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Fallen soldier's words deliver an enduring message

By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 25, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Dana and Richard Baum, of Aurora, parents of Sgt. Ryan Baum, hold a letter their son wrote to a woman in Pennsylvania who randomly sent him a Christmas card in 2006 when he was in Iraq. For some reason, Ryan Baum, who was killed May 18, 2007, never mailed the letter.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Dana and Richard Baum, of Aurora, parents of Sgt. Ryan Baum, hold a letter their son wrote to a woman in Pennsylvania who randomly sent him a Christmas card in 2006 when he was in Iraq. For some reason, Ryan Baum, who was killed May 18, 2007, never mailed the letter.

Baum wrote that letters and cards mean a lot to soldiers.

Photo by © Baum Family Photo

Baum wrote that letters and cards mean a lot to soldiers.

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The Christmas card from a stranger wishing him and his fellow soldiers a happy holiday brought some peace to the Army medic whose emotions were raw from war.

Ida Pavesi of Pennsylvania and had never met Aurora native Sgt. Ryan John Baum, but the card he opened in Iraq two years ago connected them in a way that only now is becoming apparent.

Baum wrote back to Pavesi thanking her and saying he forwarded the card to another soldier. He also asked Pavesi and other Americans to keep the letters and cards coming during the holiday season. But for some reason, the letter, sealed in an envelope, was never mailed.

Dana Baum, Ryan's mother, found it last year as she sifted through her son's personal belongings.

Ryan Baum died May 18, 2007, of wounds he suffered in battle, the day before he was scheduled to go on leave for his daughter's birth. The 27-year-old's widow, Amber, and daughter, Leia, now 11/2 , live in Pennsylvania.

Baum graduated from Aurora's Smoky Hill High School in 1997 and enlisted six years later. He graduated from Special Operations Combat Medic School in 2005, and a year later was deployed to Iraq.

Her son is gone, but Dana Baum said his message about the importance of sending letters and cards to military personnel far from home is enduring.

"As far as getting letters and cards, I just think they need to have them all year long, not just for the holidays," Dana Baum said. "They just need to be told about how people care about them and are thinking about them."

Although she'll never know for sure why her son didn't mail the letter to Pavesi, Dana Baum thinks maybe he just needed a stamp.

She suggested that people include stamps in their cards and letters to the troops.

Dana Baum has forwarded her son's letter to Pavesi. She included a photo of Ryan and a personal note about his death.

"I personally wrote to her and said that her card had meant so much to him and that it was joy for him to have received it during Christmas," she said.

In his letter to "Mrs. Pavesi," Ryan Baum wrote:

"I am the senior medic in my company and during the holidays it is very hard mentally on my soldiers. I myself have a beautiful wife at home who is pregnant with our first child. Now more than ever does the little things matter for me and my soldiers.

"It doesn't matter who sends us letters or cards, it is always nice to hear from home. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. God Bless, Sgt. Baum."

* Dana Baum said people can find out how to send letters to U.S. troops overseas on the Web site anysoldier.com.

Comments

  • December 25, 2008

    8:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    toocool writes:

    Again for all of us to see, the strength of America. His message finaly reached its destination. As a Corpman here @ Camp Pendleton, I'm very well aware of his dedicaton first for his soldiers, mine for my Marines, no difference. Mrs. Baum, I hope you and little Leia will find happiness in view of Sgt. Baum's loss, and thanks Mrs. Pavesi for sharing this very private moment between you and his lovely family...Merry Christmas.

  • December 25, 2008

    10:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DenverTea writes:

    "An enduring message", Not "a enduring message" RMN, where are you getting your writers and proofers?

  • December 25, 2008

    10:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    aset13 writes:

    My mother, her cousin, my sister, and I all send 100 Christmas letters organized through our Ladies Auxillary of our Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8121. We are lifetime members and range in age from 38 to 71 years old. Our Auxillary then sends these letters to Troop Fan Mail who then sends them to service men and women of all branches of the military throughout the year. I've heard back from people who just this year received my 2006 letter and I've been doing this since 2003. I've even heard from officers who came across my letter and thought that my letters shouldn't go unanswered because they were sitting in a box and hadn't been distributed. My mother heard from a mother like Mrs. Baum which was bittersweet. We will continue to send our letters out even if some of them never make it to their destination or end such as they did in this article. Merry Christmas everyone and hug your loved ones while you have the chance.

  • December 25, 2008

    4:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dlprobert writes:

    Hey Denvertea, my guess is that you didn't finish school. Here's the rule: If the word following the a/an begins with a vowel, it's "an". If it begins with a consonant it's "a". For example it's "a" Christmas tree, and it's "an" Angel. Make sure you know what you are talking about before you make yourself look so dumb again!

    As a veteran, I too, wish the entire family all the best, especially at this time of year where I am sure they miss their son/husband/father so much. His sacrifice will not be forgotten by the humble veteran.

    Merry Christmas to all along with my wishes for a prosperous New Year!