Dear Mom and Dad,

    Today was supposed to be a day full of joy. It was the day after my birthday, and I was playing poker with my fellow sailors. All of a sudden, the hair on my neck started to stand up. I felt somthing looming above my head. I heard a loud cry of alarm. I quickly jerked up my head and stared at the sky. It was full of Japanese bombers prepared to release their bombs. Everything became really hectic. Everyone was scurrying about. The next thing I knew, the explosions had begun. The sky was filled with black and red smoke. I heard piercing screams and cries. I was becoming deaf from the explosions. I quickly jumped into the ocean, thinking that it would be the safest thing to do. I was joined by many of my comrades. Our worst fear had come true. The Japanese had finally attacked. My heart was pounding rapidly as the explosions continued. During a short break, I quickly poked my head out to check out the situation. I saw blood everywhere, and I realized that I was surrounded by dead corpses and body parts. I screamed and was close to fainting. Then my stomach started to feel queasy, and I threw up in the ocean. It was definitely a horrible sight. I almost lost the enery to continue swimming. As I slowly floated along, something small and sharp pierced into my thighs and an intense pain traveled through my legs. I felt somthing sticky on my legs, and I noticed the water around me turning red. I screamed in agony. I felt faint, and then everything went black. When I woke up, i was lying on a stretcher, getting ready to be put in the ambulance. Here I am, in the hospital, hours after the attack. It is midnight, and the doctor just told me that I may need to be on crutches for the rest of my life. Many of my friends are dead. I want to go home. I wish I never came to war. I miss you dearly. I'll try to be brave and get throught this difficult time. I love... Ow! My leg hurts!