LenaSO

September 14, 1853, Montana

Dear Mother and Father!

This is the first letter I’m writing, and I’m very sorry I haven’t taken my time to write back home, but I have had a very busy time right now. I have been a bit sick the last few days.

I got your letter yesterday, and found out that I had to write you some words. I got very happy when I saw your script on the paper. I miss you all very much!

First of all, I have to tell you about our trip to the “New World” and than about my new life. We left London on the 17th and arrived to Ireland on the 9th. On the journey from Ireland to Manhattan were we at sea for over 13 days. The weather was nice, just a bit windy, and there were some big waves on the ocean. It was a bit scary sometimes, but actually a bit fun too. The ship was fully booked with picture brides like me, but there were also a couple of families. Most of the girls were at my age and from Norway, Denmark and Ireland. We had to sail to a place called Ellis Isle where some people inspected us. Just people from first and second class entered freely in Manhattan. They asked us about our bleeding and whether we could read or write. A big part of us were shipped on trains, which took us to the Midwest States. Other was deported back home. After some hours we finally came to Montana, my new home. When I went out of the train, I saw a man reading a newspaper. After a few second I recognized it was him. My coming husband. We got married just a week later. It was not a big wedding, like in my dreams, but it was okay. I’m sorry you couldn’t be there. I would give anything to have you all there. But its nothing we can do with that now.

End of story. How is it going at home? Everybody’s fine? I heard something about that Sofie is pregnant? Is that true? If it is, you have to say congratulations from me. You also wrote that Lars is getting married with Maria? Our neighbor? Not bad. And I thought he never was going to get married. But anyway, I’m sorry I can’t be there, but give him all the best wishes from me.

When I think back on the day I decided to leave Norway, and all my family and friends, I still don’t understand what was going through my head. My life has changed more in these three months than I ever thought was possible. I still haven’t reached eighteen, and now I am no longer Nina Hansen, but Mrs. Williamson. That’s crazy.

But anyway, there are many other people from Norway here too, and I have become good friends with some of them. Catherine, for example, took the same ship as me, and she live just around 5 km away from there. We are meeting each other two days a week, talking and drinking coffee. Her husband is actually Fred’s cousin.

Sorry, but I have to go, Fred is waiting. We are going to the shop, to buy some eggs. Hope to see some of you in the coming future. Thinking of you all every day!

Friendly greetings from Mrs. Nina Williamson

--

Vietnam, April 8th 1969

To my beloved and deeply missed wife, Anna!

First of all, I’m still alive. I’m very sorry I haven’t taken my time to write back home. I’m thinking of you every day, and cant wait to see you. How is my little girl? Have she taken her first steps now? Tell her that daddy said “Hello”, and that he miss her a lot. I’m trying to stay positive, and looking forwards to come back home. The life here is very hard, and it has really changed my way of thinking. You don’t know if you are alive next morning or even if you are alive the next hours. That’s a bit scary to think of. Many people have been wounded and killed, and it’s a miracle that I’m not wounded jet. Thank God. One of my best friend here, got killed yesterday, and it’s hard without him. We made plans for our future when we were back home, like going together on a concert or something. But now he’s no longer with us.

I’m in the battlefield almost all the time now, because we still loosing people. Its really terrible out there, that’s for sure. There’re always some people who tell us what to do. “Go there”. “Shoot there”. And believe me, its not easy to sleep at night, hearing shoots, and know that you are in this game, killing innocent people. Kill or get killed, that’s the game. Its just death and tragedy this entire place is about. Nothing else.

Even though I know I’m fighting for our country, it’s hard to figure out why this can be good for someone. I don’t think that the army was a good idea for me after all. But anyway, end of story. I can’t say enough how much I miss you. I miss you more than you can ever imagine. Thinking of how wonderful it would be, being home with you and Lea. When I get home, I promise I’ll be the best dad and husband in the whole world.

One thing, if it doesn’t bother you, would you be so kind and say to my parents that I’ve send you a letter. Just tell them I’m okay. I don’t have so much time to write them a letter, so it would be nice if you could do it for me. Anna, I hope everything is okay home. You and Lea are giving me force and hope, and a reason to still keep fighting. So all I can say is: do not worry about me! I’m okay, and I’m not giving up. No one can stop me from getting home safe, and be with my two beautiful girls! No one.

Forever yours Jack