Good evening Douglas,

I want to thank you again for your performance in Storm Lake Iowa, my daughter still talks about it and how you kept her attention throughout the entire play. I’d like to share with you a story about when I was on deployment, and after coming home. A Promises Kept!

I was called up to deploy in July of  2010 to go over to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I was in the Iowa National Guard. I knew before deployment that my dad, a man that I always looked up to, had been having health issues and yet I didn't know to what extent they were. I was sitting on Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan and it was the night of my 36th birthday. I'd been talking to a friend from home on the phone and she told me that I needed to call and talk to my dad and express to him that he didn't need to lie to me. I had a sinking feeling that something was wrong so I hung up with her and instantly called him. Upon my dad answering the phone and wishing me a happy birthday, I said dad is there something I should know about concerning your health and please don't lie to me? 

I heard his voice crack just a little and knew I might not like what I was about to hear. He tried to pass it off saying I had enough to worry about with being in Afghanistan, I didn't need to worry about him and that he'd be ok. I was persistent thou and said that that's not what I wanted to hear, and that I wanted to know the truth.  He then explained that he had brain cancer as well as a brain tumor over his eye. I started crying and said you should have told me before. We both sat there crying on the phone for a while and then talked about fishing and such and a few good memories we had of me growing up. I made him promise that he would fight his battle and I'd do everything in my power to come home safely to him and the rest of my family. 

I was able to go home over the Christmas holiday and spend Christmas with my dad. We stayed up almost every night laughing and reminiscing about stuff. Gotta say that was one of the greatest Christmas's I've had in a memory. We again promised to continue fighting our battles and make it through until I came home in July of 2011. 19 July 2011, I stood in the back of a school along with my brothers and sisters that I had deployed with, knowing that in a few minutes I'd be able to make good on my promise to my dad. (I'm getting a little emotional right now as I think back to that day.)

I could feel the energy coming out of that gymnasium (It was electrifying to say the least) as we lined up to march in and take our place in front of our families and friends. We entered that gymnasium to a standing ovation and hero's welcome. I stood there on the risers scanning the audience knowing that my dad was somewhere out there and that soon I'd be in his arms. After several speeches they dismissed us and I made a bee line to go look for him.

My daughters were there with their mother's and after hugging them I asked where my dad was. I seen him ( man the tears are welling up in my eyes) and I grabbed him and all I could say is "I made it dad, I kept my promise to you. I'm home and I love you." We rode home together that day and I felt like a king. Sadly I lost my dad shortly after Thanksgiving of 2011. I got to see and spend more time with him before he went home to heaven. He reminded me every chance he got before he left us that he was very proud of me for serving our country. I think of my dad often and know that he's watching down over me from heaven.

Thank you for everything you are ding with your play!

Veteran SPC Donnie Madison Jr