A SOLDIER'S STORY

A Special Letter

By
Franke Gracia

Dear Mrs Donna Young,
Could you please read this story to your class:

Once upon a time, in a not-so-distant land, there was a little boy named Clem. He did his best to be a good little boy, but sometimes bad things happen that can never be explained or understood. No one knows why these bad things happen, they just do.

When Clem was only 9 years old, he was abandoned by his family and became an orphan. He had nowhere to go, no place to live, no food to eat, no one to care for him. Little Clem suffered the way no little boy should ever have to suffer. He was cold, hungry, tired, sad and, worst of all, alone and forsaken. Somehow, Clem managed to survive, and when he was a young man, a wonderful thing happened. A good, kind man adopted Clem and treated him with respect and dignity. Clem had nothing to give in return to the kind man, except his gratitude, affection and loyalty. The good, kind man was also very wise. He expected Clem to work hard so he could one day take care of himself. So Clem worked very hard for many years, and as time passed, he prospered. Clem was even so fortunate and blessed as to have his own family, with children he adored.

As he grew older, Clem began to think all would be well, and he would have no more troubles. But one day, a letter arrived from the good, kind man, asking for help. The letter asked for Clem to send his son to help the good kind man, because his son was young and strong, and Clem was now an older man. The good kind man informed Clem in the letter that his situation was perilous and that his son would be in danger. Clem knew the good kind man would never ask for help unless he really needed it. Clem was afraid for his son, for he loved him very much. But Clem never forgot what it was like to be poor, cold, hungry, and alone. And he never forgot the compassion of the good, kind man. So Clem sent his son away, even though he knew he might never see him again.

There were many days when Clem wept for his son, not knowing if he was dead or alive, not knowing if he would ever return to him. Clem prayed every day for his son, and one day, the happiest day of Clem’s life, his son returned to him, safe and unhurt. Clem’s joy knew no bounds. Clem was ever so thankful that his beloved son was able to help the good kind man.

Mrs. Young, please tell your class this is not a true story. However, if you would please read the story to your class again, replacing the “good kind man” with “America”, then it will indeed be a true story. Tell you students that Clem is my grandfather, Clemente Alaniz, and that America did adopt him. Tell your students that his son, my uncle, Selestino Alaniz, did in fact march off to war for America. I hope this will help your students understand why I volunteered to serve.

Mrs. Young, your students wrote letters to me. Many of them said I was a brave man. Please tell them I think a brave man is simply a scared man that wants to run away – but doesn’t. Tell them I don’t feel like a brave man. Tell them I feel like a grateful man. Tell them I feel honored and privileged to serve my country. Tell them the more difficult the mission and the more suffering I endure, the more special my service will be to me and my family.

Mrs. Young, the letters your students wrote to me made me cry. They made me feel like a hero. But I am not. I am just an ordinary man that didn’t run away. I didn’t run away because I wanted to pay back that good kind man named “America” that long ago adopted a poor, lonely, tired immigrant. I hope this helps your students understand one soldier’s story.


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Franke Gracia lives in Temple, Texas and was deployed in Afghanistan with the National Guard from May 2005 to April 2006. He is a math professor at Temple College and is very close to his family that includes two brothers and two sisters. He earned a bronze star while he was deployed, which he gave to his mother. As to why he decided to write this series of articles he says, "I hope folks who read my scribbling will gain a greater appreciation of what a citizen-soldier goes through during a deployment."