizes he missed his sons first touchdown.  Can you imagine receiving a letter that said one of your high school best friends had passed away when you were three thousand miles away?  I would feel so hopeless and hate myself for not being in town to be with my friends and family while mourning the death of a friend.

    All-in-all, letters from home can carry a variety of emotions with them.  Some letters will of course be happy and joyous, but we need to realize that not all letters are covered in stickers and glitter.  Some letters are covered with blood and remorse.  As if everything that happens on the battlefield isn’t tough enough on them already, they then have to deal with all the things happening back in the states with their familes or lack thereof.  This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘fighting a battle on two fronts.”Sending home kisses