A Reader says "Thank YOU"

Please check out the following e-mail that a sixteen-year-old high school student wrote to me on Thurs., Sept. 25

Subject: Thank you!

My god-dad (whom I call dad) is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and is currently serving in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. After I graduate from high school, I want to follow in his footsteps and join the Army through ROTC at William and Mary. Someday I even hope to be Airborne myself! I am sitting here typing this e-mail in a pair of ACU pants, combat boots, a Nat'l Guard t-shirt that says "Real Action Heroes" and dad's beret.

It is homecoming week at our school, and today is "Hero day."

The choice was clear.

I had to be dad!

Anyway, I am currently taking an Advanced Placement English class. Our teacher is having us do research projects on current and controversial subjects. I chose to do my project on whether women should be allowed to participate in front line combat. I found your book by chance and knew immediately that it would be perfect for the project.

Let me say this. No book has ever affected me so much! And I’m only on page 96! Since I started reading Band of Sisters, I have cried and laughed. I have also felt very proud; proud that these brave women are out there protecting America; proud that they are not in the military just to make a point about being a "woman."

I cannot thank you enough for composing such a wonderful book! If you would, please tell all the women that you have worked with "Thank you" for me.

Thanks, and God Bless!

Sammie