Matt,
Sorry for having taken so long to get back with you and thank you for the cards, but it has been a real busy time here in southern Baghdad and I am just now catching up with my correspondences. First of all, thanks for what you are doing by supporting us over here. I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to us to have people like you and the group you work with supporting us. It makes coming home a lot easier and it makes what we do more understandable as we represent you and the future of this country.
All the best to all of you, take care, be safe, and thanks for taking care of me and my soldiers.
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Matthew Hunt,
Thank you so much for the Cards and all you do for the community and the soldiers. You have no idea how this affects us in a positive way. It brings back a touch of memories that we hold very near and dear to our hearts. You have touched our hearts and blessed the soldiers.
We are Charlie Company 478th Civil Affairs Battalion stationed in Iraq. Due to our mission and security reasons, I can’t tell you what we do or where we are at, but I can tell you we are here to help the Iraqi people.
We have some of the cards on our wall at work for everyone to see. The food here is great and we are all doing well, but we miss home. Don’t worry; we will be home soon enough. A special thanks to the Air Force ROTC in Charlotte, NC and all the people involved.
Again, from the soldiers of Charlie 478, thank you for the cards, the prayers and all you do to help the community and the soldiers.
– 1st Sergeant Phillip P
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Dear Matthew Hunt,
Thank you so much for the donation of the beautiful cards sent for the Soldiers of 526 Brigade Support Battalion. We plan to distribute them over Valentine’s Day in order to boost the morale. there was much excitment as the package was opened. It is through the support of our family and friends at home that we are sustained and continue our fight. Your support of our battalion serves as a great boost to the mental and emotional well being of our Soldiers. I am so thankful for Americans like you who appreciate the sacrifices these Soldiers make and your intentions on helping them through the deployment. Your support makes the separation from our families especially during the various holidays, a little more bearable.
Our Battalion supports an Infantry Brigade operating in and around Baghdad, Iraq. When we arrived here back in 2005, there was a high level of insurgent activity in our area of operation. Since we took over in our sector, the insurgents have met a strong arm of American Military opposition, and gradually we have added the support of the Iraqi Army to our defense of the civilian population in this area. This deployment we have seen an increase of support for our Soldiers as the Iraqi people slowly begin to rebuild their lives. We are quite proud of the work our Soldiers do, making the work of the Infantry Soldiers possible. They move equimpent such as ammunition, food, and supplies to outlying patrol bases, and have done a spectacular job of meeting the demands of a brigade that is always on the move. I’m glad to report that our Soldiers have done quite well these last few months here in Iraq. Much progress has been made, but there is still a lot to do. We continue to fight the good fight, as we help Iraqis secure their own future.
I am gratefule for any prayers you might say on behalf of the Soldiers and families of 526BSB. I thank you for those you have already said, and those you continue to say each and every day of our deployment. It is through prayer that we are sustained, and through prayer that we will safely return home.
– Dara L, Battalion Chaplain Assistant
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(The following letters came from a unit where A Rose of Thanks Cards were sent in conjunction with our friends Mike and Deb Long of Bay Water Marketing. They sent out, in addition to our Cards – phone cards, fudge, NASCAR die cast cars, home-made Christmas stockings filled with candy and other goodies for each soldier.)
Dear A Rose of Thanks;
I’m writing to thank you for your recent contribution. The soldiers of the 1132nd MP Co. were estatic to receive your gatuitous gifts. The gesture received helps give soldiers a sense of appreciation and support from their fellow Americans. There is a great impact felt by all soldiers receiving gifts, but it is important to remember that it’s not the gifts, that goes a long way, but the act of giving this gift. It gives the individual soldiers and the unit the sense of pride. This sense of pride helps soldiers deal with the time they have away from home and their families and reinforces the reason why they joined the military in the first place. Also, the families of the soldiers appreciate that outside communities are acknowledging them while they are spending their time deployed and away from home.
Your gifts helps the soldiers in their everyday activities and helps support the mission that they support. We appreciate the time and dedication that yourself and your establishment put into getting the gifts together. You are a great support of our mission and will forever be remembered by the soldiers of the 1132nd Military Policy Company.
On behalf of all the soldiers of the 1132nd Military Police Company, I would lik to thank you, your organization for your time in putting these gifts together and supporting our deployment and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Always remember, that small acts in a big war, go a long way in a soldier and their families hearts. Thank you, and God Bless!
– Robert S., 1LT, MP
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Matthew,
Thank you so much for the cards and the calling cards. It’s really a very useful item out here. Emailing is nice, but who doesn’t love to hear to hear their loved ones, right? Anyhow, thank you. Please don’t stop supporting the troops! Every little letter and kids drawing heightens our day!
Take care!!
Gratefully, Ashley G.