A message from Major E.
Major E. writes from Camp Victory in Baghdad:
Some troops need CARE more than others...I came across something that I think might be of interest to Power Line readers who want to show their support for the troops but are not sure how to do so.The Stars and Stripes (http://www.estripes.com/) is the newspaper that the troops read here in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Yesterday’s issue included a couple of articles that caught my attention. The first was about the surplus of "care packages" being received by many troops and units who are already well taken care of out here in Iraq.
Even though we are all serving in Iraq, there is a significant difference in quality of life at the major bases as compared to the outlying forward operating bases (FOBs). The brave folks at Halliburton/KBR are doing a knock-out job of the care and feeding at the major bases, while the troops who live at the remote bases can benefit the most from care packages.
Those of us at the big bases are fed and equipped so well that it sometimes borders on the ridiculous. When I am finished eating dinner here at Camp Victory, I literally ask myself: "Hmm...Smoothie or Baskin Robbins?"
Tonight, I kid you not, the evening fare was steak and lobster followed by a fruit smoothie which, I admit, hit the spot after six hours in over 100-degree temperatures on the weapons range.
Even so, it is embarrassing to even tell you how well we are eating. Yet I have received care packages from people who I have never even met. So that is the issue that the article addressed: well taken care of troops receiving excess care packages while the troops at outlying bases, however, do not have it nearly as easy.
The subject of the second article I noticed, however, looked like it could offer an answer to that challenge. It was about a web site called Any Soldier. The article was a salute to Army Sgt. Brian Horn, founder of Any Soldier, recognizing him as the Unsung Hero for the month of May.
His site allows Americans to show their support for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by contributing to the mailing of a care package to the troops or by matching you up with a unit or individual so that you can send them exactly what they request —- whether for themselves or for the children.
Sgt. Horn also emphasizes the importance of including a letter of support in addition to the goodies, because of its morale-boosting effect. I assure you that those encouraging words really do mean a lot even if from a stranger. In fact, I have a precious letter and drawing in my room that was given to me from a chaplain and it was sent by a young girl named Emily, who is in third grade at Gloria Dei Lutheran School in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It brings a smile to my face every day.
In stark contrast, I saw the television news today that featured a few politicians who claim to support the troops while comparing our actions to those of Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot. While the "support" of Senator Durbin and Congressman Kucinich rings hollow, Emily's goes straight to the heart.
Anyway, the Any Soldier site was started by a soldier who served here and is a great way to get stuff to the troops who really need it. Plus, it is a good way to send things that can be passed on to the children who have very few toys and really appreciate anything they are given. Many units have established programs for distributing things to kids, and they say so on their website posting.
Lots of success stories are cited and different ways of giving are offered so whether you are a single citizen, family, civic organization, or church, Any Soldier looks like a great way to show that you Support The Troops.
Warning: the site is addictive :).
Blessings,
Major E.
Baghdad
JOHN adds: Major E. sent us this photo of his letter from Emily:
Even from a distance, it's easy to see how this kind of message can outweigh the hate that pours in from the left.
