Letters from our Soldiers

Jerry Juan

Ms. LeAnn, On behalf of our men and women in uniform here with Naval Special Warfare Unit Three(NSWU-3) and Joint Special Operations Task Force – Gulf Cooperation Council (JSOTF-GCC) in Bahrain, I would like to thank you and your staff for sending us these care packages. We really appreciate it. Thank you very much and God bless America! Take care and have a nice day.

Very Respectfully, HMC(EXW/FMF) Jerry Juan

Captain John Capra

I was delighted to get a care package from you this week, it was extra special when I saw it was from the Boy Scouts. I was a scout way back when and have fond memories of belonging to a special organization such as the scouts, working on projects with my dad like the pinewood derby car and some of the excursions we took with our scoutmaster.

I have served in the Air Force for 28 years and have had the good fortune of having scouts come out to our base for tours, when I welcome them and give them our unit mission brief I always reflect with them how my membership in scouting was my foundation for a very successful military career.

The values that scouting instilled in me also has lit the path for success my personal life, like the strong family bonds with my wife and kids, actively involved in making my community a better place to live, and acting as a role model as a leader in our local 4H club.

I am proud to be an American, and even prouder yet to be afforded the opportunity to serve in our nation’s military, defending what this great nation stands for. So, when I am overseas and a fellow American sends well wishes it is received with great appreciation.

I leave you with this from my memory:

“I John Capra promise to do my best, to do my duty, to god and my country, to help other people, and obey the law of the pack”

Thank you for supporting me and my brothers(and sisters)-in-arms.

God Bless America,

Captain John Capra Public Affairs Officer

TSgt Jamen Berry

My name is TSgt Jamen Berry. I’m currently deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. I received a care package from you over the holidays and greatly appreciate it. There were so many goodies I couldn’t even eat them all. Once again, thank you very much and God bless.

SSG Bryan Tate

I just wanted to thank you for the care package that I received over the last year during my deployment to Afghanistan. I’m not sure that I can put into words what it means for me and my fellow soldiers when one of these packages come in. The simplest things that come in the boxes that even we forget about from the real world make us all smile and enjoy what we have just a little bit more.

Steven Patterson

To all the people involved with the care packages, we all appreciate the time and consideration put into them. It means a lot to know people care and would take the time out of their lives to do something generous for us. Thanks again.

Joe Brewen

I just wanted to say thank you. Today I received my first care package and it truly was a great feeling. Everything that I received was most needed. Please pass along to the contributors as special thanks from me. It truly makes the military personnel receiving these packages extremely happy given the circumstances and living conditions we are in over here in theater. I’m looking forward to the next one. Thanks for making my day!

Garrett Degler

Thank you so much for the care package!!! It was really nice to receive everything that you had sent. It is awesome to know that there are people like you that try as hard as you can to help out the military as much as you do. Keep up the great work that you are doing!!! I read your paper and here are some pictures of me opening the box. Thank you again.

Cory Paul

SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

Hi, Cory Paul here. I am currently in AFG working as a logistics partner for the Afghan National Army. It has been a valuable experience in many ways. This country is very interesting and beautiful. There are many snow caps within eye's view. It is starting to warm up here as well. I will take the cold for as long as i can because my last deployment was Iraq and it was long and miserable hot + I'm from Iowa so i am partial like you to white winters and a little frost. Our mission is going well and we are learning alot about our partners. They do well with what they have but are constrained by technology and also corruption. The later makes everythig twice as hard. Communication is key and we have a long way to go. Spring is bringing many new chanllenges and operations.

Just wanted to extend my thanks to your organization STT, Milwakee Police, dipatchers, Lutheran work group and all others. Your generosities make our day. We have good food but these "snacks" are great as we don't have any place to purchase these types of items on our base as we are too small. We share all that we get through community corner! Please know that you've made soldiers happy! I salute you. I thank you for your service and devotion to city, state and country as many say it but very few "do" it or live it. I will cc you guys in future mailings and hope that my repsonce and updates provide a portion of the warmth that came this way. thanks.

Sincerely

Cory A Paul

LtCol. Matthew M. Sieber

From the Commanding Officer

Greetings from Iraq. We have now passed the halfway point in our deployment and we’re on the downhill slope to getting back to our family and friends. I must report that the Marines and Sailors of 2d LAAD Bn have established an incredibly positive image and reputation for the Battalion. We have a fantastic family of Marines and Sailors. As I move about to see the Marines and Sailors in their various missions, I am greeted with motivation, teamwork and professionalism at every stop. There’s nothing more motivating for me as a commander than to pull up to an entry control point in 115 degree weather and be greeted by a smiling face of a Marine, just pouring sweat, who loves what he’s doing and is motivated about coming to his post everyday. I get the same positive feeling at every stop – guard towers, patrols, entry control points, motor transport maintenance bay, the chapel, the Battalion Aid Station – everywhere I turn.

I would like to assure you that our Marines and Sailors know what they’re doing and they do things right every time. They take no shortcuts and conduct themselves professionally in every scenario. We have a phenomenal bunch of Non-Commissioned Officers in our Battalion who take charge and carry out their missions flawlessly. Every time I talk to them, I am reassured by their confidence and proficiency.

I need to pass along my special thanks to the families and friends of 2d LAAD Bn. We’ve had great support from all of you while deployed. I have personally received multiple care packages,coffee donations, and letters of support for our warriors. I know the Sergeant Major and many others are receiving the same or more. It makes a difference. When I receive packages, I usually take them to the coffee shop and set them out for the Marines. Morale in that area is always high.

Thank you all for your support. Keep those letters and emails coming – communication with our loved ones is the top morale booster we have. We’re all looking forward to our return after completing our mission successfully.

Semper Fidelis,

Matthew M. Sieber

LtCol USMC

PFC Eric Dick

Hello my name is Eric Dick. I am stationed over here in Korea and have received gift boxes from you. My father, sister, brother and family all live there in Hartford. I thank you and everyone that has donated stuff for me over here as it is all being used by myself or fellow soldiers. Some of the soldiers over here would also like to start receiving stuff as gifts from you. Their names are Bryan Hodkins and Ryan Jones. UNCSB-JSA Unit 15162 APO,AP 96205.

We are stationed in Pan Mun Jom South Korea. It is the most northern unit stationed next to the North Korean border at the 38TH parallel. We are 400 meters south of the southern most border of the demilitarized zone the DMZ. It is very hard for us to get down south to get supplies that we need so when you send us stuff it is used by the whole batallion. We are a small group of soldiers up here with about 55 U.S. personnell. Thank you for all your help and support of the soldiers out there defending our beautiful country. Some of the stuff you all send we cannont find here in Korea so it is very nice to get stuff from the states that we all love.

Thank You for all your support and gifts that you send,

PFC Dick,Eric

UNCSB-JSA

Zaradhe Yach

Afghan family receiving help at base clinic

LeAnn,

My name is Lieutenant Commander Zaradhe Yach and I am a Family Nurse Practitioner stationed with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghazni, Afghanistan. As the Senior Medical Officer for our unit, my team and I take care of our unit (sick call, medical support on our convoys "outside the wire", etc.), augment our Forward Surgical Team during MASCALs (mass casualities--when many are injured and the staff of the FST need help), work with the health care system of Afghanistan to improve care to the people, and run a local national clinic on the base. At our local national clinic, we have an Afghan doctor and midwife who see about 50-100 men, women, and children per week for all sorts of illnesses and injuries. The people who come to this clinic often can't afford health care, medicines, or transportation to doctors let alone things like shoes, toys, hygiene items, etc.

I have been working with my commander, CDR Philip Kapusta, to obtain and distribute donated items to the men, women, and children who come to the clinic. It is so rewarding to bring smiles to their faces with even small items that show that we care and that we understand how very little they have and what a struggle life is here day to day. The Beanie Babies you sent are perfect!

It really is a small world...I am originally from California but I went to Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI and my husband, also a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, is from Stevens Point, WI. Thank you so much for your support of the military here in Afghanistan and thankful for your thoughtfulness in keeping the children of Afghanistan in your hearts.

Please feel free to continue to correspond and I would greatly appreciate any future carepackages with items for men, women or children!

With Warm Regards,

Zaradhe

SSG Sean R. Jones

Ms. Boudwine,

My name is Sean Jones and I'm currently deployed to Iraq. I recently received your popcorn packages. My Soldiers and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It brought a smile to their faces. It let them know that they're not forgotten.

Thank you,

Sean

SSG Jessica Becker

To all who helped make our troops Christmas a little brighter,

We cannot thank you enough for all the care packages you have donated, taken time to assemble, and mail to us in Iraq. The Soldier's at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bucca greatly benefited from your generosity and thoughtfulness and appreciated the many snacks, personal hygiene items, writing supplies, books and many other items provided by you. Please accept the attached certificate of appreciation as a thank you from our Facility Engineering Team located at FOB Bucca.

V/R,

SSG Jessica Becker

Project Manager

Camp Bucca, Iraq

Lt. Jacob L. Stephenson

I would like to take a moment to thank you for the care package I received today. I have had it on my desk for less than an hour and have already enjoyed a bag of popcorn and a good portion of the chocolate covered peanuts. I have already utilized the fitness magazine to help make a good healthy workout for my section. With things shutting down around us, as the war draws down, it is increasingly difficult to find a lot of items we used to have access to. It is a blessing to have organizations like yours to provide us with the comforts we are missing out on. Thank you again for keeping the members of our wonderful military on your mind and in your thoughts.

Lt. Jacob L. Stephenson

Sather AFB, Baghdad, Iraq

Dear American Legion Post #19,

Words can not describe the thanks and gratitude we as Soldiersfeel from all of your efforts ensuring we have a taste of home. Your packages are uplifting and always brings something comforting to a Soldier walking by. Your service and dedication in sending packages and including your entire VFW Post is exactly what Americans need to continue. I am very humbled you choose myself and have thought enough of me to send such a nice gift. I tell everyone back home who supports our Soldiers that they are the Heroes' in this War. Without support from great Americans such as all of you, it makes our days, months, and our long 15 month deployments all that much longer. Again, thank you for your generosity, selfless dedication to surrounding communities and Soldiers such as myself. I have three boys and just while I have been here we had our daughter , born in November. I have only seen her in pictures, she is beautiful. I am stationed in VA where my family resides until my return as we originally are from Wisconsin ; attended school at Hartland Arrowhead and spent many years working at the Golden Mast on Okauchee Lake for Hans Weisgerber. My wife is amazing to handle all the kids, two dogs and manages to keep a tight home. I have it much easier out here,however she disagrees with me. I wanted to get this letter out in the mail but mail from here to the US takes at least 14 to 18 days. Please know I do appreciate your kind gestures and it has made my week.Life Member of the VFW Post #8252 ( Gloucester , VA ) and Life Member of the American Legion Post #45 ( Elkhorn , Wisconsin )

Dear Family and Friends,

I would like to thank you for your continued support throughout the last 15 months.　 The love, prayers, letters, emails and packages were more than I ever expected and were truly appreciated by myself, the patients I cared for and those I work with.　 As my deployment comes to a close, I just wanted to let you know that I am on my way home shortly and if you could please hold on to any care packages and letters you were planning on sending.　 If you have care packages you would still like to send, please address them to the Chaplain instead of myself.　 The Chaplain always makes sure care packages and items get to the people who need them.

Love, Patty

Hey Leann,

I know you said you were looking for new names to send care packages to and I think I have one for you. My mom sent me a whole box full of sugar cookies today and I knew that there was no way the guys in my shop and I could eat all of them. There are only seven of us, so I walked up to the place where we go to pick up mail and left them up there for people to eat. Anyways I told the guy that works there that my family keeps sending me all of this stuff and I almost don’t have a use for all of it. I loved the sox and soap and stuff that you sent me though thanks again. But anyways he said "you must be really loved I still haven’t got a care package" I couldn’t believe it I guess I take all the wonderful people in my life for granted a little because I get so many I thought that everyone got at least a couple. So hear is his info I know that a care package would really brighten up his day and I know that he would greatly appreciate one. I’m telling you there is no place like home there are really some wonderful people in Wisconsin and you are definitely one of the best. Again thank you so much I can’t tell you how awesome you guys are!! Happy Holidays

My son is stationed in ..Air Force Base. Hopefully, he will be home in Feb. You never know, they are constantly changing the date.　 He tells my husband more than me of course. He knows how much I worry about him. My niece's Girl Scout Troop sent cards and pictures to his flight. For some that have no families it is a precious gift. I just want him to come home the same person. I know he has seen and done horrific things. I deeply feel for granddaughter. There is nothing quite like a Mother's love! Your family sounds so courageous. Thank you to your family for protecting our country and again thank you for all you do.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Greetings and salutations.

Please accept my heartfelt thanks for the boxes of snacks and other "goodies" you have provided for me and my fellow Airmen deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. The Girl Scout Cookies are a huge hit...many folks have longed for the spring time ritual of thin mint cookies or Samoa's and you have provided a touch of "home" for many of us. There's nothing like sitting down in the evening with a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate, a box of Girl Scout Cookies and good company to wind down after a long day - we are very thankful for your support!

As I enter my 9th month of this year-long endeavor, I'm thankful for the continued support from phenomenal organizations and partnerships such as yours. In 3 months I'll leave here...head back home and be part of a support structure, similar to the one you've created, and know first-hand how important getting a box from "home" is...it is a great morale booster!　 Attached is a small document which provides a snap shot of the "day in the life" of our organization...plus some others which I thought you might find interesting. Please pass on a special "THANK YOU" to Maddie for the card and kind words, and a "SHOUT OUT" TO Rachel and her Girl Scout Troop--Troop 2118, and Megan.　 Megan drew a picture of an American Flag with the following note (which I will keep with my deployment book forever)..." America means a lot to me It's where I live It's a place where you can play with friends..."Her words are why many of us decide to be part of the United States Military - it is wonderful to receive words like that from a child!Your organization's dedication to support the TROOPS is a huge testament to the American Spirit and the long lasting desire for American's totake care of their troops abroad! Please pass this note on to the Starbucks Coffee at 443 W. Paradise Drive , West Bend , WI - Thanks again.