To Soldiers

Dear American Soldiers,

Thank you. I know you don't want to be there; whichever particular 'there' you happen to be stuck in. I know you miss your families. We miss you, too.

What you are doing is important. It might not seem important. But the short-term and long-term interests of this country require petty despots and violent villians to cease their evil ways.

What you are doing is more than fighting. Hopefully, eventually, your work will create peace and order in troubled places. But the people there are not accustomed to peace and order. And they won't take to it easily. And the old forces of tyranny aren't going to quit. You are going to have to kill a whole lot of bad guys before peace and order can break out.

It is more complicated than just killing bad guys. It isn't like there is a limited supply of bad guys, and you get to come home when you kill them all. You have to convince the local people there that you really are working and fighting for them. That is something that soldiers don't normally have to do. Of course it makes the whole situation even more dangerous for you.

What you are doing is more than getting shot at. You are keeping the fighting 'over there'. Being a target isn't easy and it isn't safe. Many of you are getting wounded. Some of you are getting killed. But if it wasn't you, if you weren't there, then it would be a whole lot more of us getting wounded and being killed over here. You are heroically risking your lives to protect ours.

Not everyone here agrees that you should be there. Not everyone here agrees with the orders you have been given, or the people who are giving the orders. Isn't that the nature of America? Please don't ever get discouraged and think our bickering indicates that you have anything less than all our love and support.

We are all praying that you stay safe, and that you are able to come home whole and healthy soon.

-a friend