Dear Dad
by Michael D. Brooks
Dear dad, today was my first full day of basic training. It’s totally different from back in your day. It’s a whole lot tougher. Revelry was at oh-500. They had us out in the parade grounds doing calisthenics, marching drills, and a bunch of other things I’m sure you’re familiar with. We didn’t get to go to chow until oh-800. The rest of the day was spent doing drills, filling out paperwork, and a bunch of other little things. I’ll write again when I get the chance. Give my love to mom. Joey.
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Dear dad, we’re halfway through basic and I’ve made company leader. There’s a lot of work involved in being a leader. It took a lot of getting used to, but I’m finally able to give orders without any second thoughts or regrets. I think I could get to like this job. Tell mom the cookies were delicious. Shared them with everybody in my company. They said send more. Love to you and mom. Joe.
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Dear dad, graduation is just a week away. I really do hope that you and mom are able to make it. It would really mean a lot to me to have both of you there. But if you’re not able to make it, I understand. I’m not sure where we’ll be going after graduation, but scuttlebutt has it that the company is shipping out the day after graduation. We might be headed into combat. Tell mom not to worry. I’ll be fine. Love, Joe.
* * *
Dear dad, it was good seeing you and mom. I’m glad you made it to graduation. We arrived at our destination. Unfortunately, because of security reasons, I can’t tell you where. I can tell you it’s friggin hot here. We arrived at a base smack dab in the middle of nowhere. You know you’re in a war zone because there’s gunfire all around. Day and night. The men and women who come from tough city neighborhoods have been joking about how gunfire makes them feel right at home. Tomorrow we get our assignments. All of us green recruits are going to be stuck with units that have been in the field. Love you. Joe.
* * *
Dear dad, I’m exhausted. Totally worn out. Sorry it’s been so long since I last wrote, but I’ve been very busy here. I’ve been assigned to a unit whose job is to go house-to-house and door-to-door looking for insurgents. Anyone and anything that might help turn the tide in this damn war. Yesterday two of my buddies I went through boot camp with were taken out by snipers. It was the first time I’ve actually seen somebody get killed. It’s not a pretty sight. Most of the time here we’re shooting at things we can’t see. Sorry, got to go, the base is under attack. I’ll write when it’s over. Love you.
* * *
Dear dad, whoever said war is hell didn’t know what they were talking about. If there’s a place worse than hell, this place is it. The base sustained heavy damage and heavy casualties. It felt like they hit us with everything they had. Artillery was coming in from every direction. And again we were shooting back at things we just couldn’t see. It’s friggin frustrating. We had to call in an air strike. They bombed the hell out of a 1-mile radius around the base. They either got their targets or the targets slipped away. In any case we are trying to pick up the pieces and get back to normal around here. Later.
* * *
Dear dad, I sure wish you and mom had a computer. It’s gotten so busy around here that writing a letter just takes up too much time. I’ve been in touch with Sheila. She’s going to see what she can do about getting you guys a computer and showing you how to use it. Take care.
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Hey, dad. It was great to get that e-mail from you. Welcome to the 21st century. That was like way cool. Sis really came through. So how goes it? Tell mom she needs to work on her net lingo. And as usual, the cookies were delicious. ttyl (That’s net speak for Talk To You Later).
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Hey, dad. How’s everything with you and mom? Things suck big time here. They keep telling us that the end is near and that we’ll be going home soon. But I don’t believe a word of it and neither does anybody else. It’s almost like waiting for the other shoe to drop. We know that something big is about to go down. We just don’t know what yet. Tell mom not to worry. If the rumors are true, I should be home soon. ttyl
* * *
Well, guess what dad? My tour has been extended for another six months. Looks like my little visit with you is going to be postponed. That’s just friggin great.
* * *
Hey, dad. Something big is going down. They won’t tell us what, but everybody knows that it’s something big. The tension is so thick in the air around here you can cut it with a knife. We’re getting ready to mount up so I have to go. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. Love to you and mom.
* * *
Dad, you saw action. How the hell did you do it? How the hell did you get used to seeing your friends dying all around you?
Today was the worst. My unit was on patrol when we came under attack. One minute my CO is standing next to me and I’m wearing his guts the next. He stepped on a friggin mine right next to me trying to take cover. I hate this place.
* * *
Dad, I finally got some R&R. Took a mortar round to get it.
I got a purple heart like you did. Tell mom not to get too upset when she sees me. I might not have everything I left home with, but I’m still her little Joey. See you when I get home. Love, Joey.
Copyright © 2009 by Michael D. Brooks
