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The following are excerpts from letters written by members of the 8th grade English classes at St. Mary’s Elementary School in Annapolis, Maryland, to their teacher’s cousin, Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew H. Coleman, currently serving in Bahrain as part of Operation Desert Shield. The letters have been edited for brevity, but spelling has been left intact.
Dear Mr. Coleman,
I think you and the other soldiers are doing a great job. I hope everything works out over there and you and everyone else come back safely. I hope you guys kick the Iraqis butts out of Kuwait.
Your fellow American, TC
Dear Matthew,
How are you? 1 know things are rough over there! We all ore praying for you every day, hoping you have a quick and safe return. Don’t worry, everything here is fine. Just remember, we all think you are very brave! Hope to see you soon! Good luck, love, TA
Dear Matthew,
How's it going down in Saudi Arabia? It must be boring eating dehydrated food and only drinking water all the time! 'Well, at least your family sends you popcorn, other kinds of dry food, and Kool-Aid, and stuff like that. Hope you’ll be able to get some time off, and eat normal food.
Love, CW
Dear Matthew,
How is it in Saudi. While your there, I hope you get rid of the heat and the flys. Don’t let those Iraqis win.
Sincerly, JB
P.S. Let’s go MARINES Yo Matt!
I am in your cousin s class. She is a cool teacher. She gives us candy; even when we don’t deserve it.
I love the New Kids On The Block! Jordan is my favorite.
I love to play field hockey and I love to write poems. I think I'll write you one:
■ . . I am a man who can’t wait to get back To the people I love and a delicious Big Mac;
I need real food, and water too,
I’ll even eat my mom-in-law’s stew . . .
Be careful. We’ll be thinking about you.
Yours truly, SJ
Matt—
I just wanted to tell you that everyone is behind you here. 'Ye wish all of you guys were back home. I thank you not °nly for going to the Middle East, but for getting me out of regular English class.
Go kill Saddam! JM
Dear Matthew,
I live on a farm in Annapolis. It is probably the only one around. It’s 300 acres and we have cows, chickens, and horses. I have to feed them every day and it is getting really c°ld in the barn. If you get hot over there, think of me freezing in the hay loft!
Love, CF
Dear Sgt. Matthew H. Coleman,
Hey how is it going? I just thought that I would give you a little advice—if you get hot, think that you are swimming in a pool; if you get lonely, think of your beautiful wife and soon-to-be baby; and if you get tired, just think about how much rest you can get when you come home, if the baby isn’t born yet. One more thing: while your out in the heat, just think of the tan you’ll get.
Sencerely, DB
Dear Matthew,
Life here in the states is almost perfect. School is not great. I hate spelling. I think you guys are doing a great job and keep up the good work.
Your friend, EU
Dear Matt,
Hay Sgt, having fun yet? I heard you marines are having lots of fun down there. I’m wondering, hows the water ha ha! I just wanted to right to you your cousin is a great teacher and gives us fun work like this ha ha! Well anyways, Happy Birthday, how ever old you are.
Sincerly, BO
Dear Matthew,
How’s everything in Bahrain? Not too cool, eh? Get it, cool? Yeah, I’m really funny. What do you do for fun in Bahrain? Would you like us to send you anything? Kool-Aid? Beer? Boohs? Whatever it is (except maybe a car or a private jet) we’ll try to send it to you.
Yours truly, MS
Dear Sgt. Matthew, H. Coleman,
Your cousin is the best teacher in the world. She’s so nice she’s giving us a grade for this, just to let you know. Hear the water is real tasty. Just think, a cool frosty beer would go down right now, huh?
Your cousin’s stud in her class, TS
Dear Matt,
How’s it going? I bet your having bundles of fun in Bahrain. Yeah, right! What is it like there? I’m sure it’s hot there, right? It’s pretty boring here, considering we have to go to school. I sit in class every day thinking about the weekend. Well, I have to go now. I wish you good luck in Bahrain Yours truly, JG
Dear Matthew,
You don’t know me, but I want you to know that my feelings are with you and I hope your O.K. You must miss your family but keep your hopes up and you will return soon. My uncle died in the Vietnam War and I never met him. I regret that very much. So I’m glad I know one dedicated soldier with a good heart.
Love always, DT
125
Proceedings / January 1991