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WWII: Sacrifice

War letters carry feelings home

When facing challenges of a lifetime, some things need to be put in writing

By ANDREW CARROLL
Published August 28, 2005

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Letters home have been a part of every war. By the time of the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, American and coalition troops had at their disposal more ways to communicate with the home front than any other generation of combatants. Although not everyone had access to the technology in all parts of the region, many troops could make satellite phone calls or send e-mails, text messages, faxes and audio and DVD recordings to their loved ones. These transmissions let anxious family members and friends know almost instantaneously that their serviceman or woman was alive and well. But when an especially intimate or personal message needed to be shared, many troops sat down with pen and paper and handwrote an actual letter they would later mail - or, in the event of a worst-case scenario, had instructed a buddy to do so on their behalf. In early March 2002, coalition forces began to gear up for Operation Anaconda, a major assault on Taliban and al-Qaida strongholds in the mountains of Afghanistan. Josh Harapko, a 23-year-old sergeant and platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division, rarely sent letters to his mother back in Arizona or opened up much about his feelings under any circumstances. But with great care, Harapko neatly handwrote the following letter to his mom before advancing into what would be one of the worst firefights of the Afghan campaign. Josh's words about sacrifice echo those of generations of soldiers and sailors.

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Dear Mom,

I'm writing this letter before I leave. I couldn't say what I wanted to over the phone.

First I want to say I love you so much. You were always there for me even though I would never talk about my problems. Second you gave me the options to be a man giving me slack in the rope to try to make the right decisions. No matter what you always believed in me, no matter how much of a punk I was to you.

We are leaving for Bahgram to flush out 600 Taliban soldiers from the mountains. This is the biggest battle of the war on terrorism. We already sustained 30 casualties and one KIA. I never thought war was fun. It's hard to see all the guys who were shot or wounded and to know you're going right back in there.

I thought you should know where I am. I don't want you to worry about me. (I know you will cause I'm your son). Mom I'm not afraid to die for something that is right. I'm more scared of being wounded like most of these guys and not being able to walk again. I just hope that I made you proud, and if I don't come home for any reason I just want you to know I'll always be with you.

Really you shouldn't worry though. My guardian angel (Peg) is with me. I didn't get ahold of Sean, but please tell him I love him. I remember when I used to tell him to stop acting like my Dad. Well tell him I really respect him for that. I wish I could have told him myself. I wish we could have hung out together more and I regret not being able to. I want you to know you raised the cream of the crop. I haven't been able to contact Heidi so please tell her I love her so much. I'm so proud of her. I want her to know that. I wish I wasn't such a brat when she was around. These are just some things I needed to justify before we move out.

Tell Aunt Kathy my prayers are with her and Uncle Joe. Tell Nikki I hope to be there for her wedding. Tell Aunt Barb and Uncle Kevin I love them. The same to Aunt Sharon and the kids and Uncle Bob. If you go to Steve's graduation tell him how proud I am of him. For Lauren tell her I liked hanging out with her and her roommates. Also good luck and congratulations. To Marcie and Dave you were just like a blood brother and sister and I love them like family, and to little Jake happy birthday.

Well Mom I have to go now, all that I have said here are words from my heart and I mean every last one of them. Tell Aunt Joyce I said hi and I love her. I hope to see you soon but if that doesn't work out I just needed you to know how I felt. I Love you and Miss you.

Take care your always in my thoughts.

Your Loving Son Josh.

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EPILOGUE: Harapko survived Operation Anaconda and returned to the states alive and well. In a terrible irony, however, he and 10 other soldiers died one year later on March 11, 2003, when the Black Hawk helicopter they were flying in crashed during a routine training mission at Fort Drum, N.Y. About 28,000 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan.

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 11:40:03]