I was looking through some of my old
stuff the other day and found a letter
in my late grandfather sent to my
grandmother who also passed away
recently he sent it to her just before
he went off to the Korean War they ended
up living incredible lives together they
travelled the world they knew everything
about each other I mean they had the
perfect marriage I looked up to this man
more than I was ever able to tell him
and hope to be half as good as he was
this letter fundamentally changed my
outlook on life when I first read it
several years ago
so my hope is that maybe it will help
you in some way the beginning of the
letter is cut off so I'm going to start
where it starts on going to Korea my
grandfather wrote I cannot see that it
is too much to ask of me it is worth
giving a large measure of time to
perhaps one's life you cannot single out
the individual and say definitely it is
unfair that he has to go for there are
thousands of others who have gone and
will go I not any different from them I
would not want to be any exception it is
a job to be done and I'm going to give
it everything that I have to give no
matter what an individual does he always
has to face up to himself personally
that self of mine can be a tough guy at
times he did not let off in the easiest
way and I'm glad that he is that way if
you cannot or do not give everything to
what you were doing then is it really
worth doing at all there is one type of
individual that gets to me more than any
other I feel sorry for this kind of
person for he will never never change
his way let's call him Jo saver he was
in college I've seen him in the Marine
Corps and I'll see him again in civilian
life we might as well look at Jo in
college for he was much the same in his
childhood in college Jo never really
worked that hard
why should he study not much sense in
that for he will get by with passing
grades and graduate all the same he
isn't too interested in the work and
doesn't make too much difference now he
tells himself if he really wanted to
work he could get good grades like the
other guys on the Dean's List but it
can't make that much of a difference in
getting a job on the outside he's now a
college graduate wonderful opportunity
that many others wish they had but he
did not give his all rather he is
waiting until he starts work that is
when he will start grinding and making a
success of himself then into the service
he goes like millions of other Americans
not different from any of the others but
there's no sense to working hard doing
everything right he's not going to make
a career of this service so instead
things are done half right
no one but his buddies know the
difference but boy wait until he's out
then he's going to put on the steam he
does get out
he goes through good jobs doesn't like
them he hasn't found the job which suits
him for when he does then he's gonna go
to town years and years go by
then one day Joe saver suddenly
discovers that he is going to die going
to die that's one thing you can only do
once Joe sees the light he's been
holding himself back all these years
just waiting to do the extra good job
but he ever quite got around to it
now it's too late he saved too much and
for what death that's Joe's story well
I'm not like Joe I just can't see this
waiting to do the good job if you hold
back all the time you can never expect
to get ahead of the race much the same
with going to Korea there is a job to be
done and this lad is going to do the
very best he can from it I expect to
learn learn so much about many many
things I'd be an idiot if I was not
looking forward to it there's not much
percentage in going into a task
partially defeated and without spirit
personalities have to grow too you
cannot stop learning at any age there's
always room for improvement going under
the assumption that you were ignorant
and have a vast amount to learn and
understand gives you millions of things
to do and look for for my part I am
given a group of men under my control
and care
a fabulous experience in its own right
I'm going to put all my studying to work
I'm going to new horizons new faces new
ways of life belief so much to see know
and understand and for it be the more
rounded individual look at the better
understanding and viewpoints all have
every being seeks adventure and I cannot
say that I'm any different it will be a
new living and learning not always
enjoying it all but there's not always
egg in that heady beer of ours I've told
you now where I am going but I do not
believe I stated how I feel towards this
other than that I will miss you ever so
dearly there's an awful lot to it really
I don't want to sound too much like a
flag waver the following may appear that
way however it is not meant to I'm in
the Marine Corps and they have given a
job to me it is a job not only which I
must do for my own respect but for the
Marine Corps and above all my country
you can be very idealistic about it but
I don't think that it has to be that way
just to face up to it rationally the
people of the USA are mighty lucky
people the way they can live thus my
sweet I pray you see that I'm really in
the mood to take what's coming the only
regret is you for that as you said one
year is very small compared to that
lifetime we have ahead of us pining
hearts are not the way to face it saving
up for that time when we get together is
not the means either there are lives and
times we must live apart and live them
with our whole being for the richer and
understanding of all things that we are
as individuals then the wealthier we
will be as a couple I have no fears for
the future not one for with you as being
my favourite backer and complete
understanding I can ask for no more our
love is here to stay that meeting we
will have for the first time and then
know everything is all right you cannot
plan on what you will say or what you
will do it will all be swept away from
both of us the moment will rule all I'm
not afraid of that either my darling we
do have the intangibles yes we will both
have changed and will have grown then
there is always that lifetime to get to
know one another each will benefit from
the other that is the way men
life should be it all goes back to Joe
savor you have to take a chance on
yourself love Barry
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you