I am not great in any way, but am suited to write to you because I have great feeling for you, the soldier. I am the daughter of a navy man. He and his two brothers fought in World War II, and my father and his younger brother survived Pearl Harbor. My dad was in the signal tower and saw the planes coming in: he could not believe it because they had the rising sun pictured on their surfaces. My uncle was in the Arizona which took a direct hit and is now a monument in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii. He was one of about fifty men who escaped from a crew of about two thousand. He swam through burning oil with his shoes on, because he had forgotten to take them off. When he would come up for air, he was shot at from low flying planes overhead. Fortunately, he reached a promitory in the land and lifted himself ashore. His parents were praying for Him, and those prayers must have been heard in very high places.

When my dad saw the Arizona go under, he believed his brother to be dead. They were reunited two days later. My mother was in the city of Honolulu and is one of the few who have seen the United States bombed on their own soil.She was sleeping behind the black-out curtains they all used on their apartment windows, and she woke up to the announcement blaring on radio's through the streets: "The Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor". She ran outside and looked toward the harbor to see billowing black smoke coming up in huge quantities. She worked at the local soda fountain, and many of the sailors left their roller skates there after having a night out. Many skates were left there never to be picked up again. My dad and his brothers felt that these men who didn't come back were the real heroes, and my family didn't seek any fame.

My father and his brother helped to bury the dead in the volcano overlooking Waikiki Beach, which is a dead volcano and is shown in many of the postcards of that area. The inner graveyard is also known as "The Punch Bowl". My mother was evacuated shortly after, because she was pregnant with my older sister. Everyone on the islands thought the Japanese would immediately return to take control of the islands, but, for some reason, they did not return. My mother left the islands on a large cruiser which carried mostly women and children. She was pregnant so she joined many other women who threw up their meals over the railings.

I told you this story to let you know what I grew up with: that is, many many stories about my father and his brothers' battles in the Pacific. I know the terms are dated but you probably relate to the subject matter. I'm so thankful to Dad for all the wonderful stories and friendships we gained from his military service. Occasionally, Dad would bring home sailors, who were alone for the holidays,for a well- cooked meal and celebration. I remember the sailors as being perfect gentlemen and looking around at our family with such thankfulness

Since I have become an adult, which was a while ago, I have become a writer myself and I enjoy being a part of the Ezine family, where you have found this article. Dad's story telling was the beginning of my training as a communicator. There are so many things I could thank Dad and yourself for: above all, for keeping me safe from the enemy. I know what it would have cost us if we had lost World War II, and what our way of life would be if we had not fought the wars since then. My Dad's division was due to arrive in Japan next, before the atomic bombs, and he said they would have lost half of the Americans on mainland Japan. One of them could have been my dad, and I wouldn't have been born. Even though my second cousin's husband was killed in Korea, I'm still eternally grateful for your protection.

I don't like controversy; I feel just as bad for the Japanese who lost family members. War is unbelievably cruel. But I believe it is necessary for self protection and preservation. Whether World War II was necessary is probably still debatable somewhere, by somebody, but I hope I don't have to listen to him/her. And after the initial decision is made to fight in a war, somebody has to fight in it.I can't imagine anybody who really likes war, but people like my dad were willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us who have the option of sitting home and debating the subject. I'm not capable of making decisions that affect entire societies, and I'm glad I'm not the one who has to make these decisions. Again, in many cases, somebody has to decide and usually, in a democracy, it's a large group of people who decide on such matters.

I have done some thinking about the military and formed some opinions about you.; First of all, I don't like to refer to you as "troops" because this is too impersonal. You are husbands, brothers and fathers, and you are my friends. As soon as you put on a uniform, I respect and admire you. I am descended from people who probably fought in the Revolutionary and Civil War, and I admire my ancestors just as much. I don't worship them, as they might be worshipped in "ancestor-worship" religions of the world, but I respect and admire their strength and courage. How could anyone not feel the same way?

Sure, controversy circulates around the wars, politics and economics, but controversy needn't touch the soldier. Once he joins the military, he becomes a member of an elite force that is brave where others fail. No, I don't believe that a soldier can die and automatically have everything that he wants in life, as some religions believe. And I don't believe that his family should be promised great riches if they have a member who dies in the service. I am a Bible believing Christian and I do believe that God gives special blessings to the soldier. Look at King David in the Bible: though many times his burdens seemed impossible, God bailed him out for a glorious future. All he had to do was seek God's guidance and attempt to follow His direction.

This is what all of us have to do for our salvation: to try to follow God's will and seek His help. God is not a stern task master ready to crack the whip for any violation we might incur. He does not have an impossibly narrow path for us that, if deviated from, means that we are forever condemned. No, God is a loving Father who will guide us every step of the way toward the general direction we need to go. For we have free will, and if we deviate very far, we won't be able to hear his voice very clearly. This state of affairs is the truth for everyone, soldier or not.

But, because the soldier is so often put in such imminent danger, God's hand reaches far to protect and assure. For any fear the soldier might have, God is able to take it away completely if he will only follow God's will and do what's in front of him to do. Anybody could face disaster anytime, so the times when God will speak His commands loudly and clearly, are the times when we most need him. A plane could crash, a car could twist out of control: what could happen next? Even young people have heart attacks or are shot in a drive-by shooting. There are no guarantee's for any of us and most of us choose not to think of the worst possibilities. This is protective, selective thinking. Life is a reality show in which we are our own appreciative audience, with consciences penetrated by the spirit.

If you should come close to disaster, God will be there in His own special way with his own special words. I am not here to preach or to teach, but to tell you He is a marvellous God who has an indescribable way to talk to each individual. You will receive your message when you most need it. All of us here at home are with you, for none of us knows the future but, as a believer, I know my future will be incomparably wonderful if I follow the Bible's guidelines. The Bible has helped me through years of alcoholism and rheumatism: I suffer from fibromyalgia, a rare form of arthritis. I just keep exercising and watching my diet and I'm nearly seventy years old. I also have many supportive friends and a good church service for added encouragement.

To me, "agape" love, or friendship love is the highest form of love. I remain your friend, Donna.