ARMY NURSE

As I sit and reread some of the touching letters I received from the recipients of my care packages, there are so many that stand out for one reason or another.   The sharing of their personal stories, their war stories, their day to day life in a war zone or close to one, from all branches of the Armed Forces that I shipped to, from 2003 to the present.   I don't recall how I got the contact information to ship to this location, but what a blessing that we connected.

One very special soldier's letters stood out because she shared the horror of what she saw as an ICU nurse in a CSH (Command Support Hospital), specifically the 67th CSH.    Her first letter to me was a simple thank you note for the package she never expected.   As the packages continued and her letters as well, she shared with me her life back home and  her deployments.  Sgt. Laura Baker was her name and she hailed from Texas.   In 2004 she had been in the Army for five years.  She had been in Iraq for just three months with fourteen more to go and this was her third deployment.   Laura was a single mom and her 16 year old daughter was living with Laura's parents in Arizona while she was deployed.  

She always started each letter telling me how much everyone at the CSH looked forward to the care packages, how each had a favorite snack and hers were the trail mix that I always included just for her.   She always stated how proud she was to be an American serving in our military, how proud she was to show the Iraqis how kind and caring we Americans are.  She was a Godly woman who had great faith in the Lord and wanted others to benefit from that faith through her kindness, often giving them some of the contents of the care packages.

She spoke of the daily deaths, how hard it was to have our troops die in her arms, and how she "would never complain about a pimple on my face when I've seen a man with no face or head".   As disturbing as this was to read, I knew it was my honor to be here for her to tell of these horrors.   Her perspective had been altered by her experiences on the front lines, as is true for all who serve in those circumstances.   She spoke of bombs going off all around them daily.   The rush of wounded coming in.  

Then in the next paragraph she would write lovingly about her precious daughter whom she missed terribly.  Her plans were to come home and take a short cruise together, just the two of them, to "dump all these nightmares and refresh with happy memories."    Many of her junior soldiers would get their leaves first she explained,  but they did take that cruise.     While Laura was home we had our first phone conversation and it was as if we were old friends.  She was full of life and love and so thankful to be there with her daughter.  Then there was the difficult separation as Mom went back to Iraq.   While she was overseas I spoke to Laura's mom Loretta an rare occasions and learned where Laura got her beautiful and caring personality.

Time passed.....the numbers of casualties and injured became less and the hot months wore on.  Then it was time to come home.  I did get a great big 'thank you' from all those who worked with Laura at the hospital.   She was back in Texas with her daughter and settled into a new life and work at the hospital there.   Somehow we lost touch after a few years.  Until last night when I found her mom's phone number.   I was compelled to call to learn how Miss Laura was doing after not speaking to her for so long.  Sadly Loretta told me that last year Laura went home to be with the Lord.    Her once teenage daughter is now in her twenties and about to have a baby of her own.  

When I tell you that I have memories that I will cherish all the days of my life....I mean it sincerely.   There will be many stories that come out of my beloved thank you letters.   Some of the authors of those letters are still friends, most were just wartime friendships.  I will attempt to find some of those old friends and bring their lives up to date......the successes, the struggles.....how their lives have evolved since they served in combat and came home, some whole, some broken, but all special troops whose paths crossed mine at a time when God meant for me to be there for them.