Mr C Hinecap
22nd Sep 2006, 14:45
Screw any bad press. Screw anyone drooling over the court cases. The story below, from the Telegraph today, is the human side of conflict - this is why I am still proud to serve:
Fiancee of soldier killed in Iraq reveals his final letter
By Nigel Bunyan
(Filed: 22/09/2006)
A soldier killed in Iraq left his fianc馥 a heartbreaking letter declaring his undying love for her.
Gunner Lee Thornton, 22, of Blackpool, Lancs, told close friends that Helen O単ray, 21, should only open his final words to her if he died on his latest tour of duty in Iraq.
The young soldier was shot and fatally wounded while on patrol near Basra earlier this month.
He died two days later in a military hospital in Germany with Miss O単ray, a student, and his parents at his bedside.
Today Miss O単ray, of Sandbach, Cheshire, disclosed the full text of the letter she had hoped she would never have to open.
It reads in part:
Hi babe,
I don稚 know why I am writing this because I really hope that this letter never gets to you, because if it does that means I am dead.
It also means I never had time to show you just how much I really did love you. You have shown me what love is and what it feels like to be loved.
Every time you kissed me and our lips touched so softly I could feel it. I got the same magical feeling as our first kiss.
I know God put me and you on this earth to find each other, fall in love and show the rest of the world what true love really is. I know this is going to sound sad, but every night I spent away I had a photo of you on my headboard.
Each night I would go to bed, kiss my fingers, then touch your face. I put the photo over my bed so you could look over me as I slept. Well, now it is my turn to look over you as you sleep and keep you safe in your dreams.
Just because I have passed away does not mean I am not with you. I値l always be there looking over you, keeping you safe. So whenever you feel lonely just close your eyes and I値l be there right by your side.
I really did love you with all I had, you were everything to me. Never forget that, and never forget I will always be looking over you. I love you, you are my soul mate.
Love always and forever.
Lee.
I know I'm preaching to the converted, but we are great - all of us. Humble of HQ here.
Fiancee of soldier killed in Iraq reveals his final letter
By Nigel Bunyan
(Filed: 22/09/2006)
A soldier killed in Iraq left his fianc馥 a heartbreaking letter declaring his undying love for her.
Gunner Lee Thornton, 22, of Blackpool, Lancs, told close friends that Helen O単ray, 21, should only open his final words to her if he died on his latest tour of duty in Iraq.
The young soldier was shot and fatally wounded while on patrol near Basra earlier this month.
He died two days later in a military hospital in Germany with Miss O単ray, a student, and his parents at his bedside.
Today Miss O単ray, of Sandbach, Cheshire, disclosed the full text of the letter she had hoped she would never have to open.
It reads in part:
Hi babe,
I don稚 know why I am writing this because I really hope that this letter never gets to you, because if it does that means I am dead.
It also means I never had time to show you just how much I really did love you. You have shown me what love is and what it feels like to be loved.
Every time you kissed me and our lips touched so softly I could feel it. I got the same magical feeling as our first kiss.
I know God put me and you on this earth to find each other, fall in love and show the rest of the world what true love really is. I know this is going to sound sad, but every night I spent away I had a photo of you on my headboard.
Each night I would go to bed, kiss my fingers, then touch your face. I put the photo over my bed so you could look over me as I slept. Well, now it is my turn to look over you as you sleep and keep you safe in your dreams.
Just because I have passed away does not mean I am not with you. I値l always be there looking over you, keeping you safe. So whenever you feel lonely just close your eyes and I値l be there right by your side.
I really did love you with all I had, you were everything to me. Never forget that, and never forget I will always be looking over you. I love you, you are my soul mate.
Love always and forever.
Lee.
I know I'm preaching to the converted, but we are great - all of us. Humble of HQ here.