USS BELKNAP Association Newsletter

Winter 2003

Below is a letter written by the daughter of a former BELKNAP sailor who looked at our website and reflected on the life she now has and what we went through in our lives. It is very pointed and reflects not only then, but now and the future as she sees it.

Dear Dad:

I had a chance to sit at the computer for a few minutes this morning and browse through some sites. One of those was the site of the USS BELKNAP. I guess what I should say first is the news of the day is upsetting with no end in sight of the wars our country seems to be on the brink of. I try not to think of them. I try to pretend that none of this affects my life or me. But some days, memories of 9/11 come into my head and I have to stop and think about today’s issues. I wonder if all these countries are just threatening or if a war is inevitable. In my life time, with the exception of Desert Storm, I have not lived through a war that could affect me. I get scared sometimes wondering if tomorrow we will still be safe or if my children will grow up to see the things I have seen or to do the things I have done. If they will have the chance. I guess when we were younger you had the same fears. When I start to think about these issues in our lives I can’t help but think of you. And I get some feeling of safety that there are people, men and women, like you to defend us and to keep us safe. I have no ability to even begin to wonder what life was like for you, either in Vietnam, on board ship, or even the night of the fire on the BELKNAP. I have never been that scared as you and everyone else must have been that night nor have I ever been forced to find that amount of sheer determination or bravery or whatever you want to call it, inside myself. I have to thank you for never having been put in those types of situations. I have you to thank for keeping me safe and for being brave when I am sure that was the hardest thing for you to do. My heart goes to the families of those young men who died aboard your ship. I also wonder what their lives may have become or what they may have accomplished in their lives. No matter what their lives would have become, they died in the name of their country, and I know that other than family, there is no greater honor.

Just had to write and let some of the thoughts out of my head.

Love
Deanna