Cpl. Matthew Wallace served in Iraq only a few months before the 22-year-old died in a roadside bomb attack on his convoy while on a combat mission in Baghdad.
What follows is among his last letters to his Lexington Park family.
Mom, Dad, Everyone,
Hey, it seems like I have been here a lifetime already but not very long at all. At the same time, time flies here. I have become adept to where I live to the point that I am actually comfortable with it I guess. My heart is hurting though. I have seen some things that I could not forget in 2 lifetimes. I keep giving it to God but new things come every day. My New Year’s was spent out on the perimeter with machine gun and night vision protecting the camp. It sucked in a way but at the same time, there is nowhere else I would have wanted to be. Strange and hard to explain. I feel like a bad son and brother because there is NOTHING here for me to buy for my family on Christmas. I feel like a bad son and brother cause of that sometimes. Mostly I miss the warmth and laughter of the house during Christmas…my thoughts often go to that. America has no idea what they have…I just hope that giving what I can being here is enough because it’s all I’ve got. I am having an Iraqi find me a rug for you Mom. They’re very beautiful, the deep red is amazing. That is the only gift I can find. The Iraqi people are wonderful people…the good ones that is. They are so sad though. I wish they knew God.
When are you going to
Italy? I will be in
Germany for my mid-tour leave so I may be able to see you guys…I know I already asked but please send me letters. I really need you all over here. I love you all so much this makes you see those things more clearly than you could ever imagine. When the mortars fall and you are sitting there hoping they don’t hit you, that is all you can think of, but you have raised a strong son Mother. I have done what I have been training to do over and over and I know I am doing the right thing. Despite my times growing up, you have done well raising me. I wanted you to know that and I want to make you proud that I am your son. I love you with everything in me…I hope you had wonderful holidays. Your Son and Soldier.
Matthew
P.S. Address my letters as SPC Wallace, Matthew now not PFC, O.K.? luv ya
