The journey back home

Meeting someone for the first time, especially of the opposite gender is great. Meeting Oakley at just 12 years old, made my heart flutter. I always had a huge crush on her. Therefore, I gave her a note "do you like me check the yes box if you do". Luckily she checked yes. That was when i fell in love with Oakley Marie Jackson. Of course we were kids no one would believe we would work out,maybe for a couple weeks if that. That was 6 years ago, my 18th birthday was last month, which meant i had to sign up for the military in case of war. I did not worry even though we had financal problems, we didnt have problems with other countries, so in my mind no wars. Me and Oakley were happier than ever. Its always "Oakley and John" for everything if our friends invited me they invited her, same for the opposite way. In may 1972 I proposed to oakley, she said yes. The wedding was planned for January 7th 1973. My 6th grade dream came true Oakley is offacily a Carter. 2 Years later we found out the greatest news. We are going to start a family, Oakley is pregnant with a girl. I cant wait I always wanted a daughter. The month after we figured out some bad news. My name got picked to be departed.
The guy came over to our house and he told me to make a choice "stay here or come with me and make more than enough to support you and your family". He told me i will be gone for 5 years missing all of my daughters life we just picked the name Gracie Lynn Carter.
I asked Oakley for help she told me this is something i need to decide with my brain,not hers.
I spent 3 months thinking about it. I made my choice. Me and Oakley are both unemployed. I called the guy in charge told him i will do it. 2 hours later he came and got me. I cried Oakley cried, i even saw a couple tears out of the guy. I told her i would write every second i can. I will not forget her, how can I i have been in love with her for 8 years. I got there me and about 70 other guys had to go to boot camp for 10 days to learn the basics, then we head out. It was hard, blood,sweat,tears and that was only the first hour. we got done with boot camp and we had 30 minutes to write to our family. Like I promised i wrote every minute. 30 minutes were over in a blink and i wrote 3 pages front and back. I hope she gets it. I met a guy there his name is Rob he makes me feel safe hes a real friend. He makes me feel safe in this crazy enviroment. That night was hard, "what if i die" "what if i dont back it back to my wife and daughter". I cant think like that i have to be strong. It was hard but i have to. Next morning we got suited up and we head off to the battle field. When i got there i already wanted to go back home, why did i make this choice. The enemies i guess we would call them got to the battle field. The first shot was fired, it was at our sargent. Which was a brave move for whoever fired that. Now everything is going crazy, smoke, fire,gunshots left and right. I shot one guy which i already felt guilty about. I went to reload. BOOM. I look down my chest got shot. "shoot i attempt to runover to the medics, I saw Rob laying on the ground i tried to shake him he didnt budge. Tears came rushing down my face i screamed his name, still nothing. Hes gone. The medic came rushing over to me and she took me to a safe place. I got alcohol to cover the cut. I will be fine, rob wont. MIne scard me physically Rob scared me emotionally. 5 years later we won the war, 125 of our guys died but 76 are still alive. On the way home we got the letters that was written back. Praying that she wrote me back, i already lost one person. Only one letter in the box left. PLease,Please,Please. "John carter this is for you" thank goodness. I opened it and a picture fell out. My daughter was born shes beautiful. Oakley said shes perfectly healthy, thank goodness again. I got back home. Gracie knew who i was by pictures, but she never seen me in person yet. I hugged and rushed in my wifes arms. It felt so good to be with her again. Gracue lynn was crying, i asked her what was wrong, my 4 year old daughter almost 5 told me "are you my daddy" me now in tears "yes baby im home now and for good" she said "i missed you" growing up you get told how actions speak louder than words. Not in my case, 5 years i left my wife and my daughter. I wrote them but i didnt hear back till today. Yes america won, but so did I. i found the girls of my heart. What every man wants, a healthy family and i have all that. Who would of known 15 years ago, this would of been the Oakley and John life, not me, not her,not anyone.