From another war, a lesson in loyalties.

Byline: Bob Welch / The Register-Guard

In 1970, Diane Sansom - now Diane Krause - was a Springfield High freshman struggling with the war in Vietnam.

Two classes - World History and Emerging Nations - had gotten her thinking deeply about America's involvement.

"My best friend and I would cry when we watched scenes of the war on the nightly news," says Krause, now 49 and living in Eugene.

It was, she recalls, a confusing time. She disagreed with the United States being in this war but felt deeply about those fighting it. When she read in the paper about "Operation Christmas Cheer," a chance to send letters and snacks to servicemen, she knew what she had to do.

She and a friend skipped school one day, baking cookies and fudge and writing letters to a few of the local soldiers listed in the paper. She included some poetry she had read.

"The cookies and fudge were terrible, I'm sure, but we poured our hearts into the letters to the young soldiers," she says. "We felt such empathy for them."

Months later, she received two replies. One was from a Bradley C. Allen, a South Eugene High graduate. The other was from a Chester Cline, a McKenzie High graduate. Both were 20 years old.

Allen wrote mainly about his opposition to the war. "Peace," he ended his letter with, "is a better idea. Let's give it a chance."

Cline, the McKenzie River soldier, wrote a more general two-page response, thanking Diane for the letter. He especially had liked the poetry - "young people today have got a lot to say, and that's good" - but pointed out that he supported America's involvement. "I'm glad to be part of it. Please write again. Your letter did more good for me than anything I've read in quite awhile."

There were no other exchanges. The war ended. Krause's family moved to Central Oregon. After high school, she returned to the valley, went to the University of Oregon, worked, eventually got married and now lives off River Road.

Despite a dozen moves, for some reason she couldn't throw out the two letters. "I guess it's because they just touched me so deeply. It's hard to put into words. I felt this bond with those guys."

She kept the letters in a shoe box. "Whenever I'd move, I'd see that box and find myself re-reading those letters. They'd always bring tears to my eyes. I've often wondered if the two young men survived the war."

Then, a week ago, she saw it: an obituary in The Register-Guard for a "Chester Cline." She knew that name, but from where? She began reading. Cline died at 81 and had lived in Vida. Survivors included a son, Chester, of Blue River.

The light went on. "I realized the man's son must be one of the guys I'd written to. He had survived."

On Tuesday, Krause called Chester Cline in Blue River. "I was so nervous, but I knew if I didn't call him then I'd chicken out," she says.

"It was so awesome. I just said, `I want to thank you for what you did for our country.' '

Cline is now 54, having raised a couple of families and spent most of his life as a logger.

"To tell you the truth, it was kinda neat hearing from her," he says. "She said she couldn't believe I wrote back. But when I was in Vietnam, it was neat to know that people were behind the troops, even if not necessarily behind the war."

He was amazed Krause had saved his letter for more than 33 years.

"I told him it's the same thing with our troops in Iraq," she says. "It's important for those guys to know we support them."

I haven't tracked down Bradley Allen, though he's not listed among the 58,193 Americans who died in Vietnam. But on this Veterans Day, I hope Krause's remembrance of him and Cline reminds us of something significant.

Regardless of how we feel about the wars that soldiers fight, may we keep their sacrifices tucked away in our own shoe boxes. And remember them no matter how much time passes. Or how often we move.

Bob Welch can be reached at 338-2354 or at [e-mail].