My father forwarded my letter to his Representative, Ed Case. Here is his reply:
December 15, 2005
Dr. Gordon Smith
Dear Doc:
Thank you so much for the copy of the amazing and moving letter by your son, Mark. He captured so perfectly the sentiments of our American service members that I personally heard and felt in my three trips now to Iraq and Afghanistan. He also expressed the sentiments of so many Americans on the most unfortunate politicization of our efforts there in the ongoing debate in Washington, D.C. Please convey to him my sincere thanks not only for his own service but for giving such a clear voice to hundreds of thousands of our in-theatre veterans as well as millions of Americans, myself included.
With aloha,
ED CASE
United States Congressman
Hawaii, Second District