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We veterans remember what it meant to us to receive mail from back home.
Below are a few samples of letters and emails from our soldiers.
| U.S. Army Soldiers in Taji, Iraq. Author: US Army |
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/3947490167/; CC license: Attribution 2.0 Generic |
Note left in Destiny Eadie's guest book - December 2009:
LCpl Zoeckler Hertica Jos...: You Guys Rule! My fellow Marines and I received letters from the VVA Chapter 310 in Ann
Arbor, MI. Care packages like these always brighten our day. We are currently in Al Asad, Iraq, and will be pulling out in
the beginning of next year. We appreciate what you guys do and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the support! Semper
Fi! November 16, 2009
Dear VVA Chapter 310 & Terri O,
My name is PFC Jake Frey, and I am currently on
my first deployment to Iraq. I would like to thank you all for putting time and effort into the Care Packages I have received.
The first few months I have been here have been extremely busy, with little time to spare. My apologies for not returning
a letter sooner. Hopefully I will find time or get a day off in the near future to go print some pictures off and send them
your way. Thanks again, PFC Frey (brother of 2009 Miss Washtenaw County, Stephanie) November 19, 2009
Thank you
for the gifts and goodies! We appreciate your generosity. Some “thank yous": Please pass on to the Cub Scout Pack
343 Den 3 a thank you for the cards and best wishes. Shada, thank you for the cards and stickers. Miss Washtenaw County Rachelle
Sweet: Thank you for the autographed picture--and good luck at State. And thank the Hooters girls in Taylor for their best
wishes. I look forward to some wings! And to everyone else who helped, thank you! Joe Ayers CPT, 1192nd Engineers December 4, 2009
To VVA 310: Dear Friends,
I am a lucky sailor deployed to Africa, who has an amazing mother
who signed up her daughter with the local VFW. To say my gratitude from the Care Packages and letter I have received would
be a vast understatement to what I really feel. The boxes of snacks, books, gum, toiletries, socks, shirts, stationery, pens,
pencils and water bottles--I could go on and on. Please know you have brought many smiles not only to me, but to my entire
45-person unit. Not many are lucky to receive such support from back home. And for some of the younger sailors, the Care Packages
are like Christmas to them. Thank you so much for your support, thoughts and prayers. And please enjoy the snow for me!! Sincerely,
ENS Julie Christie December 6, 2009
Dear Vietnam Veterans of America,
I would like to say
thanks for the package you sent to us. We all appreciate them. Things like that help us through the deployment and rough times.
It boosts our morale when people that we don't know are thinking of us. All of us thank you. A few more months left, and
we'll be home. Thanks again and God bless you all. Timothy Iverson, USMC December 8, 2009
Dear VVA
Chapter 310,
PFC Jake Frey writing to say thanks again! All the packages and support are very overwhelming. From all
the personnel in the 209th Motor Pool, a big thanks goes out. With groups such as yours, it makes the time more enjoyable
and helps us forget about the distance that separates us from our loved ones. But, we are a family here too, and the memories
we make here will never be forgotten, especially with packages such as yours! It's like kids at Christmas! Thanks again!
Sincerely, Jake Frey
From The Front:
(From a letter dated September
7, 2009)
This is CPL Iverson. Guess my mom was talking about me at the Blue Angels. I appreciate the package.
That was nice. All of us over here want to say thanks for all of your support in the U.S. We’re kicking ass over here
and going to make it back safe to our families.
Lost a few of our brothers and we pray for them and their families
everyday. That package you sent meant a lot to us. Shows that people we don’t know or have never met are there
for us and that means a lot. That one package boosted our morale. We would all like to say thanks again and pray for
us.
The Few, The Proud, The Marines
CPL Iverson, Timothy
From The Front From 1SG Mays, B Company, 1-5 Cav, 1st Cav Div, postmarked
23APR07 First, thanks for the packages
you have sent. The men in B Company 1-5 Cav appreciate it and want to say “thank you from the bottom of the heart.”
Second, your thoughts provided us with a boost
of morale that was badly needed. Not only that, we have the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans thinking about us and have us
in their prayers. We can only be blessed. We salute you for that. VVA Chapter 310, your kindness is greatly appreciated. You paved the way, that we are following. When we continue our patrols we know you
are there backing us. Thank you from
B Company 1-5 Cav. 1SG Mays
1SG Mays also sent us a card signed by many
of the men in his unit with a note “Thank you! Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans, B Co 1-5 Cav, “Bushmaster, Copper,
Maddogs”.
From SFC Gerry Manalang, HHC 1-5 Cav, 1st Cav Div, postmarked 23APR07
John, just a note to thank you and all your
fellow VVA Chapter members for the generous and thoughtful gifts we received recently. Mere words are inadequate to describe
how we felt when we got the Harley-Davidson items, books and candy. It’s nice to know we are in the thought and prayers
of the folks at home, and more importantly, Veterans like yourselves who we all respect and admire deeply. God Bless you!
Thank you! First Team, Gerry From
Cpl James Timmons, B Company, 2/8 Cav, 1st Cav Div, postmarked 30APR07 Well we just got back in and I got the box that you have sent. It is greatly appreciated.
This shirts (Harley Davidson) were awesome. I had my guys come by and grab one. But by the end they were fighting about who
gets what one or who gets them. It was really definitely something new and I think we all enjoy it very much. I would just like to say thank you for the support
you give to everyone over here. Thanks
for everything. James
(Letter From Marine Gunnery Sergeant Nichols, his
Platoon (14-16 men) is stationed in western Iraq. We have shipped him and his unit 30-35 ‘Care’ packages in the
past 6-7 months. I have also mailed him our last few newsletters.) Holiday greetings to VVA 310, from the Marines of
Communications Platoon, RCT-2. We just completed Operation Steel Curtain and everyone is safe. Thank you for your prayers
and care packages. The Tabasco was right on time! We used it pretty fast in the field, but it was great to have. Sounds like
you all had a wonderful time for Halloween. We have been enjoying the influx of candies also. Thanksgiving has come and gone
for us, but it was a true blessing for us all because we were able to have turkey, ham and yams, and all the fixings. Still
there is nothing like a home cooked meal though. How is winter treating everyone? I plan to visit you guys when I return but
your winters are pretty rough for this Floridian. May or June sounds good for me! I also received your news letter 2 days
ago and I was wondering what your plans are for Christmas? I would like to send in some donations to help with gifts or whatever
is needed. Mr. Kinzinger, your Chapter has inspired us and raised our spirits time and time again, thank you
so much for your prayers, love and support. Gunnery Sergeant Nichols 11/27/05 (The letter was signed
by the guys in his platoon. Can you imagine him over there in Iraq fighting a war wanting to make a donation to our Christmas
program at the VA Medical Center. I guess that says something about being a long time Marine.)
Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi current government employs 12 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools
are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?
Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or
colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established
Fulbright program?
Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5-100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels
and a navel infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance
and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH -!
1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers?
Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies ! in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8
weeks?
Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq?
They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities,
93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.
Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio
vaccinations?
Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?
Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and
10 television stations?
Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?
Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a recent televised debate?
OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?-OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!
Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib
and people throwing snowballs at presidential motorcades and Sheheen protesting the war.
The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes. It is intended to undermine the
world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens.
---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website.
(To all of you who have donated beanie babies and other stuffed animals, this is a special story of thanks coming from
a Marine in Iraq. Although I do not believe this particular bear came from us, ours could also be having the same effect.
Thanks for all your help in filling the 540 Care packages, so far, that we have shipped. We are helping make a difference.)
A story from Iraq, as told by a U.S. Marine Sergeant. From the VFW web site.
As you know, I asked for toys for the Iraqi children over here, and they've come over by the box. On each patrol we take
through the city, we take as many of these toys as we can fit in our pockets and hand them out as we can. The kids take the
toys and run to show them off as if they are worth a million bucks. We are as friendly as we can be to everyone we see, but
especially so with the kids. Most of them don't have any idea what is going on and are completely innocent in all of this.
On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. This is not normal and is very unsafe,
so the following vehicles began to inquire over the radio. The lead vehicle reported that a little girl was sitting in the
road and she just wouldn't budge. The command vehicle told the lead to simply go around her and to be kind as they did. The
street was wide enough to allow this maneuver and everyone waved to her as they drove around.
I soon saw her sitting there, and in her arms was a little toy bear that we had given her a few patrols back. Feeling an
immediate connection to the girl, I radioed that we were going to stop. The rest of the convoy paused, and I got out to make
sure she was okay. The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me. As I knelt down
to talk to her, she moved over and pointed.
There was a land mine in the road.
Immediately, a cordon was set as the Marine convoy assumed a defensive posture around the site. The mine was destroyed
in place.
It was the heart of an American that sent that toy. It was the heart of an American that gave that toy to the little girl.
It was the heart of an American that protected our convoy from that mine. Sure, she was a little Iraqi girl, and she had no
knowledge of purple mountain's majesty or fruited plains. It was the heart of acceptance, of tolerance, of peace and grace
- even through the inconveniences of conflict - that saved our convoy from hitting that mine. Those attributes are what keep
Americans' hearts beating. She may have no affiliation at all with the United States, but she knows what it is to be brave
and, if we can continue to support her and her new government, she will know what it is to be free. Isn't that what Americans
are, the free and the brave?
If you sent over a toy, you took part in this. You are a reason that Iraq has to believe in a better future. Thank you
so much for supporting us, and for supporting our cause over here.
Semper Fi,
Mark J. Francis
GySgt, USMC
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