The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

'Freedom don't come free'

Note: The following article contains information that was found to be untrue. The existence of Kodee and Dan Hennings, and Colleen Hastings was a hoax. 

Click to Read, DE duped in hoax

Dear Editor: My name is Shayla Goldsmith, and I am the wife of Spc. Dj Goldsmith. I just wanted to tell you thank you for supporting the Sandbox boys. Each and every man in this unit is so incredibly special and will forever have a place inside my heart. Especially my husband, because he is my best friend, soulmate and my one true love.

Together we have a 3-year-old boy, who is the light of our lives. And as an Army family, life is tough. As an Army wife you're taught to be a little more independent than the normal spouse, as time together even in peacetime is sparse. Our husbands work long hours, sometimes all night and holidays are sometimes just like any other day. We learn to live without them for weeks at a time when they go to the field or away to school.

I was never lonelier than when I watched the love of my life walk away from me in tears. I can still remember the way the night smelled, the look of tan uniforms against a dark background, how the buses looked and how Staff Sgt. Dan Kennings hugged me and put his arm around Dj and walked up to the building with him. I can still remember Kennings promising to bring him home to me, and how much that promise meant. I drove away that night feeling like I was leaving my life behind.

This year was incredibly overwhelming knowing the grave danger he was in day after day. I thank the Lord every night he came home with no real injuries. I credit this, Dan and the massive amount of support the soldiers received while serving in that wasteland. During our phone calls he told me about reading your paper and how he needed to feel normal and just reading something from home that was upbeat was a great help to his morale as well as helping him feel connected to home. I thank you from the depth of my heart. Your decision to support the boys touches my heart, and makes me so proud.

Most people call our soldiers heroes, and they are, but so are the people who stood and still stand behind them. You and your family are heroes in my eyes, and the eyes and hearts of every other Sandbox family member. God Bless you all and my prayers have and will always be with you all.

There has never been a song that conveys the true life of a soldier ˘ in any branch of the military ˘ more than Toby Keith's patriotic song American Soldier. I hope you get a chance to hear this song, because it means so very much to all of us military families. The words "Freedom don't come free," ring true, as this year cost so very much.

Shayla Goldsmith

proud wife of a 101st Airborne Soldier

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