Dear Airborne Angels,
... I must simply say that all of us here in Bravo Company ___ are stunned at the level of support you have shown us! In the days and weeks prior to the arrival of your gracious packages, I spread the word that your organization had taken us under your wing and pledged to send us packages. Although you labeled each and every box with an Airborne Angels sticker, many including myself, were literally shocked at the number of boxes. Conceptualizing the level of support and physically seeing it here at COP (Combat Outpost) Pashamul South were two separate things.
We received the packages here at Pashamul South, which is the main Command and Control outpost for our company. With the help of several buddies, we managed to carry them to our Tactical Operations Center, TOC for short. Here I opened, quickly inventoried, and equally distributed the contents between our four major platoons. I sent 6 boxes with an equal variety of food consumables, toiletries, reading materials, and letters of support to each of our Tactical Infrastructures: 1st Platoon (Afghan Local Police) ____, 2nd Platoon stationed ____, 3rd Platoon at ____ and HQ Elements stationed at COP ____.
The N.O. Explode and Syntha-6 bars were big hits, as many of our gym enthusiasts have recently run out of protein powder, but by far the easy mac and ramen noodles were the most coveted items. MREs and UGRs (industrial sized MREs) have been the standard and anything that provided a break from those menu items was most welcome.
From a more tactical standpoint, we have been liberally using the foot and body powder on patrols where we use it to mark “lanes” where our mine detectors have swept a path.
Rico and Charlie, our two bomb dogs have thoroughly enjoyed their gifts as well, especially the tennis balls, which are equally enjoyed by soldiers who grab down time by playing catch with the dogs. The pillows have been a resounding success with our ANA counter parts here at ____. Despite what CNN may say, the Afghan soldiers stationed with us are both professional and highly motivated, and a small gift goes a long way to securing good relations with them.
I simply cannot explain how well received your support has been. A little pick me up goes along way here, and for myself, being just a small part in that process and being able to make a everyone’s day a little better is a reward in of itself, but one that without you all would have been impossible.
... Thank you for everything and know that at each Tactical Infrastructure your support has boosted our morale and welfare. You are very much a part of the Banshee ____ Infantry team.
Sincerely,
William
