ABSTRACT
The stories shared by survivors are from actual OIF/OEF surviving families and service members. The author had obtained permission from each individual survivor interviewed to quote him or her directly. Each wanted their personal names and names of their deceased service member to be shared in this chapter. They all strongly believed it would honor their grief and their service member’s life. However, it was determined that, even though consent was provided, it was in the best interest of survivors to remove their names. Pseudonyms were used in place of survivor and service member names.
My dear Sir and Madam, In the untimely loss of your noble son, our affliction here is scarcely less than your own. So much of promised usefulness to one’s country, and of bright hopes for one’s self and friends, have rarely been so suddenly dashed, as in his fall … In the hope that it may be no intrusion upon the sacredness of your sorrow, I have ventured to address you this tribute to the memory of my young friend, and your brave and early fallen child. May God give you that consolation which is beyond all earthly power.
Sincerely your friend in a common affliction,
Abraham Lincoln (May 25, 1861), 16th President of the United States Letter to Ephraim D. and Phoebe Ellsworth, Mother and Father of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, United States of America, Union Army, died at 24 years old.