A ten-year-old St. David?s boy has begun a pen pal correspondence with a Bermuda-connected US soldier currently serving in Iraq.

Raanan Ben-Aviel?s has been writing to Spc. Barrington Hull, 20, of the First Battalion, 15 Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, since March. Specialists are a unique rank in the US military between private and sergeant.

Raanan has formed a unique pen-pal relationship with Spc. Hull after his cousin Karana Simmons asked Raanan if he would be interested in writing to the Georgia based soldier.

Spc. Hull?s mother is Bermudian Patricia Hall and his grandmother is Adrie Lightbourne. He was born and raised in the US and has made occasional trips to the Island.

Earlier this year, Ms Simmons had been planning to write to the serviceman but realised that Raanan has a strong interest in the military and thought he might get more out of writing to Spc. Hull.

The correspondence shows how the letters have been keeping up the spirits of the soldier and the boy. In one recent letter, Spc. Hull wrote: ?Being a soldier is okay. Sometimes I have my good and bad days. My job is to fix tanks. Pretty cool isn?t it?

?Remember always to do your best in anything you do. Don?t let nobody tell you can?t do anything. As long as you believe in yourself and trust in God, anything is possible my friend. Don?t worry you will turn out to be a fine soldier someday.?

Raanan, who lives with his grandmother, Barbara Goomark in St. David?s, was keen to write a serving member of the US forces in Iraq because he sees the military as a force for good.

He was in Albany, New York during September 11, 2001 attacks and believes the troops in Iraq are there to restore peace.

?I have written to Barrington saying I want to be in the army one day but I don?t believe in guns, I want to help people,? Raanan said.

An avid follower of current events and history, Raanan is considering becoming a medic in the US Army, following other family members who have served.

Spc. Hull, in his letters to Raanan does not directly discuss the war but says his thoughts are with his relatives in Bermuda, and his mother.