Minnesota soldier Lt. Col. Mark Weber, who is dying of stage four gastrointestinal cancer, wrote a book called "Tell My Sons" for his three boys, but it is also being published, to be released early in December.

Weber has been battling cancer for about two years. He got the diagnosis just a few weeks after Gen. David Petraeus asked him to join his team in Afghanistan.

Weber spoke with the Rosemount Town Pages about the journey he has been on since, and why he wrote the book.

He tells the publication: "This is a story about empowerment, encouragement, and inspiration; its primary message is to focus not on what will be lost or what you don’t have, but to focus instead on what you do have, and what to do about life when it doesn’t give you what you want or expected."

Weber has documented some of the journey on his Facebook page.

He gave a moving address in June at the Minnesota History Center. At the event, Weber also sung the song "Tell My Father" with one of his sons, and the two shared an emotional embrace: