Monday I sent my brother back to you and in a few days you’ll ship him out for a 100 day tour (at least) to Afghanistan. I want you to know that I’m trusting you with not only a smart and brave young man, but one of my best friends as well. I want you to know what I’m sending you, and how important it is to me. I know this is what he signed up for but now that he’s more than 17 hours away BY CAR, it feels more real. I know this is also what we signed up for when we sent him down for boot camp, but again it’s more real now that he’s being shipped out.
I know you’ve done a great job of molding him into a smarter and even more amazing man that can handle anything thrown at him. I know he’s been training hard for this and while we’re all so scared of him being sent over, I know he’ll be able to handle anything coming his way. I just want to ask that you help keep him safe and make sure he comes home to us.
I know my (grand)Mother would be so proud of how close we’ve gotten as I remember a lot of my childhood arguing with him and how it was hard to believe that since we’re 8 years apart, that I’d ever have anything in common with him, but over the last 2 years we’ve really found our common ground and how we’re both so level headed and laid back. Of course in finding this he gets shipped to Georgia for boot camp, stationed in North Carolina, and now before I can get out there he is off to Afghanistan. He knows what his role is in the Military and I love hearing about it. I know he’ll be safe as well.
As far as I can remember he has ALWAYS wanted to be in the Army. My Grandpa was part of the Army, my other Grandpa was in the Army as well and I remember how my brother lit up when he’d talk about those days. At first we weren’t too worried because we figured he’ll probably change his mind, you know how kids are. But I quickly saw that wasn’t the case and while I am worried for him, he knows what he’s getting into and I couldn’t be prouder of him. Now my son is talking about being a solider and obviously I wouldn’t want him to do that unless it’s 110% what he wants. There isn’t much here in Northern Illinois, so I know that the Military will help take care of him and help us make him an amazing young man, just like my brother!
I miss you Bug and can’t wait for you to get home! We’re already working on our paper chain to countdown the days of you getting back to the USA!
Love,
