The Last Letter - Godspeed Corporal Starr

Posted By Blackfive

Tony sends this link about a Marine's last letter home that was found on his computer to be read in the event of his death:

Marine's last letter found on computer
'Others have died for my freedom'

By MIKE BARBER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

In August, Brian and Shellie Starr of Snohomish received a final message from the son they lost on Memorial Day.

In plain view on a desktop computer returned to the United States by 22-year-old Cpl. Jeff Starr's fellow Marines was a letter he had composed for his girlfriend. It was to be read if he did not return.

"Obviously," he wrote, "if you are reading this, then I have died in Iraq."

On his third deployment to Iraq since the war began in March 2003, Starr was well-acquainted with war's horror and uncertainty. Starr rubbed shoulders with death in April 2004, when he and 13 other Marines, trapped behind enemy lines in Fallujah, fought off several hundred insurgents for several hours until reinforcements arrived. Starr planned to leave the Marines in August. He wanted to go to college, to marry his sweetheart.

Instead, Starr came into the sights of an enemy sniper during fighting in Ar Ramadi on Memorial Day. A corpsman who tried to save him wrote Starr's loved ones afterward that the young Marine was shot through his left shoulder. The bullet crossed his chest and struck his heart. Starr never regained consciousness.

Although other families across the nation last month privately sorted and wept through the things carried to war by sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, the Starrs and their son's girlfriend shared publicly what he wanted known...

The rest is in the Extended Section:

"Dearest ----

I'm writing this for one reason only. On April 13th 2004, I thought I was going to die. My only regret is that I hadn't spent enough time with you. That I hadn't told you everything I wanted to. Being in Iraq for a 3rd time, I don't want to feel that way again because it was the worst feeling ever.

"So this letter is in case I won't ever get the chance to tell you," he wrote.

Starr believed in what he was doing, but knew he could die.

"I kind of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances.

"I don't regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark.

"Well I can't type forever, I know you want to read more but I thought simple and to the point would be easier.

"I love you with all my heart.

"Goodbye my Love."...

Godspeed, Corporal Starr, godspeed.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2819/3103827

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The Last Letter - Godspeed Corporal Starr:

» Words from a Fallen Soldier from Two Babes and a Brain
Marine Cpl. Jeff Starr was serving his third tour of duty in Iraq when he died of a wound to his heart. Cpl. Starr believed in his mission and at the tender age of 22, was prepared to die.... [Read More]

Comments

[rick]

Holy S*&t, that's a man.

God speed to a true soldier...

"And when I get to heaven, to St. Peter I will tell..
Just another soldier reporting sir,
I've already done my time in hell."

[Melinda]

Makes my eyes sting from tears welling...a good man indeed.

[chuck]

Great soldier Greater man..Knew the cost of freedom well..hope others see the cost.

[Fastest Squirrel]

Wow.

[Christine]

I'm speechless...WoW.

[Christine]

I'm speechless...WoW.

[armynurseboy]

Unfortunately, this letter will always get drowned out by the tubthumping of Cindy Sheehan and her ilk....

[David Hartsel]

Godspeed Corporal, may God grant you rest and your family peace. All of your "older brothers" honor and salute you.

Semper Fi!

[GunnNutt]

The Cindy Sheehans will be relegated to the ash heap of history. Men like Corporal Jeff Starr will always be remembered with honor.

[LonAllen]

Amen to what GunnNutt just wrote. Amen.

[jtb-in-texas]

Dear God,

I am so thankful you sent your Son to die for me. And I am thankful you share people like Corporal Starr with my country for a little while.

Please forgive me for sitting back and taking it easy when I should have been doing what's right. My "Honorable Discharge" really does seem like "filthy rags" compared to the real sacrifices we've witnessed since 9/11/01.

Please make me a little more like you and Corporal Starr. Please let me spend more time helping others instead of being so selfish.

Please make me more quick to respond in love and compassion--and more slow to be angry--when I meet those who seem not to understand we have to pay a price for freedom, and that price is always the blood of better men than me.

Please bless the United States of America and help us always bne ready, willing, and abler to share your blessings with those who need them.

Amen.

[Sgt. B.]

Amen, J.B., amen...

Semper Fi, Corporal Starr... We'll see you on the other side...

[Tati]

God Bless the men and women of our Armed Forces.

[Duane]

Corporal Starr is one of our nations heros for sure. May God grant him and his family peace and

[JoeS]

May God's comfort rest upon Corporal Starr's family and lovely bride-to-be. We send our deepest condolences for your loss.

May the democrat party and Ms Sheehan live in infamy for their treatment of our heroes. Our heroes are not "occupiers." The islamofascists are not "freedom" fighters."

We will teach our children of these sacrifices.

America, God Shed His Grace on Thee through such sacrifice.

Joe Sackett

[BillH]

God bless you and your family,Marine,you are an American Hero.

[The Sanity Inspector]

If we fail in Iraq, it sure won't be because we aren't sending our best people.

Stand easy, Marine...

And thanks for linking to that story, Blackfive. My t-shirt arrived today, and this is my first visit here today, and,...and...

Screw it; 'night, all.

[Robert]

Surely, a better man than I and one truly deserving of heaven.

[MC]

Semper Fi!

Matt, could you please put a hanky alert on posts like these? OMG.

[Smith]

We couldn't continue like we do without soldiers like that.

Godspeed.

[marinecaptain]

Semper fidelis, devildog.

I've never met you but I know I would have been proud to serve with you. Heaven's streets are in good hands. God bless.

[Kirk W. Boland]

I read this story of Cpl. Starr, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

Our song, "And They All Came Home But Me(Once A Marine)" could have been written for him.

Listen or download FREE the song that honors Marines. www.gloryland.com

SEMPER FI,
Kirk W. Boland

[Fielding S. Field]

My hat is off to Cpl. Starr. He was an American patriot, and remains an American Hero. Godspeed to Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, and God Bless his family.

I sent the following letter to Michelle Malkin, who outed the NYT for their attack on Cpl. Starr:

Dear Ms. Malkin,

I cannot thank you enough for highlighting the seditious behavior of the new york times. I find their constant misrepresentation of the news an insult to the citizens of America.

It is obvious to that Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr is an American patriot, and a true hero. To allow his "Mark" on history to be erased by the likes of the NYT would be un-American, and a great sin.

It appears to me that you have the power and reach to keep the truth about Cpl. Starr's heroic service to the nation alive. Suppose you could convince your readers to make ( "Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr" + "New York Times" ), the most popular news search inquiry on the web. We could do this until the anniversary of the NYT article. I think a years worth of this would be a fitting salute to Cpl. Starr. I use this search as my home page. Every time I log on the web my computer makes the Google News inquiry mentioned above.

Again I would like to thank you for your service to history, and to the truth. I think your actions quite heroic. The NYT is a vicious animal to have for a sworn enemy. Keep up the good work, America needs you.:)

Respectfully,

MSgt. Fielding S. Field, United States Air Force (retired)

Lets hold their feet to the fire!!

[Bill Weber]

Wounded soilders,
Fallen men,
Loved ones left behind...
Become the life
I can live,
Thank you Corporal Starr.

A new freedom grows
due to the seeds of life
you and your brethren
have sown into the
soil of Iraq,
Thank you from a former Army Vet....
Our world needs the blood
sweat and tears you shed,
we shed more tears today

Bill Weber

[fullmetal]

I am humbled by the actions of the many, just like cpl Starr, who put their lives on the line every day in the defense of this great nation.
Cpl, even now as you view the face of God, can know that you are not alone, for your words inspire and commit those of us without your undeniable strength.
May we honor and rise to the level of you who are among the best of us.

Thankfully,
Eric