Before Leaving for Afghanistan, a 26-Year-Old Soldier Wrote Two Letters to His Wife and Baby Daughter—What They Found After His Death Was Heartbreaking

In 2010, U.S. Army Lieutenant Todd Weaver was serving his second tour in Afghanistan when he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED).

He was only 26 years old. He left behind his wife, Emma, and their nine-month-old daughter, Kiley. Neither would get the chance to say one final goodbye.

But Todd had quietly prepared for the possibility that he might never return home.

Two days after his funeral, Emma opened the laptop he had used while deployed. There, she discovered two Word documents saved on the desktop.

One was titled “Dear Emma.” The other was “Dear Kiley.”

Todd had written a personal farewell to each of the two people he loved most.

His letter to Emma began with words that no wife should ever have to read:

“Well if you are reading this, I guess I did not make it home and therefore, I was not able to remind you again of how much I love you.”

He reassured her that his love would remain with her, even though he could no longer be by her side. He encouraged her to find strength, care for their daughter, and eventually allow herself to be happy again.

Then Emma opened the letter addressed to their little girl.

Todd knew Kiley might be too young to remember him, so he wanted to leave her something that would help her understand how deeply her father loved her.

“The best day of my life was the day you were born,” he wrote.

He expressed his sadness that he would not be there to watch her grow up, writing:

“I am so sorry I will not be able to see you grow up.”

But his message was not only about loss. He included advice for her future, encouraging her to work hard in school, treat others with kindness, and remember to say her prayers.

He ended with a promise of love that would last beyond his lifetime:

“Your Daddy will always be proud of you and will always love you.”

For Emma, reading those letters was an emotional experience. Although the words brought enormous pain, she later explained that they also gave her comfort and strength.

She eventually chose to display both letters on her wall, keeping Todd’s words close to her every day.

More than 16 years after his death, those messages remain a precious connection between a father and the daughter he never had the chance to watch grow up.

Todd could not return home to hold his family one last time. But before leaving, he made sure they would always have something to remind them of his love.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, Todd Weaver. May you rest in peace. Your love for your family will never be forgotten.