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Sgt. Noah Adamson
PO Box 1199
Syracuse, NY 13220
Phillip and Elizabeth Zarzour
440 N.C. Hwy 98-East
Bunn, NC 27508
December 19, 2005
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Zarzour,
My name is Noah Adamson and for much of the past year I've had the pleasure of serving with your son, Timothy, in Afghanistan. I am back in the States now due to a serious leg injury I suffered a few weeks ago when a bomb went off in my vicinity. I've felt compelled to write since I was shipped back home just to tell you what an amazing young man your son has become. He talked of you both very fondly and often, as well as his other siblings. I hope he would not mind you writing to him.
When I first met Timothy, he was a pretty salty fellow, if I'm being honest. His language was, well, coarse, and he just seemed angry at a lot of things. But I've really seen a transformation in him over these many months. He attributes a lot of that to you and your Christian faith, which he has now very much taken for his own. In recent months, it's been rare to see him without a Bible somewhere on him or a Scripture on his lips. He rarely, if ever, uses foul language any more and there is a certain peace about him and confidence that I've not seen in many people in my lifetime.
I'm not sure of the root of these changes, though I'll speculate that having your life on the line on a daily basis -- and being confronted with your mortality often -- will make you examine what you're made of and where you believe your future should be after we leave this world. I'm sure your many prayers and the life-lessons you poured into him all these years has made that difference as well.
Timmy is a true servant. I've seen him forgo food on more than one occasion so that he can give it to needy children in villages we patrol. He usually takes on the toughest assignments without regard of the cost and has "the back" of the men in his unit with him. He has more than once made decisions "in the heat of battle" that have saved lives, at his own peril at times.
I owe him my life as well. When the bomb went off that took a big chunk of my leg, it was him tending to me promptly -- even while he was slightly wounded himself from being nearby the blast -- that kept me from bleeding to death. I may not be able to walk again without a limp, but things could have been much worse if not for Timothy.
May God bless you and your family for bringing up such an amazing young man, whom I now count as one of my best friends in the world -- a brother even. I know it will be tough this Christmas to not have him home with you. But be of good cheer knowing that he is serving his country with much honor and courage, and more importantly serving the God that you so richly follow and believe in.
Merry Christmas and may God be with you and your family in the New Year.
Yours,
Noah
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