Letters From The Troops
"I AM SIGNING UP ON THE BEHALF OF MY SQUAD. FOR 6 OF MY
SOLDIERS THIS IS THERE FIRST DEPLOYMENT FOR ME IT IS MY 2ND. I AM JUST
TRYING TO MAKE THEM FEEL AT EASE AND LET THEM KNOW PEOPLE DO CARE ABOUT WHAT
WE DO. BASICALLY JUST LOOKING FOR A LITTLE HELP TO MAKE THIS 15 MONTHS
EASIER ON THEM. WE ARE FROM FT. HOOD TX. WE ARE SERVING IN IRAQ. ALL YOUR
HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
DEDICATION... SGT BRODINE"
A soldier in Iraq can't see your ribbon,
Or the flag at your front door.
But a letter they hold in their hands,
To them means so much more.
10/05/08"
OH I am so thrilled. Please have them write to
info@letterstosoldiers.org and we will forward to those who wrote them.
I also have a SSG friend Jeffrey P. in Active Duty Army in San Diego
working at a wounded warrior hospital who has asked me to come down to meet
his commanders and the soldiers to share my program with them and get them
lots of letters too. I am so honored to do anything I can to help Americans
show their love and appreciation to all these heroes. I will send you more
as I receive them. Thank you so much for writing back. I know this work is
very important. I also plan on sending some special packages for Christmas
around Dec. 1st if you can tell me how many wounded warrior heroes you have
then. Thank you for allowing me to do this.
DD Letters to Soldiers
-----Original Message-----
From: logan.latimer
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 2:41 PM
To: Letters to Soldiers
Subject: RE: 386th CASF
Got your package today, and we're distributing the
letters now. We also
have a guy here who's been giving the contact info
for the emails so
some of the people will receive responses to the
letters =)
Thanks again!
-Logan
-----Original Message-----
From: Letters to Soldiers Sent: Friday, September
26, 2008 11:38 PM
To: Latimer, Logan A1C USAF AFCENT 386 EMDG/CASF
Subject: RE: 386th CASF
I will get a package out asap for the wounded in
your facility too, I
love sending them the special cards we get from
children. This is very
exciting for us to help in this effort. Also
remember when you do move,
to pass on the batton to the next unit in charge so
all injured get our
cards and letters nonstop.
Thanks for looking into the military shipping if
possible. My friend is
a Navy doctor in MD and he can help too. T hansk D.
-----Original
Message-----
From: logan.latimer
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2008 1:14 PM
To: info@letterstosoldiers.org
Subject: 386th CASF
"To whom it may concern:
I was wondering if I could register the facility
I'm working at to
receive letters and other support items. We are the
386th Contingency
Aeromedical Staging Facility located at Ali Al Salem
Air Base, Kuwait.
We receive patients that have been medically
evacuated from different
parts of Iraq, some battle injuries, but lots of
other issues too. I
used to work at the CASF in Germany, which had a USO
in the facility.
The USO provided lots of support type letters,
posters, artwork, etc.
The CASF here in Kuwait doesn't have much of that,
and I am in contact
with the USO and other organizations to help boost
the morale of the
sick and injured troops on their way home. Is there
a way we can
register the entire facility? Thanks for your time
and support.
Respectfully,"
-A1C Logan Latimer
09/25/08 "I
was wondering if I could register the facility I'm working at to receive
letters and other support items. We are the 386th Contingency Aeromedical
Staging Facility located at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait.
We receive patients that have been medically evacuated from different
parts of Iraq, some battle injuries, but lots of other issues too. I used to
work at the CASF in Germany, which had a USO in the facility.
The USO provided lots of support type letters, posters, artwork, etc.
We seem to have a pretty decent supply of hygeine items for the patients,
but letters and other morale boosters, maybe something to hang on the wall
would be great. We probably see 20 inpatients over the course of a week.
The CASF here in Kuwait doesn't have much of that, and I am in contact
with the USO and other organizations to help boost the morale of the sick
and injured troops on their way home. Is there a way we can register the
entire facility? Thanks for your time and support.
Respectfully,
-A1C Logan Latimer"
09/21/08 "
I am thankful for the people out there like you. I received 1 package from
family and friends. I could not begin to count the letters and packages I
received from those I did not know. It is unreal the support I received from
the great people in this country. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO THE MILITARY
PERSONNEL." Marine leftydesperado
09/05/08
"Our 4-H group will be starting their annual
Community Service soon and I feel very strongly about getting these young
girls and boys involved in writing letters to our service men and women. I
need an address to where I can send these letter in bulk. Depending on the
number of our group this year depends on the number of letter to be divided.
If I get sufficient participation, I feel 3 letters per package will be
coming your way soonest. Being Retired Air Force I know the importance a
single letter can be, greater the importance to get these shipped quickly
for the holiday season.
V/r," Lyle W. Hi. Human Resources Assistant (Military) 30 FSS/FSDE
Vandenberg AFB, CA 93437
09/02/08
Read about PTSD study at BYU
Soldier's Iraqi Puppy
Arrives in US, Tail Wagging By FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Associated Press Writer
CHANTILLY, Va. -- A black puppy decked out in a red, white and blue
bandanna jumped out of his crate and wagged his tail at the airport
Monday, three flights and two days after leaving Iraq en route to his
new home with a U.S. soldier.
Army Spc. Gwen Beberg of Minneapolis says she couldn't have made it
through her 13-month deployment without Ratchet, who she and another
soldier rescued from a burning pile of trash in May. Ratchet, wearing a
dog-bone-shaped collar with its name, will spend two nights in a kennel
before flying to Minneapolis, where Beberg's parents will pick him up.
Beberg is scheduled to return home next month.
"I'm very excited that Ratchet will be waiting for me when I get home
from Iraq! Words can't describe it," Beberg said in an e-mail to friends
and family. "I hope that Ratchet's story will inspire people to continue
the efforts to bring more service members' animals home from Iraq and
Afghanistan."
The dog was rescued by Baghdad Pups, run by the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International. The group, which has now
brought 63 animals to the U.S., says the effort both saves dogs and cats
and helps soldiers who benefit from the bond with the animals.
The military bars troops from caring for pets while on duty or taking
them home, citing reasons such as health issues and difficulties in
caring for the animals. The military didn't prevent Ratchet from leaving
but said it wouldn't be responsible for transportation.
Baghdad Pups coordinator Terri Crisp, who brought the puppy back from
Iraq, said animals adopted by soldiers help them get through difficult
times.
"I hope Ratchet and his story will lead to some dialogue with the
military," Crisp said as she stroked the puppy.
Ratchet flew on a charter flight to Kuwait, then flew commercial from
Kuwait to Amsterdam and on to Washington. Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest
Airlines picked up the cost of the last two legs.
Ratchet frolicked on a grassy patch outside the airport before
heading off to Clocktower Animal Hospital in Herndon, Va., for a checkup
and some shots.
"Your tail's wagging!" said Dr. Chris Carskaddan, the veterinarian,
as he greeted the dog. "So cute."
Ratchet didn't bark at all, but let out a whimper during the shots.
Afterward, Carskaddan declared the dog "extremely healthy."
------
Ratchet petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/clemency-for-ratchet
Baghdad Pups site:
http://www.baghdadpups.com
08/20/08
"Thank you for what you do. I know some soldiers
are stuck in situations where they don't get access to phones or email, so
letters do really pick up their spirits. Thank you again" Soldier
07/22/08From Airman in
Iraq we send letters to that needs our help collecting supplies:re: shipping
11 pallets of Tahitian Noni Chews and Neways Personal CAre products to Iraq:
"i'm not sure if they would make it here fast enough, but please
let me know all the information such as your contact number, what exactly is
in the pallets, and how close you are to what air force base. i have talked
to the chaplain here, and they requested that information and for me to
forward them the information and how to contact you. they would love to
have all the donations, but we have to consider things like getting them
here in time and such. it is a great idea either way, and i really hope
that we can take the pallets. steven
" (Air Force Airman in Iraq in
pictures)"
"More comments from Steven about his visit to a Clinic in Iraq:
so today i went and visited the CMOC, it's the Civil Military
Opererations Clinic. it's where the iraqi's come on base to get
help with check ups and medical supplies. i think that it was
pretty satisfying for me. i actually enjoyed going over there and
i've asked to be invited to anything that happens for something
similar. i took some of the boxes that were sent to me to give, but
i didn't take all of them. mostly i took the diapers and the
formula for now. i wanted to leave some stuff for other people to
take over there so that everybody can get that same feeling of how
important it really is for us to be here. doing my normal everyday
job just doesn't always seem important to me, or a lot of the other
guys and girls that i work with. but after going here and seeing
first hand some of the difference that we are making, just by giving
simple supplies to the families here, helped a lot. it's good for
everybody to see first hand what we can do if we all get together
and donate, whether it's time and efforts, or supplies and donations
through the mail. i wasn't allowed to take a lot of pictures, but i
did get a few and i posted them on myspace. all the good pictures
are in my head though, and anytime you guys want to talk about some
of the fun stuff i did get to see, just write me a message or im me
sometime. i enjoyed it, and i hope to do it again."
07/14/08From a Brigade in
Iraq needing supplies from home:
"Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Letters to Soldiers Personnel,
My unit (41st Fires BDE) is currently deployed at FOB D., Iraq.
We're located in a rather remote area. It's in the W., by A.. There are
very few places for Soldiers to hang out or purchase items from. All that we
have is a small PX (about the size of a 20ft trailer), a Green Bean Coffee
(just opened last month), a barber shop (opened last month), a MWR (not in
the greatest care due to other Coalition Forces), and a gym.
I was wondering if our unit could be on your care package list? We have
two battalions that are here and the brigade headquarters equally about
300-400 Soldiers.
V/R
1LT Teresa M."
We will be honored to start shipping letters, cards and we are looking
for a "Base to Base contact here in Utah like Hill Air Force Base to ship 11
pallets of delicious Tahitian Noni Soft Chews and many pallets of natural
personal care products donated also by NEWAYS here in Utah. We are working
to get the contacts to s hip base to base?
Will get cards and letters we currently have received. What is the total
number of letters you can pass out? We have 800.
07/13/08
"Could you please tell me who ide contact-to ask if anyone would help in
donating a X-Box 360 and games to some of our troops in Iraq-Ive had a few
soldgers contact me saying it would be great to have one-Any help would be
great
Thank YouJohn Bushey3 Mechanic Street"
07/08/08
"My son, SrA Steven F. is currently serving at S.A.Base in Baghdad. He
is Active Duty Air Force. Steven is my oldest and only son and I miss
him terribly! Steven has made a point to make sure that all the guys in
his tent (6) are receiving letters and packages so that they know just
how awesome we think they are. He has gotten quite a few letters from
Letters to Soldiers and told me that when they come in, he and the other
guys sit around and read them together. They answer what they can, but
mainly just smile because they know others care.
Steven has also
started taking voluntary donations to help the Civilian Military
Operated Clinic (CMOC) which is a volunteer run women and childrens
hospital run for the families of the Iraqi civilians that have chosen to
work on base.
These guys are working in the sun and sand in horrible heat day in
and day out. He sends me pictures of the sandstorms and tornadoes that
they are exposed to constantly. They stay in full uniform (all long
sleeve) and at night it is still 120 degrees in their tent. I have made
it my goal to let all of these folks know that we support them by asking
everyone I know to send a card, letter, or even a picture and it only
costs a stamp to make our soldiers smile. My family and friends have
been sending the letters to Steven and he passes them out, not only to
the guys in his tent, but others that he knows aren't getting support.
I have the names and address of the guys in Steven's tent and can
also give you Steven's email if you would like to contact him directly.
I'm very proud to say that my son is protecting our country and if you
decide to send those letters and care packs his way, you would not be
disappointed. If you decide to send them elsewhere, that is perfectly
understandable. If you have any extra letters though, I know it would
bring a smile to the guys at Sather.
Sincerely,
Jeanette Able proud mom of SrA Steven F.
John C.
Anthony L.
David H.
Landon S.
Steven B.
Steven F.
they all have the same address and Steven's email is... They
have a time allotment daily that they are allowed to check their
email.
Yes, it is true that shipping base to base is free. If you have an
opportunity to ship from a base in Utah, they can ship it military
and it won't cost anything.
Jeanette
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my
mouth...AMEN..!! "
06/26/08 Please come vote
and help an injured soldier and his family win a home makeover:
http://www.americahometoday.com/homemakeover/stories.php?page=&direction=&aht_hm%5Bsort%5D=rating
"The Redmond's spend
most of their time
helping others.
Kendall is a soldier
that has just finished
serving a year in Iraq.
Just before he was to
return home in May with
his unit, he was in a
car accident that left
him with some brain
trauma. Now he is
waiting for an unknown
time in Texas before the
doctors will release him
to come home. He is a
security officer at UVSC
when he is home.
Sarah is a stay at
home mom of four kids.
She spends extra ( ha
ha) time helping the
kids teachers at school
and is also a Scout
Leader in our
community. She is
always volunteering to
make meals for others in
need and she helped me
personally clean my home
when I was moving to a
new one and watch my
kids while I was
cleaning it too.
They have three boys
from age 10 to 4 and a
daughter that is not
quite 2 who hardly even
knows her dad because he
has been serving our
country most of her
life.
They live in a home
built in the 1800's. It
is made of adobe brick
and there have been
several additions put on
in the past. It is very
hot in the summer and
very cold in the
winter. They use space
heaters to keep the kids
rooms warm. The
kitchen is tiny and
there is not really a
place for the family to
eat dinner together.
I have never heard
them complain. Sarah
always has a smile for
everyone and she is
constantly on the look
out for someone else to
help. They are such a
benefit in our community
and a blessing to any
lives they touch. I
would love for this
family to be touched and
blessed for all they do
for others. "
05/26/08 From mom of
soldier:
"These brought tears to my eyes! Steven and his buddies will LOVE to
hear that their efforts are appreciated! Thank you for letting me read
the emails you sent to them from Americans.
Sincerely,
Jeanette A."
05/23/08
"Hi everyone. My son is stationed in Baghdad on base and sleeping in a
tent. He has been there just since the first of May and this is his
first time going to Iraq. Recently he has been able to email me and tell
me some of the things that they need while they are there. I would like
to share these items with you and hopefully you can lead me in a
direction to someone that would be able to help.
Sincerely,
Jeanette A.
The following are the items that he has told me they would like for
their tent. There are 6 soldiers in his tent.
1.Morale boosters-cards, letters, pictures from home letting them know
people appreciate what they are doing. The guys LOVE getting pictures
and letters from kids because they know it comes from the heart and only
costs a stamp to send.
2. Folding chairs with a spot to put a can in the arm (cheaper to
buy online and have shipped) Theirs are all broken and they have to
rig them to sit in them.
3.Calling Cards to call home and talk to their families. It's been
almost impossible to get the american bases to patch them thru to a
number that isn't local to the closest base. They need regular
calling cards, not international, and would love to pass them
around. Hearing a friendly voice would be the best thing for them
and security for their families to know they are ok.
4.Toiletries-deodorant, body wash (not bar soap),
toothbrushes/toothpaste, razors/shaving cream, sun screen, shampoo,
q-tips, etc. (these should be put in a ziploc just in case they
break.
5.Battery operated fans. Sleeping in a tent at night in 100 degree
weather has GOT to be hard. If they have fans that they can put
right at their heads, I think it would help tremendously!
6.Batteries of all sizes. It used to be that you couldn't send
batteries, but that has changed. Now they just request that you keep
the batteries in the pack, not in the product.
7.Treats that won't melt. I sent Twizzlers, Slim Jims, Gum, and
Mints just to give you an idea.
8.PSP games. He said all the guys in his tent brought their PSPs,
but few games. They would like to have some to share with each
other. It doesn't matter what game it is, even a kid game would be
fine. They just need to have some down time where they don't have to
think.
9.Magazines-new or old. just nothing controversial that would get
pulled. I think that is self-explanatory
10.Puzzle Books-Sudoku, Word Find, Cross-Words, any puzzle books.
They could even be sitting around your house with some of the
puzzles already done. Electronic game versions of these are pretty
cheap too.
-They love to receive anything from home, whether it be in an
envelope, box, cushioned box...etc, etc.
Memorial Day is coming up and I think this is the perfect
time to ask people to help. If it were your child, you would be
doing the same thing I'm doing. I can't do it all, but I'm not
afraid to ask for help!"
05/05/08
From:
PV2 Richard
Contact_City: M. PA
"Hey i
just want to thank you for all that you guys have sacrificed for us to be a
free and safe country. I'm in the national guard. Gonna be goin to Iraq
with my unit in January. I have mixed emotions bout it cause I think that
it is fun, but it will be hard to leave everyone that I love. I'm infantry
so I'm up there in the thick of things. but I just wanted to take time to
thank you for all you have done and sacraficed. Cause when I get over there
I hope that someone will take the time to thank everone that is over there.
God Bless You All!!! <>< We aare all praying For you guys."
03/29/08 "JP,
webmaster of
Milblogging.com. As many of you know, I`m a member of Bad Voodoo
Platoon and Im currently deployed in support of OIF. Over the last year,
several of us includi ng fellow military blogger
Toby Nunn,
have been videotaping our experience. Deborah Scranton (The War Tapes) has
made a film for FRONTLINE called Bad Voodoo`s War that will be airing on
April 1st. The details are below:
BAD VOODOO`S
WAR
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
9 P.M. (check local listings)
In June 2007, as the American military surge reached its peak, a band of
National Guard infantrymen who call themselves "The Bad Voodoo Platoon" was
deployed to Iraq. To capture a vivid, first-person account of the new
realities of war in Iraq for FRONTLINE and ITVS, director Deborah Scranton
(The War Tapes) created a "virtual embed" with the platoon, supplying
cameras to the soldiers so they could record and tell the story of their
war. The film intimately tracks the veteran soldiers of "Bad Voodoo" through
the daily grind of their perilous mission, dodging deadly IEDs, grappling
with the political complexities of dealing with Iraqi security forces, and
battling their fatigue and their fears.
Watch a preview now at:
pbs.org/frontline/badvoodoo
Visit the PBS pressroom for press release and
photography.
www.pbs.org/pressroom
Online starting April 1."
03/18/08 
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Denise,
Here is our Youth PSA.
Thanks for all that you're doing for our families.
MAJ Annette Barnes
State Family Program Director
Suicide Prevention Program Manager
Utah National Guard
03/13/08 Thank you
Chaplain Randall of Sledgehammer Unit for this wonderful plaque and thank
you Video Prayer for Iraq:
Click
picture to see video
03/08/08
"I'm sorry I haven't written to you in a bit...I've been really busy here
at work. Going to start training soon. I read this letter and I loved it. I
recieved your package and I really appreciate it. I gave out letters to my
battle buddies. Please keep em coming, I do really appreciate it and so do
they. Thank you and may God Bless you."
PFC Falto :)
Watch this amazing video from
a Servicemember of Park City Called "First in Iraq 2003"
REad updates from the
Frontline in Iraq:
http://fromthefront.military.com/?wh=wh
About Christian Lowe
Before
assuming editor duties at Defense Tech, Christian
was a senior writer for The Politico covering
defense and national security issues after spending
five years with the Military Times newspapers in
Springfield Va. Always running to the sound of the
guns, he has covered military operations worldwide,
embedding with Army and Marine units in both Iraq
and Afghanistan, observing detention facilities at
Guantanamo Bay, covering humanitarian missions in
Lebanon and New Orleans.
This is Why we
need to write more letters:
02/15/08 Denise,
"I have a lot of battle buddies here that are really missing home right
now, some of them don't even get letters. I do have people here that I think
would like to recieve letters from anyone. That's what we need right now
especially being miles away from home. Thank You
PFC F.
PS. My Address is:
I WOULD LOVE TO HAND OUT LETTERS AND CARDS OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU
WANNA SEND. THANK YOU SO MUCH :) TAKE CARE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
JESS:)"
02/12/08 From fellow soldier to our troops: "Just wanted to let you know that God
is always with you, no matter where you are and what you do. He's always
going to protect you :) I'm here in Kuwait supporting everything that you
do. God Bless You and keep you safe. " PFC J. F.
02/02/08 "I am trying to find someone special to me
so I can write him. His name is L. D. T. and he is stationed in
Iraq. I want to write to him, but I don't know exactly where he is or what
company he is assigned. You see D. and I were high school sweethearts who
finally had a chance to be together again.......that is we would have, but
he received orders to go to Iraq for 18 months. He told me it wasn't fair
to make me wait for him so he cut off all contact with me a couple of months
before he was set to leave. The last time I heard from him, he sent me a
text saying "I have always been crazy about you." on Sept 3rd."
Hear from Troops:
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=media/holiday_greetings.php&view=UT
12/24/07 From an Army Veteran:
"Keep doing what
you are doing - It's great!" Alfredo
http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED 12/12/07
Hi
Denise,
10
minutes ago I received the box of Letters you sent from 7th
Graders in Utah and some emails from several places, printed on
beautiful Christmas Stationery!!!!. They are awesome. I will pass them
on to everyone else. Thanks a lot for thinking of me. The Chaplain’s
contact info:...
Thanks
again for everything you do.
Have a
great Christmas.
Commander Mark Foster,
P.E.
_________________________
REad Blogs
from our Troops in Iraq:
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
Name: Eric Coulson
Date: 12/31/07
Stationed in: Iraq
Milblog url:
badgersforward.blogspot.com
http://badgersforward.blogspot.com/2007/05/doonesbury-sandbox-exciting-news.html
_________________________
"Speaking as one receiving the packages...
by Air Force Warrior @ 4:10am - Tue Dec 4th, 2007
They are appreciated very much! It gives us a very nice
feeling to know that there are people back home that not
only appreciate what we're doing but go out of their way to
spend their time and money to let us know. It never fails to
put a smile on my face and happy feeling in my heart to know
that there are so many fellow Americans who care enough to
show it.
From one of our Utah Singles serving in Iraq:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
“Hi Denise,
Thanks for the packages. Everyone loves the letters. I hope things are going well for you. This is my favorite time of year in Utah. Here in Iraq it's still about 110, but it seems cool compared to what we had earlier. I'm attaching a photo taken yesterday of me and my new best friend (I'm on the left!!!)
*Smiles*
“I feel blessed to know you.
Always,
Mark
P.S. I’ve got emails out, soliciting mailing addresses from different LDS chaplains”.
Mark W. Foster
(Navy Commander)
"Thanks so much for packages. You are so thoughtful. I passed out the goodies to the people I work with. After reading all the cards, I routed them to everyone also. I especially like the notes from the little kids. They are the best! In your words..."Priceless"
Fallujah Resident--temporarily displaced from Utah.
Chaplain
Randy Curry writes:
"This picture was given to me by a soldier from the
Tennessee National Guard. He was reading as part of a the United Through Reading
program out of San Diego, Calif. His daughter saw dad on TV and ran to give
'him' a hug."
"I cannot describe the feeling I have knowing that you and your
community back there still think about us now and then. Our days are long & busy
and sometimes we forget we'll actually get home one day. The items you provide
keeps us going especially the music, the under armor underwear and DVDs, again
thank you. The weather here has gone from extremely hot to very cold. Each week
it gets colder and colder."
Thanks to all the organizations out there supporting our
Troops.
From the Horse's Mouth - Wishes From the Troops
"A lot of our Marines have
children. Most of them were just newborns when we left. Sad reality is that they
are not going to remember their daddies when we get back. And nothing breaks a
Marine's heart like getting rejected by his own child that does not remember him
or her. We want to make small videos where our Marines can talk to their
children or read them stories, and their babies can watch them back home ... If
anybody has any kind of video camera or tapes we would very much appreciate
them."
"When the siren sounds on camp, run as fast as you can to take
cover cause we have something coming that's going to make a big boom ...
incoming artillery, RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades], mortars rockets, etc. You
never know when it's going to be your time--[you need] something to relieve
stress and take your mind off things--magazines, games, being able to call home,
no ATM machines so no phone cards etc. ..."
"Some good things in some packages were Red Bull, it would be
awesome to get some more of that, it is good go juice. Other than that all is
well in this part of the world, it will get a little rough around the holidays,
keeping everybody's head in the game. I am sure nice packages will help lift
their spirits some. I am mainly concerned with the younger, newer guys, who are
on their first deployment. Some things that come to mind are of course beef
jerky, still, lol. Winter is coming, and we were blessed to get a microwave, so
things like Chunky Soup, Chef Boyardee, Dinty Moore stew things."
"There is what we call "moondust" everywhere, it is a
talcum[-]powder[-]consistency sand that gets everywhere ... Food would be
helpful although all we have to cook with is a coffee pot but it works. Extra
long nylon bootlaces are desperately needed here because of the number we break.
Combat socks for tall soldiers is a need here since half of us are over 6'2"
tall. We are moving into winter and under armor cold gear and balaclavas [cloth face masks] would
be a great help. Tactical gloves for big hands would be appreciated too. As for
wants, DVDs, CDs, PlayStation or Xbox games would be most used for entertainment.
As for me, I am 19 and enlisted in the Army while I was still in high school. I
am happily married and my wife is having a tough time with this. It is a great
feeling to know that people at home support us and may not agree with why or
when but that they are still behind us as soldiers. On behalf of myself and my
soldiers I thank you for your support and want you to know that what we do over
here could not be done without loved ones at home and people who care.
Thank you
again.
Thank Yous From Others
"Thank you Denise for sharing my song "My Prayers Are With You
Soldier" on your PSAs, I can't tell you, and you probably know
this too, but I really feel that the Lord led me to your table
that day, and vise versa. I know that we are here to help each
other, and to help out our brothers in sisters, in the military.
YOu are amazing. You are doing great things, so expect great
things to happen. I felt the first time when I wrote this song,
that my desire for it was to go throughout the nation and
hopefully touch every military person and families heart. I like
your matching goal of making sure every military person this
year gets a letter, a package and are taken care of.
Denise, I just want you to know HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU! YOU HAVE
TAKEN ON A HARD TASK, AND WITH THE LORD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
HE LOVES YOU, AND HE IS WATCHING OVER YOU. YOU DESERVE THE
BEST. THANKS FOR BEING YOU. I KNOW THAT GOOD THINGS ARE IN
STORE FOR YOU.
YOU ARE AWESOME!
- Lantern Lane
Mothers of sons joining the Army: "Denise thank you so much. I cannot
stop worrying. I do not know anything about Fort Benning if you have
information please let me know and also if you add my son to the list to
write to that would be so wonderful his name is Cameron he just turned 18.
Is Todd in Iraq? I would love to help you with any flyers and anything
to help the soldiers. I am dedicated now to the cause to help these
incredible men." Val
“My son is 19 and serving in Iraq along with my brother
and I am the Pleasant Grove Stake Singles Rep and want to put a Letters to
Soldiers box at my work and help you get the seniors to write letters at
the Senior Citizen Expo.” Vicki
November 30, 2007
Dear Ms. Denise,
Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding the collection of letters and packages of support for soldiers currently serving overseas. I appreciate your interest in the issues facing our country and state, and I am happy to respond. When you contact me, you help me to better represent Utah in Congress.
I greatly appreciate all the work you are doing to ensure that our brave soldiers currently serving overseas receive the recognition they deserve. Especially during the holidays, sending them care packages and letters from their families, friends, and communities can improve the morale of our troops. I have always been a strong supporter of our brave young and men who serve in the military, and I will continue to ensure that they get the funding they need both when they are abroad and when they return.
Again, thank you for sharing your concerns with me. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely,
JIM MATHESON
Member of Congress
You call
your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever
meet.
Denise, I
received this from a buddy in Iraq. Thought you’d like to put it on
your site.
CRAIG A. NIELSEN,
MSgt, USAF
39 MSS PERSCO Team
Chief
Incirlik AB,
Turkey
REMEMBER ME
http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't qu ite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us
Many of us here volunteer in the local communities. For example, my unit has "adopted" a local deaf school. We collect things for the children such as shoes, clothes, coats, school supplies, etc. Things that they and their families can use. This type if thing is happening all over; there's a lot of poverty out here. Last time I was deployed I was at Balad Iraq. There's a regional military hospital there; you may have heard about it as it's been in the news from time to time. Any way, they don't only treat military, but civilians who are injured by IEDs, suicide bombings, indirect fire, etc. As volunteers at the hospital during off-duty hours, we collected things for the children patients. Things like stiffed animals, shoes, coats, clothes, etc. Also, many of our warriors in Iraq spend a lot of time outside the wire in the local villages. There they see a lot of need in those villages as well.
How about the next time you send a package, please include in it something that a needy child may need. I assure you, your wonderful gifts will find their way to those that need them. The school is in need of art supply items such as paints, paint brushes, paper, colored pencils, crayons, etc. If you're interested in helping out please send me an email at cnzeus@comcast.net
Thanks,