A letter from a KD soldier

[kddani]

The following is a letter sent by a KD who herself and her husband are currently serving our country, Heidi Stephens. She is from our Sigma Tau Chapter at Washington State University. This was passed on to me and other KDs by a chapter sister of Heidi's:


Family and Friends here are some of my thoughts...
I, being a soldier and "serving" in this war with my husband ever
more serving in this war, I ask that you do pass this along. Please pray for the soldiers, the POWs, and their friends and families.
Being over here and so close to what is really happening has put things into perspective for me. I am living in substandard living conditions. I have taken a shower 6 times in the last month. As I spend the 3rd month of my marriage to my wonderful husband one country separating us I ask of you
to keep praying. If you know a soldier pray for him or her by name
asking that God bless them with peace and that they are doing well.
Everyone here is on edge and all our nerves are exposed. So please pray that we can be so blessed and we just drive on and share God's love and peace.
I sit here and watch TV and see all these protests and Hollywood Producers and movie stars and teens and many others fighting against us. I know that they believe what they are doing is in favor of us soldiers but as we sit here in harms way FARTHER away from our lives and families than any of them could ever imagine we are growing more and more angry with these
protesters.
The right that they have to protest is defended by servicemembers giving up their rights, freedom, and unfortunately their lives. However they are "giving up" their lives. Nobody I know likes war. Not one of us over here.
However, we choose by raising our right hand to defend our country. Right now we are defending the world and for some reason nobody knows this. I heard on CNN that the guy who one the award the other night said (I paraphrase) That president Bush is sending "us" to fight this war.
However, this guy who is sitting on his academy award and millions of dollars has NOTHING to do with this war. He has no idea what it is like to get married and then within weeks be ripped apart from his spouse who is closer to battle than you wnat to think about and you are closer to battle than he wants to imagine. He has no idea what it is like to not have a hot meal in over 30 days. He has no idea what it is like to live in a
warehouse with no heat, lights amongst th e rats, birds and fungus growing on the walls. No he goes home to the
comfort of his home every night.
Us soldiers we knew what we were getting into. We don't need some millionaires or teenagers to try to get us out of
this. WE decided to defend our country. We didn't ask for your
help to get us out of this. WE don't need your help. WE are fully ready for anything that comes our way. We can carry more weight on our backs, freezing (or sweating) in the rain or sand. WE can move out and drive on working 7 days a week getting 4-5 hours of sleep and we can do this for the very rights all
the protesters take for granted. I sit here in the combat zone, i
sit here ready to defend and take offensive stance. To defend all the world from Terror. Remember September 11th. That is what we are fighting against.
The ones who don't know better claim we are here for OIL. Get
smart. Think about us, who are ready and willing to give up our lives. Service members don't lose their lives, we give them up for the rest of you americans who aren't supporting us but are protesting against us. We see you! WE see you all the way over here on CNN, just like you see us on CNN. I ask that you stop
protesting and start supporting us. Don't protest this war.
Support the troops. WE are not in here to kill innocent people, we are here to fight for what is right. If we can remember back to Sept 10th. There was no conflict, that is our goal. WE dont want our countrymen running out and getting tarps and bottled water so that they can survive if America is attacked, we need to eliminate the terrorists! WE are doing this for you!
Our President knows what he is doing. He also is a Christian and seeks the Lord for advice. Millions of people pray for him daily. I suggest instead of protesting, lets pray for our leaders, our troops and their family members.
One more point. Peace doesn't mean that there is no war. Peace is when we are not afraid to go to the shopping center. Peace is when there is no terror. For us to have Peace we MUST ELIMINATE the terrorists! So keep raising your fingers in peace, because that is what we are going to accomplish. People will die in this fight for peace, that is the way it works. However, we are defending the peace you long for! So Please allow us to work for peace and stop protesting. It really is a hard pill to swallow to see so many of you against this war.
In Gods Love I write this from one Combat Zone thousands of miles away from my husband in another combat zone. TAke the time to pray. Pray for us, our leaders, our country, our world, and for peace! God Bless all of you. Please pass this on so others know how a soldier feels.

Heidi Stephens
Captain, US ARMY