May 2009 Reminder Of Who We Are Supporting

Nancy,We received several more packages this past week, but on Wednesday, two of the people in my office were killed by an IED while driving to a meeting at the main airport in Bagram (Afghanistan). The lady who sat in the desk behind mine was killed about an hour after I said good morning ... dealing with getting the car turned over, extracting the bodies, and disarming the other bombs in the road takes its toll. I have lost five people since I arrived here and each one gets tougher.

You will be glad to know that the mattress pads were a big hit. When I gave one to the guy who was the first one to reach the car after the explosion, his eyes lit up and he forgot about the whole event for just a few seconds, but every little bit helps. Sometimes it is hard to dig deep and find that one little thing that helps you keep going. I just want you to know that the support you give people you may never meet really does mean something.
LT STEPHEN D.

June 15 - On the Border donates 10% to our charity

Dear Friends and Supporters of Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas,

Come join us for dinner at On The Border in Addison on Monday, June 15 from 5-10pm and assist us with getting care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan!!

Click here for a printable PDF flyer from On The Border that is located on the home page of our main website.

At the end of the night, On The Border will add up all the guest checks that have flyers attached and 10% of those checks will be donated to the Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas. A fun and easy way to help a great cause but don't forget the flyer. Takeout and drinks will be included in the 10%.

Address: 4855 Beltline Road, Dallas, Texas ((NE corner of Beltline Rd and Addison Rd)

Feel free to make copies of the flyer to pass out to others.

Thanks, Nancy

May 2009 emails from soldiers serving overseas

Below are more emails from soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I especially enjoyed the lemon cookies ... Those lemon cookies r one of my favorites.

I was also wondering about things like hygiene products like baby wipes (biodegradable), body wash liquids, some type of medicated (foot and or body powders), toothpaste, shaving gels, detergents for washing clothes, etc... These r some of the things that r also needed and used a lot by soldiers (especially in the hot summer months to come).

u r really appreciated here and again for all the soldiers that r here, I thank u.

SSG Ricky B
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Dear Nancy and the rest of the Angels,
My Soldiers received the Girl Scout Cookies and phone cards today and they were very excited. After being trapped in the middle ages for two weeks it was nice to have something sweet waiting for us. You guys rock.
Thank you so much!
LT Gerald W

Detailed wish list from soldier in Afghanistan

LT Steven in Afghanistan has sent a nice list of suggested donation items. If anyone can help with any of these items, we certainly would welcome your support. Thanks.
Nancy, Airborne Angel Cadets
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I asked around the office today and here are some of the items requested:

- Mattress Pads (Foam pads over an old, crappy mattress keeps the springs out of our backs)
- Cheese Wiz
- Ritz Crackers
- Swiss Cake Rolls
- Skittles
- Hand Wipes
- Mike and Ikes
- Gobstoppers
- Mixed Hard Candies
- DVDs (old comedies fare well since we need a laugh every once and a while) ("Dirty Dozen" and "Total Recall" are on the request list)
- Cookies and Chips work well too (Pringles)
- 8 x 10 photo frames (for creating friendship gifts for the Afghani people we deal with)
- Sun tan lotion (I have a feeling the summer here is going to be hot)

Every Thursday is our "movie night" here at the office, so it you wanted to put together a 'movie watching kit', I think everyone here would love it.

One of the other things we have BIG problems getting here is cleaning supplies. We work in secure spaces here, so we have to do all of our own cleaning - we can't let local nationals in and finding a cleaner with security clearance is pretty much near impossible (even in the States).

I was looking at the cabinet here (as I was pulling out our last trash bag) and noticed we could use a few things. Here is a list of what you might be able to send without getting in trouble with the postmaster:

- Mop Buckets with Strainers
- Mops
- Sponge Mops
- Toilet Scrub Brush
- Hand Brushes (getting the dirt out of the corners is a major pain)
- Rubber Gloves
- Rags/Cloths
- Windex/Fantastic/Cleaner
- Floor Cleaner
- Floor Wax
- Toilet Cleaner
- 55 Gallon Drum Liners

I don't know what you can and can't send in the mail along the lines of cleaners (I know you can't send caustic materials).

LT Steven (Afghanistan)
* Photos from LT Steven shown below:

More soldier responses

Here are some recent messages from soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Hi Ms. Nancy,

Well it's Cinco de Mayo and we had a lot of fun thanks to you and the Airborne Angels. We need to work on our Piñata skills, but other then that, it was a great time.

The company has kind of been slumping lately, so I turned it into a company function instead of the Platoon. Besides, you Angels always send soooo much stuff and I just love you all for it.

As always, you Angels are the best and have made our tour a little bit easier and fun. May God Bless you all and may more Americans aspire to be like the Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas! :)

Michael (MSG)





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YOU ALL ROCK!!! Thank you so much for the shipment of the girl scout cookies. We all love them and love to snack on them you all do a great job I hope you realize this. We greatly appreciate you all. Thank you again.

Take Care and God Bless

R/S
Cpl Danielle (Iraq)
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I would like to thank you for sending a care package for myself and my Soldiers. The Girl Scout cookies were a big hit. We have a lot of Soldiers out manning Check Points, working with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police. I separate the contents and send stuff out to them also. The Soldiers out there do not have a PX to go to. They come in to the FOB about once a month to get personal supplies. So, small care packages like this really boosts their morale.

Again, thank you very much!
J.R. (Iraq)
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Nancy,

I want to thank you for the box of cookies that I received from the Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas. Girl Scout cookies are a big hit with the guys and I passed them out to the other sections in the battalion.

We are an infantry battalion from Texas, out of Lubbock, Amarillo, Arlington and Wellington. I am actually from Forney. I just wanted you to know that all the love you sent was spread out and appreciated by hard working soldiers. Anytime we receive packages like this, it reminds us of home and how the American people care.

Thank all your little Girl Scouts; I've bought my share of cookies outside of Walmarts before.

Thanks again.
Sgt. Edgar