[DRASTiK]

Man, I know what you're going through. I remember when I was in boot camp for 13 weeks, not only could my girlfriend at the time not stay with me, but before she wrote me the letter, she couldn't even stay faithful to me. I wasn't even gone 2 months at the time I received the letter telling me she was sleeping with my best friend.

It happens all the time in the military. It's just a sad fact of life. The only was I could look at it was that I had committed myself to something more important than some high school type drama filled relationship and didn't have time to mess with it. It almost killed me being stuck at boot camp knowing what was going on back home. That was only 13 weeks and two states away, and when you compare that to overseas tours in other countries, it seems like nothing.

There are women out there that aren't this way, and I was lucky enough to marry one after being in the Corps for almost three years. We've had some hard times, but she's strong and I can trust her with all aspects of my life when I'm not around.

Don't give up man, but just accept the fact that this can and sometimes will happen when you leave. Don't beat yourself up over it because there's nothing you can do. You're supporting a great Nation and you are an asset to this country. Don't forget that.

Dave