Dear Rob,

I know you’re in need of mail, so I’m writing you yet again. I know my last few letters haven’t been all that positive, but you said you wanted to know what was going on back home. It feels so strange to be writing to you in some far-off land. I thought I’d be the first to deploy and see the world. But I’m here at home, guarding America with my nuclear missiles, while you are off defending us from afar.

I know this may sound corny, but I want to say thanks. I know getting deployed wasn’t the first thing in your head when you took that oath, but you’ve done it without complaint. If there were any way I could take your place and send you back home to Erin, I would do it without hesitation. We’ve become brothers thrice over — once with our friendship, again with your marriage, and finally with our commitment to this country. I just want you to know that there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, brother.

I hope this journey you’re on doesn’t dissuade you from the positive outlook you had during those last few weeks at Officer Training School. You survived that. You’ll survive this.

Joe