Letters

The magazine arrived in today's mail. I can't tell you how touched I am by your close attention to sending the magazine to me. It shall remain one of my most treasured possessions and will have a place of honor in my collection of military writings and stories. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I cannot wait to show it to my children and see what they think of their father being published in a Russian magazine. I, myself am quite proud.

I became a soldier when I was 19 years old. My experiences in combat and my later career in the US Army spanned two decades. When I retired I was a US Army Captain who had spent his life up to that time training to fight the Russian Army. My first tour in Vietnam my closest friend and my fellow crew member was a wonderful guy named Dennis Telischak a Russian American. I have never met a finer humane being than Dennis. A brave and compassionate man who later became my best friend for life. He was my best man at my wedding. He is the Godfather to my sons and he saved my life on many occasions. The anger soldiers hold in their hearts must come out at some point in life. I am a lucky man who salutes my former enemies and holds a special place in my heart for them. My health is not good today. I was shot down in Vietnam six times and wounded four times. I have my military retirement and a veteran's pension. I can only hope and pray that those Russian Soldiers who served their Country have a pension for their service.