Fighting in the Shadow of Iraq

Eleven soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division have died in Operation Enduring Freedom, said Maj. Daniel Bohr, public affairs officer for the division. The remaining members began arriving home last month. The Pentagon recently announced that 2,000 soldiers from the 10th were being deployed to Iraq.

During his six months in Afghanistan, Golding earned commendations for finding and securing a weapons cache in an enemy cave. He also was cited for helping to remove his squad and then securing their helicopter after it was forced to land in hostile territory. He received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

"He did some pretty amazing things," Coffin said after reading his letter of commendation aloud.

Golding was married with two young children, including a daughter born last September whom he had never met. For his birthday on Jan. 30, Coffin made a card, a five-page collage of pictures from his childhood. She sent it to him in mid-January.

Golding was killed two weeks after his birthday.

"I didn't know whether he got it or not," Coffin said.

Several days after she buried her son, Coffin received a letter from him, postmarked Feb. 7.

It read, in part: "I have to say I just love the card you sent. It's funny, I can remember all those pictures. It takes me back to the past that's so full of memories."