One of our own returns

Rick Duplechin arrived safely back to FT. Hood on Sunday. Riding in 6 buses, the 206 soldiers formed in their platoons outside the gym and then ran in single file formation into the gym
while music was blasting and flags waving. When the soldiers were dismissed it was pure
chaos and joy seeing the families embrace and fathers seeing little ones for the first time.

We shook the hands of many of them with no family present and got to meet 2 members of Rick's platoon. Capt. Ladd and 1st SGT Garrett. Upon introducing myself and the group, Garrett said that my name was all over the place. He said they were so appreciative of the packages that we sent and for some of these soldiers it was the only thing they ever got.

At times, morale would be so low and then they would get a shipment and morale would go back up. The postal workers told them that the 7/6 CAV needed to get their own postal room.

He kept saying thank you and was getting teary eyed, which of course, made all of us teary eyed too. They gave our name to their replacement unit and hoped we wouldn't mind if they were to contact us. Rick said that the pinata that we sent last May stayed up in the chief sergents office as a mascot for quite some time.

PFC Campbell's letter

I am PFC Jon Michael Campbell (top row, 2nd from left). I have had the pleasure of being the recipient of many of your packages, and me and my platoon thank you all so much. We appreciate everything. (Barracks photo shown to right.)

It brings a smile to all of our faces when we hear "Campbell, go to the CP and pick up your packages, again!" Many of the things you have sent us have helped tremendeously, especially the food, as we can't get a lot of it from our Post Exchange here on base.

So that you know that you are helping more than just soldiers, anything we don't need or can't use, gets taken to the Chaplains, who give it to the locals who live around our base and go longer without lots of things that we take for granted. Not only are you helping us, you are helping the local people, which essentially makes our job easier, especially when interacting with them.

Again, thank you very much for everything! If there is anything i can do for you at all, feel free to ask. When i return home I would love to meet all of you and thank you in person. If you ever need help fundraising or getting donations, feel free to ask. I would love to help you after all you have done for us! God bless, Jon M. Campbell

Donation suggestions - Base Attack

Just last night around 2:00am we had our first base attack (at our new Afghanistan base). When that happens, a siren goes off and then just like in MASH, over the intercom it is announced for everyone to take cover in a bunker until further notice. It lasted about 2-hours until they finally announced "all clear." Yes, just a little different than in the "Real World."

Oh, you will be loved by all once those bedding items arrive! As of now, most of my unit is sleeping on old Army cots because the unit we are replacing has not departed yet because of bad weather so everything is overcrowded.

In my platoon we have 20-Soldiers (15-male/5-female). As of now, any comfort items would be appreciated: the bedding items, snacks, general hygiene items, and shower shoes small/medium/large any color (though we have showers they are not the cleanest so we wear all rubber flipflops, which we refer to as shower shoes, and I believe since Summer is coming that Hobby Lobby should be carrying them for like 2 for $1).

Thanks again! And I hope things are going well for you and the Cadets back in the "Real World!"

Letter of Thanks from American soldier in Mideast

I received the first seven packages today. Thanks for sending the valentine cards ... I went around to each of my soldiers and gave them a card for their wives or moms ... will they send them? Who knows ... but at least we tried ... When you're dealing with a bunch of 20-21 year old kids, a lot of times they don't realize how important it is for them to send out cards...they just want to receive them.

Anyway, I'm addicted to chocolate and my supply was running critically low...now thanks to you all I have a whole drawer full of chocolate ... that should last me a month or so...

... my replacement arrived yesterday ... So, I'll have to bring my replacement up to speed with your group so that he can distribute the goodies you send ... Thanks again for the packages.