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| The following are letters sent from Iraq in response to care packages sent to the troops from Everett R, McClay VFW 1296 Dr. Commander Brewer Thank You for the wonderful surprise. We send a heartfelt thanks to you and the members of Post 1296. It is all too few soldier care packages that come to us in Iraq. yours was by far the greatest quality and it showed the amount of care and thought that was put forth in selection of the items. Our Company, Bravo 134th Brigade Support Battalion received six packages from your great organization. Here in Tallil, Iraq the temperatures are often over 120 degrees. On windy days it feels like we are standing in front of a blow drier set on high. It saps our energy and your gifts will greatly ease our burden and make our mission easier to complete. We are a company of less than 100 soldiers who provide field maintenance on one of the Army's convoy logistical fleets. We primarily repair gun trucks for escorting logistical convoys throughout the entire theater. It is a daunting task to keep personnel and vehicles on the road. On behalf of the "Mighty Buccaneers" we thank you for your gifts, thoughts and prayers for us and our families at home. Please accept these tokens of appreciation and your membership as Honorary Buccaneers! ARRRRG! We look forward to future correspondence with you and membership in your time honored organization upon our return. Sincerely. Heidi L. Gauderman Capt. Ordnance, Commanding Dear Mr. Brewer and VFW Post 1296 Members, Thank you very much for the letters of encouragement and for all of the care packages your Post sends. These packages mean more to us than just the goodies inside. While we are fellow Americans, and better yet, our fellow Veterans care so much as to take the time and effort to do such a kind thing. Please keep us in your prayers until all of us get to come home. Thank you Kent L. Siems SSG. IA ARNG Mr. Brewer. Sir, thank you for the packages that we've received from VFW Post 1296. I am a Plt. Sgt. here and received several of the boxes for distribution to my Troops. The support we have received from home is a huge factor in our morale. I have a new level of respect for our Vietnam Vets and what they must have endured because of our "homefront" and lack of support myself & my Troops enjoy. You said that you hoped we enjoy what you've sent as a small token of what we endure everyday (100˚+ heat). You, as a Veteran, endured your hardships in your War and just by having a fellow Veteran acknowledge our hardships is appreciation and thanks enough. You know the hardships of leaving loved ones at home, putting your life on hold, missing so much of everything that you love. You Honor me by acknowledging my hardships and sacrifices. May GOD bless you Mr. Brewer and yes, God Bless America. Sincerely SFC Thomas J. Pesta Plt. Sgt. PSD HHC 134 BSB 34 ID Red Bulls! Dear CDR Brewer: First off I would like to start by saying thank you for all your support that you are providing me and the rest of the Soldiers over here. People like you are why we do what we do. The thrill and excitement are not that great nor is the pay; but when I receive letters and packages from great Americans like you it is all worth while. You are the reason we do what we do and it is great to see this kind of support. You are what make us proud to do the job that nobody really wants to do. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for thinking of me and the many other troops over here and keeping us in your prayers. It is that kind of support that helps us get through the days and accomplish our mission safely and successfully. Now I will bore you with some information about me. I am a First Lieutenant in the Iowa National Guard. I have been in the Iowa Guard for 12 1/2 years. I was an enlisted Infantryman before with the Military. I am deployed with an Infantry Battalion from Waterloo, Iowa and we are attached to an Infantry Brigade from Minnesota. I have been married for 8 years. I am married to a wonderful and beautiful wife named Chastiy and we have 3 of the best kids I could ask for. We have twin boys, Marcus and Justyn, who are 6 and a 4 year old daughter named Daryan. These four people are also the reason I do the job that I do. I know that sounds odd. Why would I do a job for them that requires me to be away from home so often and this time for 18 months? I do it to guarantee they live and grow up in a country that offers so much and I will not let that be taken from them or have them worry about fearing for their lives on a daily basis. My job back home I still wear this uniform. I am a budget control analyst for the Iowa Family Support Program. We work with the families while their loved ones are deployed to make sure they are taken care of and that they are aware of all the benefits that are offered to them during the deployment. My wife is a billing specialist at a family doctor clinic in Des Moines. I live in a Des Monies, Iowa. Some of my hobbies include camping, sports, hanging out with my family and friends, and also golf. I also love to watch my Kansas City Chiefs play football, whether it is on TV or the ever famous Arrowhead Stadium. I am very fortunate as most of my hobbies are also enjoyed by my wife so we are able to most of them together. That is pretty much all there is to tell about me, that I can think of anyway. I will close this letter by telling you once again I really appreciate your letter very much and thank you again for your support of me and my fellow Soldiers. Please pass my gratitude on to all the caring people that have helped. Sincerely 1LT Chris R. Klink Dear Sir, With many thanks and much appreciation I write to you, and those of you, who have given your time, money, and sacrifice to bestow us with the gifts from home. The items in which we received were sorely needed and will all be put to good use. At this time members of my squad and I are located in a small post in southern Iraq. We do not have quick access to the Post Exchange as others do, so the arrival of the hygiene supplies was an instant hit with the guys, and one less concern for logistics crews. The sporting goods are always a big hit, especially the squirt guns. The desert heat, which reaches 120 or higher in July, is a constant strain on the body and the squirt guns will give some much needed boost in morale. Our hearts and minds are with all of you who give so much support to those of us who are humbled by your kindness and generosity. Many thanks SSG Rick Kriesel Members of Everett McClay Post, We appreciate so much your Support of our company in Iraq. It is a pleasant reminder that the majority of the People support us, unlike the minority that everyone hears. We are indebted by your generosity keep us in your Prayers. Your Brother in Arms. Capt. Anton Dittrich Co. A 2-135 Inf Dear CDR Brewer and McClay VFW Post Members, Wow! If all I said was WOW, I'd feel like I was cheating you, but truly, WOW says it all! Yesterday the fine young soldiers who generally stop by once a week or so with a box or a couple letters came into my office and asked if I didn't mind helping them carry in my packages. I teased them about it not being in my job description, but of course I was happy to help. (My Chaplain Assistant had just conveniently stepped out to use the latrine!) I asked them what was the occasion and they said, "You've got about 40 boxes, Chaplain!" In the end, we counted 27 boxes...amazing! It took the rest of the afternoon and another hour in the evening to sort through everything. I watched a video from home while I finished up. You sent us a lot of great items. Thank you. Everything is very nice quality...sometimes we get left over hotel soap and dollar store toothbrushes...never want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it kinda makes you wonder what people think of you. You sent us enough cards and dice to start our own casino!! It is funny, because I was hoping to gather up enough dice to play a certain game (Bunko!) with a group of Chaplains and assistants on Thursday, and had no idea where I would find enough...now I know! You'd be surprised how often this has happened already over here, things needed coming just in time without ever asking anyone for them. God is good. God knows our needs and how to tell others when when we don't. The Unit Ministry Team (UMT-Chaplain and Assistant) is basically helping to stock three display tables now. We started with one up here at the TOC (Tactical Operations Center), our headquarters building. At first there was just one medium sized table with Bibles and religious supplies. Then I built a larger table out of plywood and storage boxes, covered with a desert camouflage blanket I bought with me. Soon this was covered with goodies, games, hygiene essentials, books and magazines. After a couple months, we finally located some small bookshelves to help organize things. And we started supplying both of the MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) tents that our battalion set up down in the two tent cities where most of our soldiers live. We have several boxes set aside for both, as well as restocking our TOC table and keeping some in my office to hand out here as well. We should be set for several months...thanks to your generosity! Please be sure to thank everyone, give them a firm handshake or a warm hug, whichever is appropriate. I know that a lot of Vet spouses help in these efforts as well as the members themselves. You are all very much appreciated and to be congratulated for investing your time, energy, and resources on our behalf. It is amazing how much joy a simple item from home can bring. Gifts like yours help us keep on keeping on is this unforgiving climate and during the lonely hours away from friends and loved ones. I sincerely pray for God's blessing on your life for communicating your love in tangible way to me, and through me to all of us here. Know that your prayers, gifts, and show of support are very real, very meaningful, and make all the difference to real people here and around the battlefront. Thanks for your continued prayer and support back on the homefront as well! Iron Cross, Chaplain (1LT) Raymond W. Leach For God and Country |
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