An old email I sent to NACT

Doctor Tom Sawyer says hello. As many of you know he grew up in the South. At around 12 years of age, orphaned and living in poverty, he realized he could make a lot more money slopping his own pigs and selling them than slopping somebody else’s pigs. Thus began his long and illustrious career as an entrepreneur, building businesses and creating jobs.

Along the way he earned several degrees in several fields of study. Out of graduate school, he went to work as an engineer designing and building rockets, continuing on with his post graduate education to earn his Masters and Doctorate degrees. He served America in the Korean war as a ground soldier, leading a platoon of Marines through some of the most awful fighting Americans have ever been asked to carry out. He has been …and probably still is… sought after to consult with and serve with politicians at both the State & Federal levels. He served in Reagan’s California administration as well as Nixon’s administration in Washington.

Tom has also served in many leadership positions for the Church of Jesus Christ; five times as a Bishop alone. He knows many of the church’s general authorities, including some of the 12 apostles on a first name basis. And though he has been known to subtly drop a name or two at times, he is one of the most humble men I have ever met.

He rarely emails attachments. He passed along this “letter” below for it’s humor I am sure, but also because being an “old” Marine means so much to him. I believe that of all the achievements in his life, serving America on the battlefield in her time of need means as much or more to him than anything else he has ever accomplished. As well it should.

As much as the astronauts who died Saturday and their families deserve all the attention and condolences they are receiving, it makes me sad and concerned that not many people are even aware of the four soldiers who died in Afghanistan this same week. I hope their families know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice as well.

LETTER FROM A MARINE RECRUIT AT PARIS ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA

Dear Ma and Pa. Am well. Hope you are. Tell brothers Walt and Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for the old man by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 AM, but am getting so I like to sleep late.

Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay, practically nothing. Men got to shave, but it is not too bad, they get warm water.

Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food. But tell Walt and Elmer you can sit between two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon, when you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much.

We go on marches, which the platoon sergeant says, are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him the difference. A march is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city boys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks. The country is nice but awful flat. The sergeant is like a schoolteacher. He nags some. The captain is like the school principal. The majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.

This next thing will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls eye is near as big as a chipmunk and don't move. And it ain't shooting at you like the Higgert boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don't even have to load your own cartridges. They come in boxes. Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving daughter, Gail.