Messages from the Troops
(Updated 3/25/03)
3/25/03
Hello! My name is Karry
James. I am in the US Army and am currently deployed to Afghanistan. I
appreciate all the support from the states for us troops in Afghanistan. What
hurts me is that I see all the protesting on TV for the fight my brothers and
sisters are fighting in Iraq. My question to those people would be when would
be a good TIME to take out a bully? I guess those people think our country
should wait until Saddam has had his turn to blow up a building or two in the
US. From what I see, these people have nothing better to do, and don’t fully
understand what’s going on. I think most of them are doing it just to say,
“Hey, I was a protester,” probably because their mother or father did it during
Vietnam and they are cowards. But hey let them do it all they want, because
isn’t that why WE (the military) go to war in the first place? I also have seen
the support rallies on TV too. Those people are super. “Even if we don’t
support the war, we still support you,” is one thing I read on one of the
signs. And you never see these people go to jail. That’s because they aren’t
being jerks, blocking traffic, or acting crazy. Well just wanted to tell you
thanks!! Feel free to write me back, like all other soldiers, airmen, seamen
and marines over here, I love mail.
SPC Karry James
11th Public Affairs Detachment
CJTF 180 ; Motel 6
318-231-4235
3/20/03
My name is Sgt. Brian
Wittenberg. I am in the US Air Force, stationed at McChord Air Force Base.
Saturday, there was an extremely large group of people on the bridge in front of
the base, holding up US flags and signs reading “Support our Troops” and the
like.
I happened
to be working that day and found myself completely overwhelmed by the support of
the community. I would like to thank each and everyone of those who stood
outside in the freezing rain, in their own busy lives, and took the time to
convey their support. I have never, in my nine years in the military, felt so
appreciated as I did that day. Thank you.
3/19/03
From: “Miller, Dustin F
ABEAA”
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003
12:31:23 -0000
hey mom thanks
for the email im excited to hear about your new place i cant wait to see it.
where in town are you living? how much is rent?
let me know all the details. im looking forward to eating some thanksgiving
food when i get home. stuffs going good out here our ship won the battle e
medal for being the best ship in the pacific fleet so thats cool but it also
means that they are going to want their best out here when the stuff goes
down im thinking may or even june but im not sure. i love and miss you and
i’ll see you soon.
love dustin (USS Lincoln)
3/12/03
Good
Day
Sorry I have not taken the time to write. Been a busy time for me. Being
an E-6(First Class), my work does not stop when I get off the flight deck. I
do appreciate keeping us in your prayers and thoughts. I have been telling
everyone that will listen, about the Pro Troop Rally that took place in
Silverdale. I have been saving the e-mails that you sent so I can keep your
address and keep in touch. The e-mail that you sent about a week ago that
had the link to the “Operation Support Our Troops” was great, but I think
that my computer dumped it or I deleted it by mistake. Now I can not find
the website on the internet, and I was wondering if you might have the site
address or if you could re-send that particular e-mail. My wife just
happened to drive by that day and she felt so proud and she thought she had
made a wrong turn and ended up in a 4th of July Parade. Please pass to the
folks you are organizing this with how much it means to us out here. I am
going to forward the website to the Public Affairs Officer so it can be put
in our Ship’s newspaper, that way everyone can take a look at what is going
on back at home. Again Thank You very much for all you do and I hope I get a
chance to meet
you again after all these years when we get home. Maybe we can get you
involved with our Homecoming when ever that happens.
Thank You
Jeff Taylor ABH1
From Josh (3/11/03)
Yes, it’s that time again!? Central Asia (a.k.a. the middle east) is having
Joshua withdrawals.? They are requesting a comeback tour, and being the
person I am, I can’t disappoint them.? That, and if I don’t go, they will
throw me in the brig or something like that.
Every time before I head out, I am always blessed with an event that shows me
just what we are fighting for.? For some reason, it is always the same.?
Family and Friends.? Each and every one of you hold a special place in my
heart and give me the strength I need to stand up, as many have before, and
fight for our country and our freedom.? I am so happy that I am able to take
part in making this country, our home, a place that we can all cherish.? We
often take for granted how lucky we really are, and forget how special our
friendships are.? The Air Force has really shown me new respect for our
country and to always value the time I have with all of you.? May God watch
over each and every one of you as he has for me.? Don’t be jealous though,
if he spends a little extra time with me in the months ahead.?
I am not sure how long I am going to be gone this time, but know that I am
safe, and am thinking of Y’all (yeah definitely been in Texas too long.? How
many Y’alls is that now?) Y’all should actually feel a little safer with me
over there.? They are going to have to go through me if they think they are
going to hurt any of my friends.?
May God keep you safe and bless you just as he has for me,
SRA Joshua Jay Caron
Thank you
again and God bless,
Mailyn Edwards
All
My name is Sergeant Joshua Quinton and I am currently deployed to Kosovo
as a part of Operation Joint Guardian. My family back in Seattle has been
telling me about the way that you and the organization is supporting troops
worldwide. I can’t say how much it means to me. It breaks my heart when I
see a young woman turn away from her flag while the National Anthem is being
played at a basketball game, or to see protestors burning our own Old Glory
in the streets of our country when just a year and a half ago the same
people were hanging the flag everywhere in support for those that died in
the WTC attacks. These are also the same people that mourned for the Space
Shuttle Columbia’s loss yet probably didn’t know about the Blackhawk that
crashed in Afghanistan killing 11 people a few days later. Or the one that
crashed in Kuwait last week killing all four crewmembers. What is wrong
with people? Believe me, I felt a horrible loss when I saw the space
shuttle that I have seen go up and down many times burn up in the sky, but I
felt worse when those 15 soldiers burned in the wreckage of those chopper’s.
People just don’t know what they have until it is taken away from you. I
wish that I could take a handful of those protestors and separate them from
their families for 9 months in a country that could give a crap about them,
but they have to be there because they have a duty to fulfill and they must
make that sacrifice because it is their duty. Then in return, I will go
back to my family that I have been missing, take my boots off and throw them
on my porch, then go get a beer out of my refrigerator and watch them on the
news. How about that? It sounds good to me, but I still have 5 more months
of my son doing things for the first time to miss, so I can’t now can I?
Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know what one of your soldiers thought
and thank you for being there for us. My mother in law has joined your
quest to counter the protestors and I am thankful for her. She is a very
special lady and if you can, can you recognize her for me? Her name is Lisa
Huget. She has made a tremendous impact on my life and I want her to know
how much it means to me that she is doing this. Thanks again so much for
what you are doing and God bless,
SGT Joshua Quinton
Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
3/27/03 From Mike to Mary
2/20/03
On behalf of the Commanding
General and the men & women of the WASHINGTON STATE GUARD, I wish to convey our
thanks and appreciation for the wonderful job you and your group are doing
supporting the men and women of our Armed Forces. Keep up the good work and May
God Bless America.
Colonel Richard D Kraabel
AC of S, Logistics
Washington
State
Guard
Camp Murray, WA
Thank you Mrs. Downs
I have been telling all of my peers, subordinates, and
superiors, and they all send their thanks. I also send my prayers and
thanks for all of you, and your hard work and dedication. It really means a
lot to me, and to us all.
Sincerely,
Scott R. Sheaffer, SPC, US Army
Original Message to Scott:
From: Theresa Downs
To the Grandson of one heck of a Grandma:
Your Grandma has started a rallying cry in the Seattle Tacoma area and
there is no stopping us now !!! You are one truly loved young man and she
is giving all of us an opportunity to show our love and support for
you…and the hundreds of thousands serving with you. Today, we doubled
our numbers yet again and she was the driving force !!! Please
know…and, tell all those men and women serving with you…that we are
very thankful for your sacrifice and service to us and our country. If
you happen upon a young F-15 pilot called “Strike”, tell him to “buy you
a drink” and his Mom will reimburse him. God bless you and keep you safe.
Hi
Ron (OSOT Webmaster)
I have
gotten my hands on an e-mail started by Sheryl Sheaffer, and I wanted to see
what this was all about. My husband and I are currently stationed in Vilseck
Germany…if you can’t find it on the map, look for Grafenwoehr. We are
about 30 minutes from the Czech border in Southeastern Germany.
I had
to let you all know that your message IS indeed getting out, and I will
personally be forwarding a link to your webpage to all of our friends who
are serving. 🙂
Thank
you soooooo very much for all that you and your fellow supporters are doing!
Also, I wanted you to know, the way I received this e-mail was through one
of the co-founders of FAM (Families Attached to Military) They sent care
packages to my husband’s company and I developed a very close friendship
with this particular co-founder. Her name is Debbie Steins and she is in
Longview, WA. I would encourage you to check out their website as well at
www.famglobal.org.
There
are several soldiers and families that are a part of this website. I am sure
that between Debbie and I we can encourage these people to also visit your
site.
Again,
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you all have
shown to our troops. It really helps to counteract the other news that we
hear about the “antis.” And trust me, if we are hearing about it in Germany,
they are hearing about it in all the hotspots. We all get our news through
the same places. AFN Radio, AFN TV (www.afneurope.net)
, and the Stars & Strips newpaper. (www.stripes.com) (AFN
is Armed Forces Network)
Sincerely,
Jessica Peck
Sheryl
(Sheaffer, one of the OSOT
founders)
I want to thank you for the support you have given those in uniform. My
folks (Shelton, Wash) have forwarded me a few messages that you’ve sent out
to rally the “troops” back home. I am amazed at how quickly the
anti-protestors have forgotten those images of hijacked planes crashing into
the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Thank you for your support and volunteer
effort. It is greatly appreciated and reminds us overseas of who and why we
serve. God bless you all. Thank you!
Regards,
LTC Bruce Parker
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hello
, my name is AT3
(AW) Mailyn Edwards (US Navy) and I just want to say how much I appreciate what
you are doing for us, the troops. I’m very excited that someone is willing to
make a stand for those who are protecting the country, especially for those who
either do not want to be protected or who have lost sight of what this country
stands for and the roots of which we come from. We would love to have to invite
a rally up to Whidbey Island sometime as we too are on alert and deploying.
,
for your email and your true support. My body is in a hurt locker. We been
flying for the last week from 0900 to 0300. My warriors are hanging in there .
They know those ground troops are hurting to. There is no way we are going to
let them down. A good example is today. The sand storm has stopped the air
force from flying so we pick it up at sea. We are locking and loading as we
speak. Are OPS is fling around the clock. We saw those video of our
prisoners. It was real ugly. Words can’t describe my pain. Iraq Mess up BIG
TIME. We want pay back in the worst way. Abraham Lincoln is so God Bless
America Motivated like I never seen before. So if you get a chance let America
know payback is happening everyday. We
will never quite, and are Can Do spirit will get its payback.Take care of
yourself.Your WarriorMike