Sgt. 1st Class David J. Salie

Betty,

First of all, thank you. David and I were 25 and 24 when we were married and David was already a seasoned solder. He had a combat jump into Panama, was in Desert Storm and was in the liberation of Haiti. He told me that he wanted to go to 3rd ID and do his part in the war. Of course I was not happy. I did everything to stop him. I begged, I pleaded, I even threatened divorce, but in the end……..David knew me too well and knew I would never leave his side for anything in the world. He was transferred to 3rd ID.

In Nov. before he left in Jan. David told me one night that he didn’t think he was coming back from Iraq. I thought he was nuts. I felt he was just worried about his 42 men under him, his brother that was in Baghdad and leaving the kids and I. He told me that he had never felt like this before and that he was pretty sure about it. Looking back I know see how serious he was. He wanted a body tag. He told me that if they didn’t find certain parts of his body they would usually find a truss and he wanted to make sure that part of him came home to me if anything happened. He changed his life insurance and even got more. He took out insurance on our automobile to make sure it was paid off if anything happened and he went so far as to give away some of his clothes. I should have seen how serious he was, but it never dawned on me that he could be right. The nite before he left he locked himself in a room and made DVDs for our children, Chyna, Luke, Hunter and myself. He told me that he wanted to make sure he was with his children one way or another on their important days. That is the kind of daddy he was.

As a husband………………………David is the love of my life. He never missed a day telling me he loved me, unless he was in the field and if he could email, he did it then. He wrote me poetry, as well as the kids, telling me how much he loved me and how much I meant to him. David was the one person I could share anything with because I knew he would love me regardless. He was just that kind of man, he knew how to love unconditionally. I miss him terribly and sometimes I wonder how I’m living through this, but I am. I have the 3 greatest gifts David Salie had, Chyna, Luke and Hunter. I have to take care of them and be strong for them. Thank you so much and know that your hard work, time and effort will forever be appreciated. You have given us something that will be handed down to mine and David’s grandchildren and great grandchildren………..Anyway, thanks again.

Take Care,

Deanna Salie