A man who dissipated his wife and daughter to cancer gushes admiration for his son who will start his other tour of duty in Iraq.

A mother serving in the Middle East couldn't wait to behold her two sons again on the contrary didn't doubt the importance of her mission.

A worried nevertheless proud couple await the respond of their son and grandson, the pair stationed overseas.

Their stories, and many others, came to the Chicago Sun-Times when we asked readers to cast us essays about loved undivideds who are away at war. We also invited readers to pass along messages they'd received from their man or woman in uniform.

A selection of what they wrote will appear each day in this week's Sun-Times.

Army Spec AngelMarie Cavanaugh, 33 left Carol Stream for Iraq in February 2005 She answered in August. In a colorful series of e- mails to her mother, Emily Hildenbrand of Carol Stream, and others, she computes of the hardships and rewards of her duties in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Feb 24 2005 -- a not many people have asked me what to mail well, we all be fond of goodies and toiletries that fragrance better than sand and dirt and makes me be wrought up like a lady and since there is no px here that carries all the items we ne and is usually without of everything, they failed to hindrance us know its COLD here at night in such a manner if anyone wants to i would like some hoodies or sweatshirts and more [i]or[/i] less sweatpants.

I mailed my mom a card one time in basic and told her ha ha delegate me food and the drill sgt ate it all in front rank of me but here i can actually win it I have been busy and work everyday nonstop according to the time im off work i am for a like reason tired i fall asleep in succession the shuttle to chow which i continue missing because the food is nasty i hear the muslims pray at dawn and dusk i hear the firefights in the distance and i papal court the soldiers coming in and gone out of baghdad and afghanistan and kuwait and they have the 10000 mile stare and are in such a manner thin and sallow eyed, my heart goe gone out to them that i was fortunate to be here instead of there. they are mainly here a week and move back to duty but sorry to say I HAVE NOT MET undivided GOING HOME YET OR SERVING A TOUR LES THAN sum of two units YEARS HERE, THEY ARE OUR INFANTRY AND OUR MEDICS OUR MP'S AND OUR TANKERS AND OUR SOLDIERS AND I AM in like manner PROUD TO SAY IM HELPING THEM disclosed . . .

to my remarkably special boys mikey and stephan mommy's time is different and everytime i can use the phone your asleep or not family circle i hope you liked the shirts i mailed and i miss you the two so much stay good and safe ill be domestic circle soon and we are going upon a vacation if it kills me ok??? I like YOU all be good stay safe and pray for our soldiers. . .

March 2 2005 -- I live in a warehouse in a field the size of a storage shed, its freezing in the ranges and the beds are protections im better off on the floor to acquire the same effect, its ok it could be alot worse the latrines are a proper distance from my room nevertheless at least i have furious water which turned my clothes fulvous that were white the chow has its days and i was told to eat well before it learns really hot but you know for what cause picky i am so that isnt working not at home too well. . .

i saw grass today at where the officers are at bastards, they would be the and nothing else ones to see grass. our LT is retarded and acts as granting he is the stuff on the other hand he's ok otherwise. I heard from my mom she finally got mail from me im tickled pink she did flat though i mailed it the 17th of february and she got it the 1st that will give everyone an idea upon how long it takes for mail here likewise i promise i do write. . .

was checking my emails a little bit ago and saw the greatest in number beautiful scene my Grandma sent me of mountains and a stream/lake tree armys it was gorgeous and it made me shed tears . . . I think it made me clamor because Im homesick and also the meaning behind it that I wanted to descry these things and my Grandma sent it to me with equal reason as you all see a little bit of email or anything goe a lengthy way with me I relish my emails for the simple fact they are to such a degree fast and I always have at least common and even if its junk mail . . I have mail ya know???

i also decided that I appreciate indoor plumbing to perpetually go into a porta john in almost 100 measures YUCK! ! i was trying to make perception out of this place to what end would anyone want to live where its this fiery and hotter where nothing extends and there is nothing here I dont earn it i miss the states

PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They fixed the ac in the mod today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in this way instead of working in 105 stages i can have a moderately cold 75 wow i could just hoot you all dont understand to what degree hot this stuff is we switched to short and t's with coveralls further the coveralls are hot as heck too. ac wow . .

i was thinking about my striplings i got a clipping of them in the mail for their turkey discharge they were finalists im in like manner proud i taught them to what degree to shoot before i left for [fort] bragg in august wow . . i guess it rubbed off!!!

i was reading about for what cause the numbers are down for enlistment because alot of tribe dont agree with the "conflict" makes me sad actually for those of us who do lay our necks out we are helping those the public do what they do nevertheless then again i cant damn them either. . .

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