A California mother whose son is right now in Kuwait, 
wrote her son asking how he would feel if she joined 
other relatives of service members in an anti-war 
demonstration in Hollywood last month. After reading her 
son's response, 
she elected not to participate. 
The following is her son's response as it was printed in 
the Las Vegas Review Journal. 

Dear Mom, 
   It's really your decision to march if you want to or not. You are the one who 
has to decide if what we are doing out here is right or not. My opinion is 
not yours. 

I do, however, have things I would like for you and Grandma and everyone 
else at home to know. 

   I am a United States soldier. I was sworn to defend my country against all 
enemies, foreign and domestic. People may not agree with the things we are 
ordered to do. I would like to address those people by telling them that 
terrorism is not only a threat to us as Americans, but to many other innocent 
people in the world. 

   What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and freedoms
of others, not because they're Americans, but how about just because
they're human? 

   We live in a country where people feel secure with their daily lives. They do 
business like usual and don't worry about the thought of terrorism actually 
happening to them. 

   The people of 9-11 thought the same thing. We now know that it can happen
to anyone at any time. 

   Yet as Americans we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our security. I can
only speak for myself when I say that my life is an easy expense to ensure that my
family and friends can live in peace. 

   I strongly believe in what we are doing and wish you were here to see for 
yourselves the honor and privilege that American soldiers aboard this ship are 
feeling, knowing that we are going to be a part of something so strong and so
meaningful to the safety of our loved ones. Then you would know what this 
potential war is about. 

   We will stand tall in front of terrorism and defeat it. We as soldiers are not afraid 
of what may happen. We are only afraid of Americans not being able to 
understand why we are here. 

   I ask for your courage as Americans to be strong for us; I ask for your 
understanding in what we believe is right. I ask for your support in what we are 
sworn to do: defend our country and the life of all. 

   We will succeed in our task and will end the threat of terrorism in our back yard. 
We will also end the threat of terrorism in our neighbors'. 

   We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for: life, liberty and 
justice for all. In order to maintain those rights we have to stop the threat of 
terrorism. 

   I am proud to be here. I will be coming home, but not until I know that it's going 
to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I love. 

   My family is first. My country is where they live. I will defend it. 

Lonnie J. Lewis 
Navy corpsman 
C Co. 1/4 WPN PLT 
UIC 39726 
FPO AP 966139726 

P.S. Mom, please send this to everyone who has a hard time understanding 
why we are here. Ask the paper to put what I've said in a column so that 
others will know why we are here and what we are here for. 

I love you all and will be home soon. I left my address so that if anyone feels
like writing to let me know how they feel, they can.