Soldiers Speak

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Below are exerpts from emails, letters and phone calls from the soldiers who've received packages thanks to your voluteering and support:

Amy, Wife of a soldier recipient

Dear Forgotten Soldiers Organization,

Thank you so much for sending my husband care packages during his 15 month deployment.  He shared all of the packages with many, many other soldiers.  One guy carried around a book of crossword puzzles EVERYWHERE that had come in one of the packages.  The thought and care that went into the packages has been amazing.  Thank you to all the volunteers that donated money, goods, and time to make sure our soldiers had bright spots in their days.  I think this outreach may have meant even more to me, a wife, than the soldiers.  It's just so wonderful to know that other people think about our guys rather than just the family members. 

My soldier is now home!!!  Please redirect packages to other soldiers still over there. 

Blessings,

Amy

***additional message from Amy***

Thought you'd like some more information on just how far one box goes.  My husband was the only soldier in his unit to receive these care packages.  He shared every care package with the others in his unit.  He is a Blackhawk pilot and would drop anything left over from the helicopter to the Iraqi children as they flew over!  He also gave stuff to ground soldiers on patrol in Mosul who would keep it for their personal use or pass it out to kids in the city.  So, your volunteers may think they are sending one box to one soldier . . . but that one box may end up going to dozens of soldiers and kids! 

Again, thank you to all the people who make this happen.  You are making a difference in way more lives than you could possibly know.

Blessings,

Amy

SSG Fernandez

HELLO TO THE MANY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYONE SUPPORTING US TROOPS ABROAD.

ME AND MY FAMILY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE LETTERS, CARE PACKAGES AND LOVE YOU SHOWED ME WHILE I WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ.

THIS WAS MY THIRD DEPLOYMENT AND EVERY TIME IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER AND THE TIME SEEMS TO GO SLOWER. EVERY TIME I RECEIVE A BOX OF LETTERS AND MUCH NEEDED ITEMS FROM CHILDREN AND SUPPORTERS ITS MAKE THE TIME FLY BY, AND SHOWS THAT THE FOLKS BACK HOME REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE ARE DOING.

WE THANK YOU , WE THANK YOU, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

SSG FERNANDEZ

May 20, 2009

Cpl Byrd

Hi Ms. Lynelle and the Forgotten Soldiers Team,

I am Cpg Byrd from the 178th MP Co. stationed in Basrah, Iraq. I pray that all is well with yourself and your family and I really thank you for your support in our quest for freedom.  I thank all of you so much for taking the time out of your time to send care packages, love and prayers.

May the Lord continue to Bless you and your family and organization!  Do have a Blessed Day and continue to keep us in your prayers as we will do the same for you all. Once again, thanks.

Cpl Byrd

April 21, 2009

MSgt Chirino

Hello and good day to you, and those who take time in their busy lives to think about all the service members fighting the war here in Iraq and else ware.

Today a package arrived at my work place from your organization, and I felt compelled to write to you and say Thank You for your Support.  My Job here at Balad AB in Iraq is to maintain the F- 16 Air Craft’s that provide air cover for the Soldiers and marines that are on the ground and in the street of Iraq. Please pass on to all our gratitude and as you haven’t forgotten about us, we will not forget you. God bless, and Thanks from all the men and women of the 332 (FUEL) Shop…

MSgt Chirino (Homestead Air Force Base South FL).                   

April 20, 2009

SSGT Benito Avendano

Dear Team Members of ForgottenSoldiers.ORG,

My name is SSGT Benito Avendano and I'm from Palm Beach Gardens, FL.  I'm here in Iraq serving our country, and I'm a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves.  I wanted to send you this quick email to thank you for the great package that we received from ForgottenSoldiers.Org.  It means a lot to all of us here that we have your support, and that you have taken the time to prepare packages for servicemen like ourselves.  Your thoughts and prayers are always highly appreciated. 

Thank you for the package!  I'm not sure who excatly donated the items, but please relay this information to the rest of your team. And please let them know that we appreciate everything that you guys do for us.  Definitely helped put a smile on our faces, and definitely helps us get through another day which we are away from our families.

Once again THANK YOU From all of us at the 332 EMXS Fuel Sysmtems Maintenance Shop in Balad, Iraq.

Best Regards,

SSGT Benito Avendano.

February 19, 2009

Stefano, Ciro C MAJ MIL USA FORSCOM

Hello Lynelle,

Though we’ve never met, you and your wonderful organization took time, effort and expense to send me a care package and I thank you all for thinking of me!

Please let your gracious sponsors know that every package we get here is like Christmas for us!

The anticipation of seeing what’s inside as well as simply receiving mail are both some of the biggest highlights of a Soldiers day!

Your words of encouragement, and the items in our boxes are a Godsend!

Thanks for all of the hard work that goes into planning your events and for the pain-staking efforts you take to ensure that NO Soldiers are forgotten!

Thanks sooo much for all you do for each and every service member out there.

God bless you, keep you safe and know that you are making a difference in the lives of those you serve as we serve you back home!

Sincerely and thankfully yours,

Ciro 

November 26, 2008

JON BURROW, ENS, LDO, USNR

Hello

I received a WE CARE package from your group and wanted to say THANK YOU very much for your support! The items were put to good use by me and my team members. I have 80 days left on my 12 month deployment in Baghdad; I am looking forward to getting back home to Chicago.

I am part of the Navy Reserve Force, serving here as a Force Protection Officer (Military Police) supporting the training of Iraq's Police forces.

My package was sign by 'Ann Heller'
Is there any way to find out who signed me up for your program?

THANKS AGAIN and enjoy the slideshow!

v/r,
Jon Burrow, ENS, LDO 6495, USNR

September 25, 2008

CHAPLAIN SHANNON K. PHILIO

Thank you Lynelle and Forgotten Soldiers’ Team for the care package sent to FOB Kalsu, Iraq for Donna Pratt and our Soldiers here.  Donna redeployed back to the United States.  I am her chaplain.  I have a Chaplain Store filled with snacks, hygiene items, phone cards, batteries, greeting cards, socks, coffee, plus more.  Donna was always in here helping me with it.  Of course everything is free.  Soldiers are in every day looking for just that right item for them.  We appreciate all you and your team do to support our troops.  We deployed last Nov 07 and redeploy Jan 09.  Two missed Thanksgivings and Christmases.  Such care packages as you have sent boost morale and spirits and help us one more lap around a 15-month track.  Thank you!

Chaplain Philio

MessAge received Spetember 2, 2008

MAJ KEITH SUDDER

Lynelle,
My name is Major Keith Sudder (United States Air Force).  I want to thank your organization for the outstanding support you give the soldiers, sailors, airman and marines overseas fighting the War on Terrorism.  I was stationed at Balad Air Base, Iraq (now known as Joint Base Balad) from April 2008 to July 2008 working at the communications squadron for the 332nd Expeditionary Air Wing (known as the Red Tails -- based off the 332nd Tuskegee Airman, the first all black aviator unit in the Army Air Corps during World War II).  The 332nd was reinstated during Operation Iraqi Freedom (circa 2003) and now takes on the heritage of the red tails in todays fully integrated Air Force. 
 
Your organization sent me a package full of great stuff and I want to give you and your volunteers a BIG congrats on the wonderful things you do for our deployed military members.  Though being away from home and missing the 'world' left behind, any appreciative efforts from organizations like Forgotten Soldiers is a tremendous morale boster.  Without your organization, many military members would feel that burden of being away from home without the 'home town' touch you provide by sending supplies and goodies to us.  This was my second tour for Operation Iraqi Freedom and I have seen the support for our troops increase since my first tour -- please keep up the great work and have the knowledge that the actions you take are greatly appreciated.
 
It is with my greatest thanks to Forgotten Soldiers for the items you sent and if you would like any kind of feedback on items needed by our military members on the line, please contact me any time.
 
Deepest Respects,
Maj Keith Sudder

 
P.S.  Please give your volunteers a special thank you from the 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron and all of the members of the US Military.  Also, my mother has been volunteering with Forgotten Soldiers (Mrs. Sherry Sudder) and has tremendous support of the military, both as a spouse of a veteran (deceased)  and two sons that are also veterans of the Global War on Terrorism ( 2 tours Iraqi Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign).

Message received July 21, 2008

MSG JULIO ALVAREZ, Iraq

Mrs Zelner and everyone at Forgotten Soldiers Outreach,

I wanted to express my thanks and that of my unit, the 418th MP CLD. I have received several packages from your organization and they were all enjoyed and shared with the other soldiers in my Area of Operations. From the Girl Scout Cookies to the letters from Elementary Students, it was all heartwearming to receive!

I am fortunate, as I am close to returning home to my family and loved ones. It has been a long tour but a productive one as many good things are continually happening here. I wanted to also express MY PERSONAL THANKS to the Veterans associated with your organization, regardless of their capacity. It is because of their previous service that has allowed me and my family to have the opportunities we have and the FREEDOM to make the most of them! They are Heroes! So to them I say THANK YOU! AND for those in your organization that had never served, consider this... you are serving us Soldiers in a very improtant Supporting role. All the positive thoughts and prayers that come from "HOME" helps us Soldiers do our job and encourage us, so THANK YOU ALL!!!

As much as I have enjoyed and appreciated your Care Packages, you can take me off the list. I will be home soon and the "goodies" can be sent to another Soldier, who may be at the beginning of their tour.

Again, THANKS!!!!

Have a Great Airborne Day!!!!

ALL THE WAY...

JULIO ALVAREZ
MSG, USA
418th MP DET, BN S1

Message received April 22, 2008

SSG Melory, William, undisclosed

Hello I am SSG William Meloy,

Several of my soldiers and I have received packages from your organization and we wanted to thank you. Several of my soldiers and their families are having hard times right now and the
families are not capable of sending the amount of support that they would really like too.

Your organization has helped fill that gap and given soldiers who have no support to have something to look forward too. For that I thank You, My job as an NCO is to Lead, Train and
Motivate my soldiers. Training and Leading are the easy part, motivating, especially under some of these conditions can be hard.

Thank You for everything that you do. We are with the 535th Military Police
Battalion out of North Carolina. Several of us were cross leveled into
the unit from all across the US.

Again Thank you for all of your support.

Message received 1/7/07

SSGT KAHL, BARRETT, located in Rawah, Iraq

COP RAWAH, IRAQ

Hello Ma’am I want to thank you for the package you sent with all the goodies. It is always pleasant to receive a package from someone we do not know showing their support for our efforts over here. I am a U.S. Marine over here for the 2nd time, I have been here for 10 months and have around 3 more to go. Then it is back home to my family in North Carolina. There was also a letter in here from a young 10 year old named Niyati Upadhyay. Thank you all for thinking of us, and taking time to send us the treats. God Bless

SSGT KAHL, BARRETT

COP RAWAH, IRAQ

FOOD SERVICE SNCOIC

Message received 12/15/07

SSG Ryan S. Kenner, located at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

I would like to thank you and everyone involved for taking the time to support our military  world wide. As I read through the other messages I can see that your support was not only in Iraq however it is all over. With your support I am constantly reminded of the reason why I joined the military and why I decided to stick with it.

Once again thank you and your volunteers for all that you do.

Respectfully

Ryan.

SSG Ryan S. Kenner

Operations SGT, IMO

Message received 12/10/07

GSE3 (SW) Brown located in undisclosed area abroad

Thank you for all of the packages I have received. I have shared some of them with others who did not receive any letters or packages. Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated. Thanks again for everything- it is nice to be appreciated by those we protect. I will no longer need packages sent to me because we will be returning home. Please tell everyone involved with your program that Forgotten Soldiers is making a difference and helps us when we are far from home.