Articles by Josh Lange

Published July 3, 2025

A common writing assignment for elementary school students involves writing letters to members of the armed forces. This is a great way for the kids to thank the service members for their service, boosting morale of the troops overseas, as well as providing a practical assignment that motivates the students to try their best. Organizations such as Operation Gratitude and Support Our Troops help facilitate the coordination between schools and the military.

In 1991, my father, Randy Lange, was in the Persian Gulf. He was serving in the U.S. Navy on an aircraft carrier in aviation ordinance, helping to carry out Operation Desert Storm. My father’s younger sister, Kelly, at the time was an elementary school student at North Side Elementary in Mishawaka. Kelly’s teacher, after learning of my father’s service, had the class send letters to my dad and other troops from the area. Once thought lost to time, 34 years later, he stumbled across these letters while doing spring-cleaning. He enjoyed re-reading the letters and explained the story to me. Here are some of his favorite letters he received:

“Dear Randy,

Is it hot there? My friend is in the war.

Love, Ashley McGinnis”

“Dear Randy,

I am in Kelly’s classroom. I am Kelly’s friend. I am glad the war is over.

Your Friend, David Nastos”

“Dear Randy,

I’m glad I no [know] Kelly. She is a nice person. My Dad’s friend is in the war. We are sad he left. But the war is over.

Jenny Ballard”

“Dear Randy,

I sit by Kelly. She is my friend. Do you like it there?

Your friend, Amber Wolf”

“Dear Randy,

Kelly is doing good in class. My uncle Tim is in the Navy. My uncle Tim is in the war.

Love, Heather Ryan”

Schools sending letters to soldiers is not uncommon. I vividly remember when I was in elementary, I wrote letters to soldiers and even made thank you cards using cut-outs, crayons, and lots of Elmers glue. I always wondered if they ever read them or even received my letters. In the case of my father, he did receive letters from North Side School students in 1991 and greatly appreciated all the ones that were sent to him. It is amazing that he has held onto them after all these years. 

Randy Lange working on an F/A-18 during the Gulf War