A Letter from the Front Lines

June 14, 1944

My Dearest Caitlin,

As I sit in the soft glow of a flickering oil lamp on my birthday, with the sounds of the night echoing through our camp, I find myself yearning for you more than ever. I don’t have a birthday cake to celebrate this special day or bright candles to mark the occasion, but my thoughts of you more than compensate for this loss. Your beautiful image is firmly etched in my mind and gives me the strength to endure this challenging ordeal. The air is thick with damp earth and gun oil, a constant reminder of my surroundings and why I’m here. Yet, in those quiet moments when my duties temporarily fade, you completely fill my thoughts—your laughter, your kindness, and how your hand fits perfectly in mine. These memories sustain me; those intimate moments we shared before I left empower me to withstand the hardships of war that I face daily!

The days are grueling, Caitlin. The training and discipline we endure to stay sharp and alive are relentless. However, I recognize that it’s necessary. A single lapse in focus could cost not only my life but also the lives of my comrades. My battalion relies on one another for survival, and I’ve found solace in a few men who have become like brothers to me—Matt, Tom, and Jerry. We share the burdens, reminding each other of what awaits us beyond the battlefields. We lift one another when exhaustion grips and fear threatens to break us. I find the strength to carry on through these bonds, knowing that I am not alone. These strong connections are my best guarantee of survival, allowing me to be by your side soon and sustaining my needs.

Each night, before I close my eyes, I envision our future. I picture us in a cozy house with a white picket fence, a garden where you will plant flowers, and a warm hearth where we sit and talk about nothing and everything. I can see our children playing in the yard; their laughter is a melody that fills the air. I see you, my beautiful Caitlin, standing beside me as we create a life worth fighting for. This vision, more than anything, fuels my resolve to survive. I will not allow the horrors of war to take that future from us. You mean so much to me that my determination to survive is unbreakable!

Although the training is brutal, I must endure it to be there for you when I return home! Without discipline, and unwavering focus, I would not have lasted this long. Our commanders teach us the importance of staying sharp and thinking ten steps ahead. We wake before dawn, train until our bodies ache, and then train some more. Every skill, tactic, and lesson could mean life and death. I have accepted this way of life because it is the only way to ensure I return to you.

I know the mail moves at a snail’s pace, which means we must both be extremely patient. By the time you read this, weeks—perhaps months—may have passed. But know that my love for you has not wavered as I write this. If anything, it has only grown stronger. There isn’t a moment in my day when your face isn’t enshrined in my memory. No force on this earth could make me forget you. So please, my love, don’t let doubt creep into your heart. Don’t let the distance or the uncertainty of war dim the light of what we share. I promise you, with every fiber of my being, that I will return to you. My loyalty to you is unwavering and will last throughout our lifetimes!

As we move across the countryside, liberating villages and securing our path forward, I am struck by the beauty that still exists even amidst destruction. The rolling hills, the fields of wildflowers, and the rivers that cut through the land always remind me of your never-ending beauty. There is little doubt that your presence brightens even the darkest days. War may try to strip me of my humanity, but it cannot take away my love for you. That love is unshakable, immovable, and eternal.

As you lie in bed, please think of us, because that’s what I do each night before I fall asleep and the first thing I do in the morning to begin my rigorous day. Each day brings new challenges, but knowing that my love is waiting for me gives me the strength to carry on and tackle any obstacle I encounter.

Caitlin, never forget how deeply I love you. No one will ever love you as I do. You are my savior, my guiding light, my soulmate. In 455 days, my tour of duty will end, and I will run to you, hold you in my arms, and never let you go again. Until that day comes, know that I am fighting for us, for the life we will build, for the love that binds us together.

Please take care of Oscar, our beloved puppy who loves us dearly. He is there to protect you until I return. He symbolizes the love and loyalty I have for you. I remain convinced that nothing could harm you with him on your side and my passion in your heart. He is the soldier I left on the ground to protect you while I am gone. I am glad that Oscar always liked you better than me because with me gone, you needed extra protection and someone to watch over and protect you while I was gone fearlessly.

Our time together is coming soon, and all I ask of you is patience. I realize it is a heavy burden on you, but one that will pay off during our lifetime. I plan to show you each day of the remaining days of your life that your patience was worth it, as you mean more to me than you will ever know!

Yours forever, Anton