A Soldier
© 2009 - William C. Highsmith

Larry stood looking across the inlet. He wanted to remember this view of Mt. Redoubt from the deck attached to his father's home; the home he was raised in.

The young soldier felt blessed to be a native Alaskan and to have the special abilities and talents acquired by living in this beautiful but sometimes harsh land.

It was precisely these abilities that helped him be accepted to go to the US Army's Alaska Northern Warfare Training Center at Ft. Wainwright here in his home state. The training site, called Black Rapids Training Site, is located on the Delta River approximately thirty miles south of Delta Junction. This training would soon be put to use in the faraway land called Afghanistan.

"I know they have big mountains but I bet they don't have a maggie", he thought. It seemed, the magpie came close to say goodbye.

Indeed, it was time to say goodbye. He reached down and took the hand of his special girl. Kim looked up into the eyes of the one she had loved since third grade. He drew her very close and whispered, "Kimie - will you marry me when I return?"

As he spoke, he pulled a tiny box from his pocket. "Will you wear this ring?"

"Oh Yes!" she answered.

As he slipped an engagement ring onto her finger, her big blue eyes were simultaneously filled with tears of joy and sadness.

By William C. Highsmith - November 20, 2009