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Letters To Soldiers is a volunteer crew sending letters, care packages and support to our troops in Iraq.

How Can I Help?

Your donation will help us ship what soldiers need most - messages from home. Don't Google it, GoodSearch it:

ATTN: Want to give to 4 Charities of your choice $1 each and get your own Profile/Website for only $4.99/mos.? Come support Letters to Soldiers at (Our friend Dave Osmond signed us up.)

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Volunteer

Help us send letters and packages, or organize letter-writing in your area! Find out more...

Send a Letter To a Soldier

Take a few minutes and send a message to a soldier in Iraq.

Help Us Help Others

Do you know a soldier who could use a letter? A military family in need? Have a cause that could use some help? Let us know!

Links

Letters to Soldiers would like to collect Cell Phones you don’t need all year round please email us for details. We can put a box at your business. Or drop off a prepaid calling card at our Costco LEtters to Soldiers Box for us to send to the troops!

Iraq War Veteran Troy Yocum is hiking 7,000 miles across America, banging his drum and sounding the call for $5 million to help military families in need. With Emmie the SuperDog by his side, he took the first step of his 16-month quest on April 17, 2010. Now they are on track to complete the western leg of the journey. All the way from Kentucky to California on Veterans Day.

"As most of you know I started a foundation called "A Soldiers Promise" here in the great state of Utah. It is a support for service members who suffer from PTSD. To date it has consisted mostly of on line and phone support for our troops who have needed information about PTSD and how to seek treatment for it. Occasionally I have transported someone to a treatment facility or gone to their home to help their family member calm one of our troops down after suffering from an anxiety attack.

Soon we will expand this support to a group setting. It is a known fact that part of recovery is hearing from others who suffer the same challenges. It helps to know that what they are going through is normal and that they are not alone. In numbers we find strength. We will also have a drug and alcohol counselor, and an equine therapist at some of these support meetings along with a touch therapist to work with family members to become active in their recovery as well. We want the families to understand what their service member is going through so they can be of help instead of harm in the recovery process. This group is anonymous and will stay such so that our service members will feel safe coming forward and seeking help for their PTSD.

If any of you are willing and able to help with this support group in any way, I am asking that you please contact me via email at soldierspromise@yahoo.com or our website at http://www.soldierspromise.com We are in the beginning stages of getting this group together and we need all the help we can get, please let me know if there is anyway you can help. I would appreciate you forwarding this on to anybody that might be able to get involved as well as anybody that might find this group helpful to them.

God Bless!"

-K. J.

Suicides Skyrocket Among Young Men and Women in the Military

"On July 23, 2009, the "Air Force Times," reported that the US Senate has ordered "an independent study to determine whether an increase in military suicides could be the result of sending troops into combat while they are taking antidepressants or sleeping pills."

Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-Md), who pushed for the study, said he does not know whether there is a link, but he believes prescription drug use, especially when it is not closely supervised by medical personnel, needs a closer look, the Times noted.

"One thing we should all be concerned about is that there are more and more of our soldiers who are using prescription antidepressant drugs ... and we are not clear as to whether they are under appropriate medical supervision," Cardin told the Times.

"Surveys ... have shown that as many as 12 percent of those who are serving in Iraq and 17 percent of those who are serving in Afghanistan are using some form of prescribed antidepressant or sleeping pills," he said. "That would equal 20,000 of our service members."

"Death by suicide is at record levels in the armed services," according to Dr Peter Breggin, one of the top experts on psychiatric drugs in the US.

"Simultaneously," he says, "the use of antidepressant drugs is also at record levels."

"The army confirms that since 2002 the number of suicide attempts has increased six-fold," he notes. "And more than 128 soldiers killed themselves last year."

The FDA requires antidepressant makers to list the following adverse effects on the labels of their drugs: "anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity ... and mania."

"We are giving our troops drugs that provide a prescription for uncontrolled, disinhibited violence, including agitation, irritability, impulsivity, hostility, and aggressiveness," Dr Breggin points out.

"During Vietnam, a mere 1% our troops were taking prescribed psychiatric drugs," he reports. "By contrast, in the past year one-third of marines in combat zones were taking psychiatric drugs."

"Instead of shortening tours of duty, instead of temporarily removing stressed-out soldiers from combat zones, and instead of providing counseling--the new army policy is to drug the troops," he notes.

In his latest book, "Medication Madness," Dr Breggin describes dozens of cases in which peace-loving citizens became suicidal, violent and psychotic from taking antidepressants.

As of July 19, 2009, on the website, "SSRI Stories - Antidepressant Nightmares," (http://www.ssristories.com), there were over 3,200 news stories, mainly criminal in nature, that have appeared in the media (newspapers, TV, scientific journals), or were part of testimony at FDA hearings on SSRIs in either 1991, 2004 or 2006, in which antidepressants are mentioned.

"Even these 3200+ documented stories only represent the tip of an iceberg since most stories do not make it into the media," the website points out."

HOmes for Troops" is building two more homes in Utah for Severely Wounded Warriors from Utah.

"Thank you for viewing my request. I work for Homes for Our Troops, a 501c3 non-profit that builds homes for severely wounded service members at no cost to them. Please visit us at www.homesforourtroops.org to learn more. We are preparing to build our second and third homes in UT. One home in Salt Lake City, UT for Army SPC Bryant Jacobs <http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BryantJacobs> and one in Cedar City, UT for Army SGT Travis Wood. <http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TravisWood> Both of these young men are very deserving of a specially adapted home so they can start their new lives with their injuries. On their web pages you will get to read their story and see photographs of them and their families.

I am reaching out to you because we have worked with the Patriot Guard Riders on past projects and events and I know your organization is a huge support and such a presence throughout our events! I wanted to see if you would consider putting something in your newsletter and website about this projects.

Right now we are in the beginning stages of both of these homes and I am planning Community Dinner and Ground Breaking events for both. Salt Lake City, Bryant Jacobs will be held on the 18th of February and Cedar City, Travis Wood, will be held on the 17th of February.

Thank you very much and feel free to contact me with any questions."

Meaghan Lambert <mailto:%20MLambert@homesforourtroops.org> Project Facilitator

Homes for Our Troops 37 Main St. Taunton, MA 02780 P - 508-823-3300 F - 508-823-5411 T-Back www.homesforourtroops.org

SPC Bryant Jacobs

Salt Lake City, UT

Bryant Jacobs

SPC Bryant Jacobs, 24, was serving in Iraq when he was severely injured on December 3, 2004. With just a month to go of his year-long tour of duty, Bryant was injured when his HMMWV was hit by an improvised explosive device, which instantly killed another Soldier in his unit.

The team was conducting a routine route clearance and was on a return sweep when the IED exploded. The blast hit the passenger side of the HMMWV, throwing Jacobs from the vehicle.

Bryant is currently living in an apartment that isn't accessible. He says, "Honestly, words can't describe how thankful I am for a fully accessible home. The little things like taking a shower that is hard every day will become easy again."

Help us build Bryant a home that will accommodate his needs and enable him to concentrate on recovering and living a normal life.

Please consider donating supplies or labor or making a monetary donation

SGT Travis Wood

Cedar City, UT

Travis Wood

SGT Travis Wood was serving in Afghanistan when he was severely injured on January 14, 2007.

Travis sustained multiple severe injuries when a roadside bomb detonated near the truck he was driving. He had to be cut out of his harness and pulled out of the truck - with a broken back, crushed pelvis, punctured lung and much more.

The passenger of the vehicle pulled him into a nearby ditch where they waited 1½ hours for a helicopter to pick them up and get them out of danger. Travis has had to endure 83 surgeries so far to repair his injuries.

SGT Wood is currently living in an apartment near Walter Reed Army Medical Center with his wife Stephanie and their 4-year-old daughter Maddy. He would like to live closer to his family in Utah, but finding affordable homes that are accessible isn't possible.

Help us build Travis a home that will accommodate his needs and enable him and his family to concentrate on recovery and their future.

80 more dogs and cats that our US Military have befriended are waiting to come back with them to US. YOu can help: If you would like to donate any items to Operation Baghdad Pups, please click here for our most regular used items.

Congratulations Melissa and all Utah Tax Liberty Service franchises that braved the cold for 2 days in Utah, and paid 99.5 radio $1,000 to get live radio feed, bought pizza, hot chocolate and donuts, and thanks SLC ARMY recruiters for braving the cold too and collected 649 cell phones, and over 600 accessories. WAtch for Utah County Liberty Tax SErvice event March 5-10 when they offer free tax service to Police, Firefighters and Military! They have a goal to collect 2,000 phones here in Utah. "We are collecting used cell phones to donate to Cell Phones for Soldiers. This is a nonprofit organization that uses the money collected from the sale of the phones to purchase calling cards. The calling cards are then sent to our soldiers so that they are able to call home without incurring any expense.

We have set a goal to collect 200 phones – the phones do not have to work and they do not have to be in any specific condition. All phones and accessories can be sold for money that will be used to purchase calling cards.

If you are one of the 153 million Americans who don’t know what to do with their old cell phone, help a soldier by donating them by contacting us at info@letterstosoldiers.org

Featured Sponsor - AT&T has donated more than $500,000 worth of prepaid phone cards to Cell Phones for Soldiers and is now offering all 1,800 company-owned wireless store locations across the country as drop-off sites to help recycle used cell phones for the program, through July 2008!"

Dear Brittany and Robbie Bergquist,

I want to personally thank you for what you do for our servicemen and women serving in the Armed Forces. I am the Company Commander for Co B 163rd Logistics Task Force, a unit serving in Afghanistan. We are helping the Afghanistan people to rebuild and secure their country. We received your calling cards from our Family Readiness Group and distributed them to our soldiers within the last month and they are grateful for your support and this wonderful project you started back home. They are using the cards to stay in contact with loved ones and families. It makes us proud to serve our great country knowing there are wonderful citizens such as yourselves. We also feel that supporters like you are our heroes and give us the inspiration to do our best for our country. Thank you again for all you do.

CPT Timothy A. Wood
Kabul, Afghanistan
Company Commander "

Memorial that has travelled over 22,000 miles in 5 months in Memory of Mike Legmiller:

www.mikesguardianeaglefoundation.org

Other Programs supporting our Troops with gifts:

You can make your own stockings, buy stockings, create gift bags or decorate
boxes. For more information or to receive FREE Shipping information to our
SLC warehouse, Email to operationgive@comcast.net. Call 435-512-4956.
Packages can be shipped to: Operation Give c/o Million Air Cargo 430 N 3700
Salt Lake City, Utah 84122

Paul Holton and kids
<http://www.operationgive.org/images/email/op_christmas_stocking/photos.jpg>”

Pebbles in Your Pocket in Utah is donating Card Making Supplies for all Military families to make cards with Troops for Cards for their family members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

CLICK LOGO TO GO TO SITE

We started Military.com in 1999 to revolutionize the way the 30 million Americans with military affinity stay connected and informed. Today, we're the largest military and veteran membership organization — 10 million members strong.

Military.com's free membership connects servicemembers, military families and veterans to all the benefits of service — government benefits, scholarships, discounts, lifelong friends, mentors, great stories of military life or missions, and much more.

We believe that the benefits earned in the service should be easier to access and written in plain English. We're passionate about helping members make the most of military experience throughout life.

Military.com's members are sharing stories, insider tips, news from the front lines, and unique slices of military life including the tough stuff of war.

Military.com provides headline news and technology updates since our community answers the call and makes news. We also cover the rest of the military experience — from great content like our user-generated videos in our popular "Shock and Awe" feature to our military equipment guide we present what makes the military unique (and fun).

In 2004, Military.com joined forces with Monster Worldwide (NYSE: MWW) to accelerate our growth and change the playing field for career and educational opportunities for servicemembers, veterans and military spouses. Monster's vision is bringing people together to advance their lives, which is a great fit with Military.com's "members first" ethos and goal of connecting the military community to all the benefits of service.

How valuable is this Web Site? Military.Com has 10 Million members. VISIT NOW

CLICK BANNER TO GO TO SITE

The primary mission of the Armor 4 Troops Foundation is to provide new and replacement "state-of-the-art" anti-ballistic eyewear, Under-Armour, personal gear, and other critical equipment and services directly to United States troops in the field that are currently engaged in war zones or other peacekeeping and humanitarian missions throughout the world where combat violence is a threat.

Our secondary mission is to help provide financial assistance to families of our critically wounded troops that have been admitted to Walter Reed Hospital or Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C. for severe trauma treatment. We will also provide a variety of "after-care" services to our critically wounded troops that have sustained the loss of limb or eyesight.

There is a great need by our troops and the situation is: CLICK HERE

Operation Stephen's Touch

A Compassionate Listening Service for Military
Family Members Living Without a Loved One

Operation Stephen's Touch is an outreach ministry of the Stephen Ministry Program at Grace Presbyterian Church in Plano, Texas. For further information, email us at info@stephenstouch.org or call us toll free at 1-888-40-TOUCH (408-6824).

The person who is championing having this service available to military families has been a Stephen Minister for three years. Her husband, Stephen Peterson, was also a Stephen Minister. He died ten years ago from Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as a result of Agent Orange Exposure in Viet Nam. That's why she has taken to thinking of the idea as "Operation Stephen's Touch".

In addition to helping military families by providing a compassionate listening service, Operation Stephen's Touch honors the memory of her husband. She understands the value of having someone besides a family member or friend be a true caring listener during a time of grief.

To learn more about volunteer and donation opportunities, email us at volunteer@stephenstouch.org.

CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO SITE

My name is Angel Ramsey and I am from central Pennsylvania. I became interested in care packages for deployed U.S. service members when I learned about a co-worker's son who was in Iraq.

In October 2005, everyone at my place of work put together a large care package and shipped it out to him. A few weeks later, his mother posted a "Thank You" letter for everyone to read. He expressed how thankful he was for everything everyone sent. He also mentioned that he shared many of the items with the others stationed with him because they don't get much. When I read that I knew there was something I could do to help. God prompted me to take action to meet the needs of others, and I took that opportunity.

That's when I decided to start this Website. The whole idea behind this site is to "connect us with them". Many people I talk to want to help the troops, but don't really know how. Through my site you can "send home to them" and help make a difference in a deployed service member's day.

I am a one-woman team. Much of my spare time is devoted to answering emails and maintaining this website. Every day I continue to use this site to help others find a service member to send support to. To date, I have helped connect over 10,850 deployed members of the U.S Armed Forces with sponsors, and this number grows each day.

Since 2005, I have personally sent hundreds of care packages filled with home to our troops overseas. I have large shipments around the holidays, but I also send packages throughout the year.

For frequently asked questions CLICK HERE

CLICK BANNER TO GO TO SITE

This is a unique web site and one I encourage all of you to visit. You will not be sorry because there are many things of interest, including "The Promise" by Sammy L. Davis, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor Winner, Vietnam. You MUST READ THIS

CLICK BANNER TO GO TO SITE

Camp Patriot exists to take Disabled U.S. Veterans on outdoor adventures.

The task is monumental. Today, there are over 2.3 million disabled veterans in the U.S. The number of disabled men and women veterans is growing with each day the war on terror continues.

These brave veterans sacrificed much in order to ensure our safety and freedom. All of these veterans had dreams about the future, but many of those dreams were lost due to injuries suffered in the line of duty. Outdoor activities that they hoped to do in the future have vanished due to their disability. We want to thank these veterans by showing them that with the right help, they can again enjoy the great outdoors.

CLICK HERE to read about their VISION and their QUEST.

Check out the Camp Patriots Corp. Web Site. "They are giving back to those who have given!"

MERCY CORPS

"Over the last five years in Iraq, Mercy Corps has undertaken one of the most significant relief operations in our 29-year history.

We provide food, medical aid and schooling to displaced children and families across Iraq. We support women's groups, promote equal representation and aid disability-rights campaigns. We enlist Iraq's best and brightest to lead our programs and to decide — as Iraqis and for themselves — the best direction to take their country.

I recently returned from a two-week trip to Iraq, where I met decent people from all walks of life — who together still possess tremendous potential to fashion a decidedly more decent society in a place filled with turmoil and human suffering. These everyday Iraqis are the agents of positive change we must empower.

You can help by taking action now to keep needed aid flowing to humanitarian assistance for Iraqis.

Congress is reconsidering funding for a program essential to rebuilding Iraq. It's called the Community Action Program, or CAP, and it helps promote grassroots democracy and better local governance by empowering Iraqi community groups.

Please let your Congressperson know you support this program. Call 1-866-340-9281 and ask to be connected to the office of your Representative in the House. Ask them to sign the "Dear Colleague" letter being circulated by representatives Blumenauer and Shays that supports the CAP in Iraq.

The late astronomer Carl Sagan once referred to science as "a candle in the dark." I think Mr. Sagan would agree that in the dark corners of today's world — places like Iraq and Darfur — humanitarian agencies are candles, too.

Thank you for helping Mercy Corps illuminate a new path for the Iraqi people" MercyCorps.org.

Veterans Network
Veteran Network.org is on-line television programming for veterans. From the Main Channel guide you can easily access shows on the Veterans News Channel, Eleven Bravo. Homeward Bound, Step To The Plate, and The National Veterans Foundation Channel.

American Academy of Ophthalmology The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership association of Eye M.D.s. Eye M.D.s are ophthalmologists, medical doctors who provide comprehensive eye care, including medical, surgical and optical care. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members, and the Academy has more than 7,000 international members.

Blackmilitaryworld.com
The premier informational resource for African Americans in the U.S. military and veterans. Site includes U.S. news, information, history, recognition, statistics and relative to African Americans veterans, active, reserve members and civilians in the U.S. Armed Services.

Little Treasure Publications
The company's mission is to publish books of integrity that speak to the hearts, minds, and souls of our readers; books that will put readers in touch with their inner core, offering them direction wherever they may be along their journey in life. By choosing to publish books of inspiration, the spirits of authors are renewed, and they too find both personal and professional hope and encouragement.

Fifty cents from each book will go directly to the American Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund. Orders can be placed at www.littletreasurebooks.com.

ARBA: Army Review Boards Agency
ARBA's mission statement: "We serve the soldier and the veteran in a courteous and timely manner; we decide their cases on behalf of the Secretary of the Army with justice, equity, and compassion, and in the public interest; and we present our decisions in clear and concise responses".

The Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum It is the birthplace of America’s Flag! Navigate through history and learn about Mary Pickersgill and the Star-Spangled Banner. Plan your trip, download our free flag pack, buy a flag, and Make a Difference.

The Desert Storm Memorial Drive, Inc
This web site is dedicated to the Gulf War Veterans who served in the Desert Shield/Desert Storm War. Their mission is to start a public campaign to raise the necessary interest and the necessary funds to build our Gulf War Veterans a National Memorial. While they recognize and honor those who are serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, for the purpose of this web site, a distinction is drawn between the war in 1991 and the ongoing war in Iraq today.

U.S. Census Bureau Public Information Office
Find links to a wealth of factual information about veterans, from the US Census and other official government sources.

The Pentagon Channel broadcasts military news and information for the 2.6 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces through programming including: Department of Defense news briefings, military news, interviews with top defense officials, short stories about the work of our military, among others.

Boy Scouts of America is one of the most diverse youth groups in the country, serving boys of every ethnicity, religion, and economic circumstance and having programs for older teens of both sexes.

The American Pain Foundation is a a nonprofit organization that serves as a clearinghouse for issues related to pain management. The foundation reaches out to veterans who are in pain and provides them with educational information, and support to improve their pain care, decrease their sense of isolation, and encourage them in their pursuit of a better quality of life for themselves and their families.

Veterans History - An act of remembrance is an act of honor! Freedom is not free!

www.operationchristmas.org sends Christmas to children of fallen soldiers. Thank you Robert for your great work.

Operation Helping HEAL Inc., provides financial assistance to wounded service men and women returning from our current overseas military operations. During the Vietnam War there were 4 wounded to every soldier killed in action. Thanks to advances in medicine, body armor and logistics, today’s ratio is twelve wounded to a single deceased. Our current system is unprepared to handle the high numbers of wounded servicemen. The severity and scope of the conflicts have exceeded our government’s estimation, and as a result, many of our soldiers are falling through the cracks.

An audit conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO, dated Feb. 2005) found that "Gaps in Pay and Benefits Create Financial Hardships for Injured Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers." In the thirty-eight cases reviewed, twenty-four, a startling 63% of all wounded servicemen and servicewomen, experienced "gaps in their pay which often resulted in financial hardship." The majority of the 150,000 soldiers currently on duty in Iraq are Reservists and National Guard.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office says hundreds of soldiers are running up giant military debt because of the government's cumbersome pay system. [PDF] April 2006