Letters from a Two-Front War

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Janis Ticer and her husband, Lew, parents of Marine Sgt. Clint Ticer, are quite familiar with wartime deployments. Lew served in the Marine Corps for 26 years, pulling two in-country tours in Vietnam and serving a third tour in the combat zone aboard a Navy ship. He retired as a sergeant major in 1992. Janis, a homemaker — “We never get to retire!” — said Clint is assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious assault ship Bataan. The Ticers also have two daughters, one of whom is married to a Marine captain.

Dear Clint,

Recently I received a letter from you with the word “Free” where the stamp should be, and my stomach flip-flopped while my heart fell. I have boxes of letters from your dad when he was in Vietnam with “Free” written in that corner. I hoped never to see one again.

This has been a difficult journey for me. It is entirely different having a son in a combat situation than it is having a husband in one. You are older (25) than your dad was on his first tour (22), but it doesn’t seem that way to me. Dad was an adult — you are my child. I was only 20 when Dad left for Vietnam and blissfully ignorant of the danger. We were young and therefore invincible. I know better now. Am I scared for you? You bet. But I also have great faith in God and in your training. Does anyone love the Marine Corps more than I do? I doubt it!

I looked once more at that envelope from you marked “Free” and realized that it meant something different to me now. All I saw during Vietnam was free postage. Now I see it as a symbol of our freedom as Americans. What a blessing!

So, son, you do your job as a sergeant in the Marine Corps and know that your mom is totally behind you. I love you and I’m so proud of you. You’re a wonderful son and a great Marine. To you, I say “Oorah!”

Be careful, God bless and Semper Fidelis.

Love,
Mom

      


    
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