|
Ms. Clontz,
I just received the most wonderful packages
from you and the Yellow Ribbon Girls. I wrote a hand-written thank
you but I'm not sure how long it will take to get there so I just
wanted to write a quick e-mail to thank you for your incredible
thoughtfulness and generosity. Carl Kusbit worked with our company
for about 6 months and he is definitely one-of-a-kind. We miss him
terribly, his enthusiasm, his skill and knowledge, and his
personality. Please tell him we said hello. I'll be sure to get
all the packages out to the Soldiers. Thank you again and please
keep us in your prayers!
-Margaret Larson
C Company TF Knighthawk
We hope to take Russell up on his
offer and have him stop in to box packing once he is home
and settled in. He is from Wexford. This is his
second or third time on the mailing list. He found us
while he was stationed din Afghanistan in a military Post
Office. He noticed all the care packages from the
Yellow Ribbon girls and that we include dour email address
on each box. He took a chance and emailed us letting
us know he was from our area. We quickly adopted him
and have been in contact with him since.
While Patti
was set up at the Festival in Ewing Park she had the
pleasure of speaking to several of our returned heroes and
their families. They ALL wish to send their THANKS AND
APPRECIATION TO ALL OF YOU!!! Plea consider yourself hugs by
a hero with this email. Your part in completing our
circle of support is valuable and much appreciated by us and
the troops around the world.
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!
B
Hi Girls,
I received
your care package today. As always thanks for your Support,
and please thank everyone that has helped you put these
packages together for us this past year.
I would love
and come and meet some of them when I get home the end of
September.
Thanks again
Russ
We can't thank
you enough for the generous box we received in the mail
with your note in it. Here is what we did with the
things you sent
over.
1. It was like
Christmas getting a box from back home
2. We
opened it and saw many home made things and lots of goodies.
3. We have over 600 troops that we take care of
so the boxes are
taken to them during the course of their
crazy busy day and the minute I
walked in with the box,
their eyes lit up, they are so very thankful.
There are
small things in the box that mean so much. Little
notes from
back home, things made, the candy and gum we
all love.
4. We work 12 plus hour
shifts 6 days a week in 120 plus degree
whether so those
wet wipes do wonders for some of our, (how do I put
this
nicely, stinky people).
As you said in
your note "The very boxes that seem to bring such joy,
happiness and a little bit of home to you and those that
fight at your
side." This is so very true.
Michelle R Farrell, MSgt, USAF
379 EAMXS/CCF
Thank you so much for the Girl Scout Cookies that you sent
Captain Pfeffer. It is refreshing to have a taste of home once and a
while. We all appreciate your support and hope to hear from you in
the future.
Jeffrey D. Buck Captain, USMC SOTF-82
Thanks for the Girl Scout cookies you mailed out to our
battalion. You definitely can’t find any cookies like that around
these parts, so it’s nice to get something like them sent from home!
Semper Fidelis, Capt Kevin "Shambles" Lampinen, USMC Assistant
Air Officer Special Operations Task Force – West Camp Lawton, Herat,
Afghanistan
Thank you very much for the cookies we all look fwd to
receiving things from home.. Thank You so much for the support and
time you have given, your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely
Chief Michael A. Woods Master Diver USN/USMC
Hi Girls,
I just returned from R&R. I got to see my daughter graduate
from Penn State. When I returned to Kuwait I found two boxes in my
office.
Thank you again from myself and my troops. They appreciate it
as do I.
I am here until the end of August on this deployment. The
weather has been 110 or higher. It will only get hotter come July
and August.
Tell everyone involved with your organization that we
appreciate all you do for the troops.
Thanks
Russ
Ma'am, My name is Spc. Keith Fajtak I was on the
other end of your generous giving of care packages my last tour in
Iraq. I now am stationed in Afghanistan for the next 11 months and
my soldiers and I would greatly appreciate the yellow ribbon girls
supporting our Godspeed in this war we are facing in Afghanistan, if
you have any questions please feel free to email me anytime and i
will reply on site. thank you for your support in the past and look
forward to the future.
greatly appreciated,
Spc. Fajtak
HHC 426 BSB 1BCT
FOB Fenty Afghanistan
APO AE 09310
"I received a package today from a Bonnie. It was
full of all sorts of items like cookies, cards, pens, and stuff that
is not always common around here. It really means a lot to me. Thank
you for giving her my address, I will be sure to write her thanking
her for the great package."
Sgt. Hogan
Just wanted to let you know I received your
package and it made the Soldiers Super Happy! I Thank you for your
dedication to the Soldiers. All your items were useful for the
Soldiers. I appreciate all you do and your time and dedication to
the troops! Another Sincere from the heart Thank You.
Randy
Hi Girls,
I was away from the base for several weeks. I came back an saw the
care packages. I would like to thank you again for your support.
My young troops loved the candy, bunnies and goodies.
I will be home for R&R in May for my daughters graduation from
College.
When I get back we should have only three months left.
Got to go but take care.
Thanks again
Russ
Hello from Afghanistan,
I just wanted to make sure I had the opportunity
to write back and let you know that we have received your care
package. I am currently in the Paktya Province of Afghanistan with
my supervisor. Her name is Kim and she is a psychologist and I am
her technician. We travel around the province providing mental
health care, education on healthy living, and briefings. Some of the
folks out here feel stressed out so they just come to us and vent.
This seems to help them get through their time here as well as let
them know it is ok to feel frustrated. The items that you send in
the packages go to all the soldiers we come across or those who come
to our office. We have a small store like area that is free of
course, where soldiers come to get snacks, stationary, games,
medications, toiletries as well as other items that you send.
A little about myself--I am 22 years old and I am
married with one child. We currently are assigned to Minot AFB in
North Dakota. It gets pretty cold there and it snows for like five
months of the year or so... at least it seems like it ;D. I have
been in the Air Force for more than three years and I enjoy it very
much. Being deployed to Afghanistan is not the ideal way I would
like to spend my career but I go where I am needed and I get the job
done. I have lived in California for most of my life so the change
in weather sometimes surprises me! So far I have met a lot of great
people out here and they enjoy the letters, pictures and snacks that
are sent.
A little about my supervisor--she is 35 years old
having just had a birthday in February! She is currently assigned to
Fairchild AFB in Spokane Washington. She seems to like the area so
far (she just moved from Minot). She grew up in New Mexico where
some of her family still lives. She has two dogs Scooter and Levi
whom she misses dearly. There isn't a day when she doesn't think
about them. She and I have known each other and worked together for
3 years now. That makes it a little easier
to work together because we know each other fairly well. Her
favorite color is purple and she just loves gourmet chocolate let
alone any chocolate! She has been in the Air Force for almost 6
years or so and she enjoys her job very much.
We definitely appreciate all the time and effort
spent into putting the care packages together along with the love
that is added as well. We will try to write as often as we receive
letters but at times it becomes difficult. We do apologize for the
time it has taken to write you back. E-mail is sometimes a little
easier when we are on the road. Unless we are out on a mission our
day consists of getting up, attending a meeting, walking around our
FOB (Forward Operating Base) , talking with people, having
counseling sessions, and doing briefings. We have learned some of
the themed boxes have gone over very well. We had soldiers asking
for names/addresses to write back directly to the person who sent
it. This week we had an event where soldiers can record themselves
reading a story to their child or a message to a loved one and we
plan to send them for Mothers/Father's day. Once again thank you for
all you do! We look forward to hearing from you! --Jessica & Kim
Jessica E. Delgado SrA, USAF
COMBAT STRESS CONTROL, NCOIC
FOB GARDEZ-PAKTYA
we are a air medic unit.
I am the crew chief of the airplane. Meaning I am the head mechanic
that takes care of the planes needs.
We don't need for any thing they feed us very good.
BUT. the packages we get from home are fun for us. We open, all go
through and get what we want. And then stuff that we dont need right
away we will put it into groops and keep some one will use it.
I would never discourage sending packages. It helps you remember us
and
us feel remembered.
Things that are always welcome beef jerky. Hard candy. Girl scout
cookies Always welcome
Thanks keep up the good work
Stephen
Iraq
Yellow Ribbon Girls;
I just wanted to thank a moment and thank you for the care
packages you sent. It was shared with my shop and it was so much
appreciated. Thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness to us
deployed.
Very Sincerely,
Lauren Edwards
Hello all;
we would like to thank you for the box you sent. It was a
pleasant surprise! We truly appreciated your generosity and for
thinking of us out here. The box did wonders to boost our morale.
Thanks again,
Crew on the USS Eisenhower
I was just now sharing a care package with a group of guys
and I found your email so I thought I would thank ya
I
can't say where I am at right know but it meant a lot .
Thank ya
(stationed somewhere in Iraq)
Dear Yellow Ribbon Girls,
My name is David Gillingham I am a Master Sergeant in the US Air
Force
stationed at FOB Lightning in Afghanistan. Thank you so very much
for
all the packages you have sent me in Afghanistan. I have received
three
boxes with the latest one yesterday. I really enjoy the items you
place
in the boxes. I share them with the other guys in the office. I
read
every card that is put in the box. Could you please send my thanks
to
all those that help with the project and send packages out to
everyone.
Thank you again!
David Gillingham
DAVID J. GILLINGHAM, MSgt, USAF
Log CMD ETT/FOB Lightning
Senior AMMO Mentor
Thank you note from Victory Base Camp (PDF)
Thank you note for our troops from Andrew Neil (PDF)
To all the Yellow Ribbon Girls,
I would like to thank you all for your generosity and support. The
food
(especially homemade cookies), the books, Christmas decorations,
letters,
cards, and hygiene supplies have been shared with all our Soldiers.
We have
twelve out sites and were able to do a huge push right before
Christmas to
get everything out to them in time. Your support truly means a lot
to us and
the presents brightened everyone's spirits. The last six months have
been
challenging, as Afghanistan is a new and completely different
environment
for our unit. We have adjusted well and are seeing the success in
our
missions.
Thank you for your time and generosity as it keeps us motivated and
helps us
feel connected to family, friends, and each other. We had a
Christmas Tree,
piled presents underneath it, and unwrapped them on Christmas. It
was an
unusual Christmas, but special none the less. I wish you all a happy
and
healthy new year, and want to thank you once again.
Katie
V/R
Katherine R. Hairston
1LT, SC
Executive Officer
B/57th Signal, TF Gladius
You are absolutely so fantastically wonderful. I was simply
so surprised to receive the boxes I have received recently. The
slippers, PJs, sweatshirts, socks, hats, christmas decorations,
etc. They were all so needed. We have put up all of the Christmas
decorations. We decorated the doors with the door decorations. We
put the train set on top of the bunker. It is just really sweat
that you all were able to make our Christmas come true with lots of
goodies and decorations. We are all so very grateful to have people
like you always thinking of us. We have decorated and put all of
the Christmas presents under the tree. It looks fantastic. You all
are the best.
Thank you Lord for sending us wonderful people like the
yellowribbongirls looking out for us soldiers.
The pictures that the children drew are just breathtaking and
just so thoughtful and wonderful.
Thank you Thank you Thank you.
We love you guys.
SSG Teresa White
Ladies,
I want to tell you a large thank you comes from me and my
fellow Seabees here at Camp Leatherneck Helmand province
Afghanistan. I just received you box and I have to say we really
appreciated it. I made sure all my Junior Guys in my squad got their
fill first on the cookies. Everything you send was really
appreciated. We will all be away from home this holiday season. This
is not my first time doing so, but many of my junior guys are
straight out of school. I do not really have a request for myself.
Just keep up what you are doing. It does mean a lot to the ladies
and gentleman here. I do appreciate it if you do send something to
my junior guys though. Thank you once again.
V/R,
LS1(SW) Richard Bellock
Dear Ladies (and I suppose a few men who sneak in :)
Just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving! We can't
thank you enough for all the goodies you keep sending along.
I'll be sure to send some pictures with our decorations up.
Each week I send an update home to my family and to a number of
friends around the world. I've
attached the part on Thanksgiving from this past week's edition.
The Yellow Ribbon Girls get a mention and very rightly so. You
should be extremely proud of what you do.
I know you do it without any expectation of recognition but every
single one of us has a special place for you in our heart.
Here's hoping you have a blessed Holiday Season.
Take care....Matt
MATTHEW E. HABER, Colonel, USAF
Hi Girls
I received four boxes plus a Christmas tree box yesterday. Thanks to
all who were responsible for these generous packages.
I saw that most were wrapped up so I will get the tree set up this
week with all the decorations you sent and put the gifts under the
tree for Christmas. This should make some of my young troops and
even some of us old troops happy.
I want to personally thank everyone on your list that was in the
box. I wish I could give them all a hug but I'll save that for when
I get home.
I also want to thank SANTA for the gifts. I know he worked hard on
these gifts.We need Santa to help the Steelers get their act
together. I am sure he will.
Again girls thank you so much for everything can't wait to give you
a hug and a kiss.
Take care LOL
Russ
The Colonel couldn't have said it any
better. A big "HUAH!!!" to all that are involved. Getting a "care
package" during the holidays is like getting a bar of gold. Nobody
in the world, except a military person knows that anticipation of
getting that package notice in their post office box. You go to the
window with butterflies and receive your package. You take that
package home and tear into it like a 5 year old at Christmas. I
don't think you guys (Yellow Ribbon Girls) actually realize what
this means to the troops. I know it gets hectic with deadlines and
worry if you got enough out or you got it out in time.......but keep
up the great work. It is sooooo appreciated!!!!! From an old, wore
out, military person that knows, Randy (father of a past care
package recipient, Jessica, who was on our list twice while she
served in Iraq)
Bonnie, Patti,Vicki and the Gang
We are also thankful for all of your support you have given us. The
platoon and I really appreciate everything you have done for us
during
this deployment.
The boxes were great and we are excited to pass out the stockings.
Again thank you so much
Robert
You guys are a blessing!
We received the box you sent and put up our little tree up the
Sunday after
thanksgiving and the garland and ornaments were just what we needed.
We put
the gifts under the tree and passed out the Christmas cards. Thanks
for
helping to put the Christmas spirit into our section and please
thank all
those who assisted.
God bless you all,
LTC Gary Jones
|
