Chapter – 8 ‘Letters for the Soldiers’
Three weeks went by with only two engagements with the enemy. The Major had been ordered to stay on the hill and provide the hedge, or a space that would keep the enemy from the main base camp, which was another twenty miles further south.
The troops were talking and finally Beaman asked, “Commander, what’s the deal with the enemy at this location. I heard there was fierce fighting fifty miles further north.” Captain Holt told Beaman and the others listening that the Major only knew what HQ was telling him. He continued, “The Major is sending out additional scouts tonight to see if the enemy is planning anything we need to know about.”
The reconnaissance troops returned at dawn; the word being spread was that there were less than fifty of the enemy left in the wooded area.
The next morning the helicopter landed and brought supplies. Several boxes and bags were stacked near the Majors tent. The cooks took a few boxes and then the satchel of mail was discovered. After several minutes of discussion the Major told Yosef he was designated as the mailman, “Sort the mail by platoons and make sure the men get the letters when they split up at mess-call tonight.” The Chaplin took the troop roster and sorted the mail into eight piles. He was surprised that he had letters from his grandpa and sister but would wait to open them with the last group of the evening.
Less than half of the soldiers had mail but then again, most had not expected any. There were a few chuckles as letters were read but also a few curse words could be heard by two of the soldiers. Yosef had heard that many a soldier had received a ‘dear john’ while away and wondered if that was the case. He thought, “A broken or wounded spirit could be very hurting to a soldier, who was already lonely.” He started to walk toward one of those who had cursed.
As he approached the soldier; the soldier saw the Chaplin coming. He dropped his eyes downward and a slight gasp slipped from his lips. Yosef could tell that he was one of the younger of the men and had just met an early disappointment in life. They talked for several minutes before the young man shed a tear and told the Chaplin that his girlfriend had found a new guy.
Valentine was within the vicinity and was about to open the three envelopes he had received when he overheard every word. He felt for the young man. Life was full of heartaches; he knew from experience but it hurt all the same.
He looked at the first envelope, something he wasn’t expecting, a note from Rach’s mom and it read, “Someday I want to tell you a story, maybe in a few years when I’m ready.” He turned the note over; it had been written on the back of a picture of Rachel and her mom, probably taken about the time she had been killed. Both were dark haired beauties only eighteen years apart in age.
The second letter to Valentine was from his mom; she and his dad sent him a note five or six times a year on special dates. He would get another one from her in two months when he turned twenty-nine. He wasn’t sure what the third letter was. It was from a geological company in the Middle East. He had finally completed his degree in engineering four months earlier, while stationed at his last base in Texas. This might be something to consider in a few months when his second hitch in the army would be completed.
The Chaplin saw Valentine reading and was about to leave when the eyebrows of Valentine raised slightly, looking in his direction. Yosef nodded and the sergeant nodded back. They talked awhile; then the wind gushed for a moment and the picture of Valentines blew toward Yosef. He quickly reached down and stopped it before it blew past him. He thought, “Wow, the younger of the two ladies looked a lot like his sister; there was something about the older of the two jogging his mind.” He could not recall who it was but he had seen the picture of her somewhere. He took a good look as he handed it toward Valentine and spoke, “Beautiful picture.” Valentines eyes glued to him for a moment, “My wife and her mom.”
The Chaplin walked away from the encounter baffled, “Who was that lady? Both of them looked Jewish to him; could they be?” He smiled as he thought that God knew [HE is all knowing] the answer to his question. Yosef walked toward the Majors tent to gather, for himself, some information on one of the soldiers. The file for Jaye Valentine was clean; just a dad and mom’s name with a residence listed as recipients for insurance benefits.
Meanwhile Valentine was starting a note to his mother-in-law. He told her that his eight years of military would be concluded soon; it was time for a change and he would be coming home for a short time prior to actually moving on to a new job. Eccl.3:3-4 He thanked her for the picture and then sealed the envelope. He wrote his mom and dad short notes as well and told of his plans and mailed it. His thoughts took him back to the times he was working the farm beside his grandad, which was his mom’s dad. It was hard work but at the end of the day there was a sense of peace; that is what he wanted again but how could he get it to happen? He determined to talk with the Chaplin soon about something that was constantly on his mind. Matthew 28:19
The next day there were over twenty letters ready to be sent the next time the helicopter arrived. Yosef wrote his twin sister, then a short note to his older brother Reuben, and one to his grandpa; then added the envelopes to the pile. He noticed the name of Mar’yam Shuster on an envelope being mailed to Pennsylvania so he wrote the name and address on a blank page of his notebook along with that of Valentines mom. He thought to himself, “Shuster is a name that his grandpa had spoken about on occasions; was there a coincidence?”
Attached scripture
Acts 2:23, this man [Jesus], delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of GOD, you nailed to a cross by godless men and put to death…… [God’s plan is a mystery in many ways]
Eccl. 3:3-4, 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
Matthew 28:19, 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [Christians, we are commanded to share the Gospel.]
DG