"Today is your first birthday. Though there is an ocean between us I feel that you and I, through your mother, are as close together in spirit and soul as I know your mother and I are. There is no material thing that I would not give to bring the three of us together quickly and forever.

"I remember so vividly the evening we had the picture of the three of us taken, the Sunday I left you and your mom. I was filled with a strong desire to do my part in the nasty job which faced my generation and sadness and apprehension at leaving those I loved so dearly.

"This ocean was placed between us by forces you never knew, which the generation before mine failed to control and which mine must stamp out. It is a task which must be done if we are to live in peace, freedom and decency. We shrank from the job and the danger grew.

"So today, much as I miss being with you, I am glad that I am privileged to do my small part in making our world decent, peaceful and free. If I had been with you these six months I would always have felt the uneasiness of reaping the benefits of someone else's sacrifice. Now, when we are brought together again, as we all pray daily that we shall be soon; we will know that we have earned the happiness which shall be ours.

"And if we remember that whenever the freedom or dignity of one of us is invaded, the freedom and happiness of all of us is threatened, we may be smart enough to keep this from happening all over again. If we can do that we'll be free, with God's blessing, to have fun together and in just being kind to each other & everybody else and in worship of God and in living the way He intended us to live."

Bill Casey signed the letter, "All my love, Your Dad." His moving expressions of affection for his wife and infant daughter, his frank explanation for his absence and his eloquent hope for the future of our country are a powerful legacy for those enduring a similar experience today in Iraq and Afghanistan. His words should inspire those in power to ensure their sacrifice is not in vain.