Last Letters Home From An American Soldier Who Died in Iraq
To son, Cecil,
Just a quick note preface before I start in earnest. When I wrote this you were 8, still a little boy. In 2002, I was called to active duty in the Marine Corps in the War on Terrorism. On the 11th of September 2001 when America was attacked, I knew that I would eventually have to go and I was filled with a deep sense of sadness. That night as you and Keiko were asleep, I looked at your little faces and couldn’t help but fight the tears. I knew it would be hard for you because I had a similar experience. When I was a little boy aged 6, my Dad, your Grandpa Cawley, was sent to Vietnam during the War there. I remember how much I missed him, too. But now unfortunately I have come to realise just how rough it must have been for Grandpa to be away from his children for a year. Thinking about this, I wanted to put my thoughts and feelings down for you and your sister. I am so sorry that I had to leave for such a long time. There is no place I would rather be than with you and Keiko. You two are the lights of my life. I have known no greater joy than in the few years since you two were born. I hope to have many more years with you. If this doesn’t happen, then know that I love you more than words can express. If for some reason I don’t make it home, I will need you to take care of your little sister and your Mom. You will be the Man of the Cawley family. Be good my son and God will watch over you as he has me. I will be waiting impatiently for the time when we can all be together again.
All my love, Dad
(Two days after Cawley’s death, his last letter arrived at his family’s home in Utah. Written on the packaging of an MRE Meal Ready to Eat, the US military’s frontline ration it consisted of a message in Japanese to his wife and his final words to his children.)
Dear Cecil and Keiko,
Hi little guys. How are you? Daddy is fine. I miss you. Send me a letter okay. It will make me very happy. I am proud of you. You are such good kids. I will see you again.
Love, Daddy
在伊拉克陣亡美軍士兵的最后家書
給兒子塞西爾：
在正式開始前先簡(jiǎn)單說(shuō)幾句。當(dāng)我寫這封信的時(shí)候，你才8歲，還是一個(gè)小男孩。2002年，我被征召在海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)服現(xiàn)役，參加反恐戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)。2001年9月11日美國(guó)遭受襲擊之時(shí)，我便知道我終究是要走的，我為此感到深深的悲哀。那天晚上，當(dāng)你和惠子熟睡之際，我看著你們的小臉蛋，強(qiáng)忍著眼中的淚水。我知道接下來(lái)的日子對(duì)你們會(huì)是艱難的，因?yàn)槲乙灿羞^(guò)類似的經(jīng)歷。當(dāng)我還是一個(gè)6歲的孩子的時(shí)候，我爸爸，也就是你們的爺爺考利，被派往越南參加那里的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)。我還記得當(dāng)時(shí)我也是多么地想念他。然而不幸的是，現(xiàn)在我開始體會(huì)到，你爺爺離開自己的孩子們一年之久，該是多么痛苦的事情。想到這些，我打算把我的想法和感受給你和你妹妹寫下來(lái)。我非常難過(guò)不得不離開這么長(zhǎng)時(shí)間。除了與你和惠子在一起，我哪兒也不愿去。你們倆是我生命中的光芒。你們倆來(lái)到這個(gè)世界后的這幾年，是我生命中最快樂(lè)的時(shí)光。我希望還可以和你們一起度過(guò)更多的歲月。如果事情沒(méi)能如此，我希望你們知道我對(duì)你們的愛無(wú)法言傳。如果因故我不能再回到家里，我需要你來(lái)照顧你妹妹和媽媽。你將是考利家族的男人。乖一點(diǎn)，我的孩子，如果上帝將我收回，他會(huì)照看你的。我會(huì)焦急地等待著我們?nèi)抑鼐鄣哪且惶?。?BR> 我全部的愛， 爸爸
(在考利陣亡后2天，他最后的家書到達(dá)了他在猶他州的家。信是寫在美軍前線士兵配給的快餐包裝紙上的。信中有用日文寫給妻子的留言，以及給孩子們的絕筆。)
親愛的塞西爾和惠子：
嗨，小家伙們。你們好嗎？爸爸很好。我想念你們。給我來(lái)封信好嗎？那會(huì)讓我非常開心的。我為你們而自豪。你們都是這么好的孩子。我會(huì)與你們重聚的。
愛你們的爸爸
by James Cawley 飛象 譯
To son, Cecil,
Just a quick note preface before I start in earnest. When I wrote this you were 8, still a little boy. In 2002, I was called to active duty in the Marine Corps in the War on Terrorism. On the 11th of September 2001 when America was attacked, I knew that I would eventually have to go and I was filled with a deep sense of sadness. That night as you and Keiko were asleep, I looked at your little faces and couldn’t help but fight the tears. I knew it would be hard for you because I had a similar experience. When I was a little boy aged 6, my Dad, your Grandpa Cawley, was sent to Vietnam during the War there. I remember how much I missed him, too. But now unfortunately I have come to realise just how rough it must have been for Grandpa to be away from his children for a year. Thinking about this, I wanted to put my thoughts and feelings down for you and your sister. I am so sorry that I had to leave for such a long time. There is no place I would rather be than with you and Keiko. You two are the lights of my life. I have known no greater joy than in the few years since you two were born. I hope to have many more years with you. If this doesn’t happen, then know that I love you more than words can express. If for some reason I don’t make it home, I will need you to take care of your little sister and your Mom. You will be the Man of the Cawley family. Be good my son and God will watch over you as he has me. I will be waiting impatiently for the time when we can all be together again.
All my love, Dad
(Two days after Cawley’s death, his last letter arrived at his family’s home in Utah. Written on the packaging of an MRE Meal Ready to Eat, the US military’s frontline ration it consisted of a message in Japanese to his wife and his final words to his children.)
Dear Cecil and Keiko,
Hi little guys. How are you? Daddy is fine. I miss you. Send me a letter okay. It will make me very happy. I am proud of you. You are such good kids. I will see you again.
Love, Daddy
在伊拉克陣亡美軍士兵的最后家書
給兒子塞西爾：
在正式開始前先簡(jiǎn)單說(shuō)幾句。當(dāng)我寫這封信的時(shí)候，你才8歲，還是一個(gè)小男孩。2002年，我被征召在海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)服現(xiàn)役，參加反恐戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)。2001年9月11日美國(guó)遭受襲擊之時(shí)，我便知道我終究是要走的，我為此感到深深的悲哀。那天晚上，當(dāng)你和惠子熟睡之際，我看著你們的小臉蛋，強(qiáng)忍著眼中的淚水。我知道接下來(lái)的日子對(duì)你們會(huì)是艱難的，因?yàn)槲乙灿羞^(guò)類似的經(jīng)歷。當(dāng)我還是一個(gè)6歲的孩子的時(shí)候，我爸爸，也就是你們的爺爺考利，被派往越南參加那里的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)。我還記得當(dāng)時(shí)我也是多么地想念他。然而不幸的是，現(xiàn)在我開始體會(huì)到，你爺爺離開自己的孩子們一年之久，該是多么痛苦的事情。想到這些，我打算把我的想法和感受給你和你妹妹寫下來(lái)。我非常難過(guò)不得不離開這么長(zhǎng)時(shí)間。除了與你和惠子在一起，我哪兒也不愿去。你們倆是我生命中的光芒。你們倆來(lái)到這個(gè)世界后的這幾年，是我生命中最快樂(lè)的時(shí)光。我希望還可以和你們一起度過(guò)更多的歲月。如果事情沒(méi)能如此，我希望你們知道我對(duì)你們的愛無(wú)法言傳。如果因故我不能再回到家里，我需要你來(lái)照顧你妹妹和媽媽。你將是考利家族的男人。乖一點(diǎn)，我的孩子，如果上帝將我收回，他會(huì)照看你的。我會(huì)焦急地等待著我們?nèi)抑鼐鄣哪且惶?。?BR> 我全部的愛， 爸爸
(在考利陣亡后2天，他最后的家書到達(dá)了他在猶他州的家。信是寫在美軍前線士兵配給的快餐包裝紙上的。信中有用日文寫給妻子的留言，以及給孩子們的絕筆。)
親愛的塞西爾和惠子：
嗨，小家伙們。你們好嗎？爸爸很好。我想念你們。給我來(lái)封信好嗎？那會(huì)讓我非常開心的。我為你們而自豪。你們都是這么好的孩子。我會(huì)與你們重聚的。
愛你們的爸爸
by James Cawley 飛象 譯