Corporal Thomas Garrison kept a single envelope in his uniform pocket through every deployment. It wasn’t a farewell or a last message — it was a reminder. Written by his daughter when she was eight, it simply said:
“You're the bravest person I know. Come home proud.”
Thomas never opened it again. He didn’t have to. Her words lived in his heart. Every tough march, every moment of doubt — he touched the letter and remembered who he was fighting for.
Now retired, Thomas shares that letter with new recruits at basic training, passing on a simple truth: courage isn't just in the battlefield — it's in the reasons we rise.
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