From Our Heroes!

"Mail is one of the greatest morale boosters we can give our troops...When they see that package or letter waiting for them on their bunk or hear their name at mail call, it brings them that much closer to family and the comforts of home."                                                                                             Postmaster General John E. Potter

Here are precious words from those who have received Care Packages from Operation Compassion. 

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Kandahar, Afghanistan sent a CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION! 

It reads:

This certificate of appreciation is presented to The Salvation Army / Operation Compassion for your dedication, support and loyalty to the soldiers who fight to defend the freedom of this nation.  Your efforts are truly appreciated and your kindness does not go unnoticed.  We are truly honored by your thoughtfulness and support.  In thanks we would like to present this certificate which represents the American Resolve following the attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon on September 11, 2001.  It bears witness to the destruction of terrorist forces threatening the United States of America.

From LTC Rodney, Afghanistan: Thank you, and the Volunteers, who took part in packaging and sending the Care Packages.  I distributed them to the soldiers and they send their thanks and appreciation.  Thank you and God bless you all. 

From Sgt. Michael G, USMC: I received one of the packages that was sent by the operation you direct.  I am currently in Afghanistan and the box definitely put a smile on my face, as  it did for the other men that live in my tent.  Please accept, and express, our sincere great fullness to all that made this package possible. 

From The Department of The Army, HQ 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment:  Thank you so much for the Care Packages you sent.  Our unit immediately opened the packages and handed out the shower kits for the soldiers to enjoy.  Everyone here also truly appreciated the children's letters of support you sent.  They asked me to pass on their thanks to you and to the Salvation Army.  Thank you for taking time out of your day to support us.  It means so much to our soldiers and it definitely makes us feel appreciated.  We value all that you have sent because it gives us a small piece of home.  You have our sincere appreciation and warmest thanks.

From 1313th Eng Co, in Iraq: We would like to thank you and the volunteers for such a wonderful gift.  It will have many uses for the soldiers here - acting as a note pad while on Missions; a shaving bag in the field, not to mention a quick snack carry along and other uses.  One soldier carries his full of candy to pass out to the Iraqi children that we encounter on some of our patrols.  It is nice to know that we are thought of and cared about from our brothers and sisters in the States.  Thank you all for your continuing love and support to the troops.

From 34th ID Fires:  As I returned to my desk this afternoon, from a meeting, I saw that I had received a large box.  Your care packages!  I opened it with a couple other Soldiers and then distributed the contents to others in the "Fires Cell" here in the 34th Infantry Division Headquarters at COB Basra in Southern Iraq.  Please rest assured that your gift was greatly appreciated.  The bags were a big hit, even more so than the contents of the bags.  They make for nice, big shave kits.  It is always an encouragement to know that folks back home are thinking about us and take the time to do nice things for us.  So, on behalf of all of us here in Fires, thank you very much!

From: GI Team of 38th ID:  Let me start by saying on behalf of the GI (Personnel) Section of Task Force Cyclone, 38th ID.  Thank you so much for the awesome bags.  It is nice to know people care about our Soldiers overseas.  It gives us such a warm feeling there are people like you in the States that will never forget us over here and take the time to put together a package with the love and care that you all did.  I can't speak for everyone in our unit, but I do know that we were all happy to see people in Indiana are taking care of us.  God bless you all and thanks again!

From: CSM Lucas, Task Force Cyclone: Thank you and the Salvation Army for Operation Compassion.  My soldiers and I are grateful for your thoughts, prayers and act of kindness and compassion! 

From SGT Chad and the HHC 38th ID:  Thank you for the care packages you sent.  I am stationed in Afghanistan.  We are situated in a place that is far removed from most every day conveniences.  Your care packages were greatly appreciated.  Receiving mail is always a bright point of the week and packages from strangers who show support help us make it through the tough times.  Even when we've already got enough of the basics for ourselves, having extra to share with the local children makes their days better too.  Not only are your packages making every day life for us soldiers easier, they also give us a little extra to spread the happiness around and make the local people we spend quite a bit of time with, happier also.  Again, thank you very much for all that you do and God bless you.

From SGT Mark & the 4th BDE, 1st Armored Div: Thank you so much for the shaving kits.  On behalf of the 4th Brigade of 1st Armored Division, I'd like to express our gratitude, as we're a long way from Fort Bliss, Texas, and it's always nice to know someone back in the States is thinking of us.  Some locations are better than others; for our Soldiers patrolling the Iran border things are a lot rougher.  They don't have a lot in the way of clean showers or toilets and their PX is consistently out of stock in certain items.  We've been here two months and have a long way yet to go - thanks for putting in the time and effort to make "Operation Compassion" give us a morale boost!

Thanks:  We have been involved with The Salvation Army for many years.  My father, a Vietnam veteran, has many fond memories of The Salvation Army.  He has always said that they were always the closest to the fighting of any relief organization.  Please send a box of Care Packages to David.

From the 55th Medical Company:  Friends at The Salvation Army, Thank you so much for the shaving kits for soldiers.  They could not have come at a better time with the incident occurring at our Baghdad area clinic.  Your gift will ensure the patients in our care will have the hygiene items they need through their stay.  Your generosity has touched many.  Thank you.  They will be put to good use in our clinic!"  The 55th Medical Company

From Cpl James:  I would like to thank you for the box that you sent me and everyone here.  It was all distributed so that everyone could enjoy the contents.  We are preparing to return home and getting everything squared away.  We greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness and kindness as it was a welcome sign from home.  Thank you again on behalf of the 1538th Transportation Company.  May God bless you.

A thank you from a Hero's Mom when she found out we were sending her son a box of Care Packages: Oh that is so wonderful, that makes me so happy to know that so many people will be getting something for Christmas, I am crying right now cause I am so thankful for the gift of caring and loving people still helping all of us remember that we still have heroes in the sand and we need to make sure they are somewhat happy for the holidays, being away from family is so very hard and maybe this will bring a smile to their lonely faces.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

From SGT. Garcia: Just a short note to say a BIG THANK YOU for your time and effort in sending your Care Packages to us here in Iraq.  Hopefully, if I get a chance, I'll be able to stop by next Spring and say thank you in person.

From Janet - her son Scott is overseas.  Janet also helped pack the Care Packages.  Here's what Janet wrote: Wanted to let you know that my son, Scott, called yesterday from Iraq.  He received the box of Christmas gifts we all packed and, in his words, it was "really cool!"  He got everything passed out to his people, although he admitted that he made sure  he kept one with a big bag of beef jerky in it!    :)    He said it was so gratifying not only to received the gifts, but to think that total strangers went to the trouble to send them.  Apparently they can "feel the love"!   Thought you would like to know.    

From Commander Carr: We would like to thank you for the Care Packages you sent to the soldiers here.  We have a couple of locations where transient Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines stay when they come here.  We took the boxes of bags with the hygiene items, and the very nice things, to those transient housing offices.  The staff of those offices were very happy to receive the bags and said they frequently have people ask for the items you sent.  On behalf of those who benefited from your generosity, the Command Group of Headquarters, our Team sends our deepest gratitude.

From Marcia (wife):  My husband, Harold, received his box!  He said they were the best kits he has seen come to them!  He held up one for me to see on the webcam.  He said they will be distributed quickly.  Harold told me to thank you very much!  Thank you from me too.  What a blessing for the soldiers at the base complex!

From Barb (mother):  I just thought I'd let you know that I talked with my son, Archie.  He and his friend, Matt, received their packages!  They were so surprised.  And they wanted me to let you know they shared with the other guys there.  So thank you so much again.  And please tell everyone involved THANK YOU for us.  God bless you all.

From MSG David:  We received our boxes last week!  Most of the feedback was regarding the bags themselves.  The size is great and they can be used as personal items bags for going to the shower.  The items placed inside are just a bonus.  Thank you so much.

From Carolyn (wife):  I spoke with my husband last night and he got your Care Package.  He wanted me to thank you and let you know that he will be handing out the kits to his sailors today!  Thank you again for your caring and support of our troops.  I'm sure they will all appreciate a little something from home!  Take care and God bless.

From 1LT Jon:  Thank you for the two boxes of goody bags.  I made sure they were distributed to the Soldiers.  One box was taken out to the more remote posts to distribute to those guys who really are in the "stuff".  As always, we appreciate all that you do to support us from the home-front.  It is so comforting to know how much it means to others that we are here.

From Sgt. Van DeMark:  I am currently stationed in Baghdad, Iraq.  I just want to thank you for your support.  I truly believe without the American People's support for us, it would be harder for us.  Every mail call, we receive care packages put together by such caring people like you.  It really boosts our morale during this long deployment.  So THANK YOU! And God bless.

From Emily:  Hi There!  I got a HUGE package today from Operation Compassion.  My whole division got a huge kick out of the box!  (A HEAVY box at that!)  They all wanted me to be sure that I passed along their thanks!Thank you again for all your help and prayers.  We sure do appreciate the help and the thought that was put into our care packages while at sea!  I thank you again on behalf of the whole division in the Weapons Department!

From a Grandmother about her Grandson:  Her grandson, Christopher, said that he got the box of Care Packages and started to share with the guys in his unit.  One soldier didn't come over and get in on the fun.  He had become quiet and withdrawn.  Christopher went over and talked with him.  Come to find out that his family had been unable to send him anything from home in a long time.  He was depressed and sad.  Each of the 33 soldiers who received an Operation Compassion Care Package gave him part of their own package!  He was able to receive a little touch from home afterall.  Christopher hopes that it will open the door to communication within his unit and he won't feel so alone.

From another Hero:  I finally made it into the US Base in Mosul last week and found the package that you were kind enough to send to my MiTTTeam.  All of the men on the team were greatly appreciative and will enjoy the packages.  Yesterday we went back to the base, only to find out the mail room caught fire the day before.  If it weren't for the building being cement block with a metal roof, it would have burned to the ground.  The postal Soldiers were working hard to salvage what mail they could, and stated that they wouldn't be able to send mail out for at least a week.  We picked up our mail on Friday, two days before the fire.We all got our packages and are using the toiletries and doing crosswords in our spare time.  I am not sure when the mail will resume, so I wanted to send you thanks via email.  I hope you will be able to share this with all of the fine people who helped to send our packages.  Please give them our regards and thanks.

From Rodney:  Hello, I am in Iraq.  I just really wanted to say thank you!  Everyone here greatly enjoyed their bags in the package you sent us!  I handed them all out the next day, and everyone was a little grabby even!  LOL!  I would also like to thank you all for everything you guys do to help, not just us out, but our nation as well.  We may be out here, but it is very comforting to know that we have people who support us and take care of everyone back home!  I remember in High School at our old house in Tennessee we had a tornado come through our neighborhood.  The Salvation Army had various little goodies to feed/keep us entertained for the day.  So thank you for all that you have and will do!  Again - thank you for the packages!  The socks were particularly exciting for a lot of us.  They aren't easy to come across out here!  Thank you very much, and you all take care!