Unmailed letters

Many of our Armed Forces servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan carry letters to be mailed upon their death. Here are two:

Army Pfc. Jesse Givens, 34, of Fountain, Colo., was killed May 1, 2003, when his tank tumbled into the Euphrates River when a river bank gave way. He wrote what follows to his sons, Dakota, 5, and Carson, who was born four weeks after Givens' death:

"Dakota… You are more son than I could ever ask for. I can only hope I was half the dad. You taught me how to care until it hurts, you taught me how to smile again. You taught me that life isn't so serious and sometimes you have to play. You have a big, beautiful heart. Through life you need to keep it open and follow it.

"Never be afraid to be yourself. I will always be there in our park when you dream so we can still play together. I hope someday you will have a son like mine. Make them smile and shine just like you. I hope someday you will understand why I didn't come home. Please, be proud of me. Please don't stop loving life. Take in every breath like it's your first. I will always be there with you. I'll be in the sun, shadows, dreams and joys of your life.

"Bean (his pet name for the unborn Carson)… I never got to see you but I know in my heart you are beautiful. I will always have with me the feel of the soft nudges on your mom's belly, and the joy I felt when we found out you were on the way.

"I dream of you every night, and I always will. Don't ever think that since I wasn't around that I didn't love you. You were conceived of love and I came to this terrible place for love. Please understand that I had to be gone so that I could take care of my family. I love you, Bean."

Marine Staff Sgt. Russell Slay, 28, of Humble, Texas, who was killed Nov. 9 in Fallujah when his armored vehicle was attacked by insurgents, wrote his last letter home to his daughter Kinlee, 9, and son Walker, 5.

"Tell Kinlee that I love her and never knew what life was before she was born ... She'll always be Daddy's little girl ... Daddy will always be with her and watching out for her. I'll miss you. Hugs and Kisses."

To Walker, "You're the sweetest little man. Be studious, stay in school and stay away from the military. I mean it. Always be a man. If you make mistakes, stand up and say so."

Slay told his daughter to go to college, and his son to have children of his own so he could "feel the joy and happiness you brought me…

"My family was in my last thoughts. I can't say I love you enough."