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Feedback from our American Soldiers
Message rec'd from Iraq in April, 2008"To wonderful people at The Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas- You have answered my prayers...I was just saying to myself the other day, 'I really wish I had some girl scout cookies!' Since my husband is also deployed to Iraq I have no one at home to mail me girl scout cookies and then I receive a box from the wonderful people at the Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas....filled with girl scout cookies...you really are angels! It felt great to be able to share the cookies with my Soldiers in my platoon. We really appreciate your kindness! Thank you so much, you really are wonderful people! We are thinking of you as we enjoy our cookies. Take care and God Bless!"
Messages rec'd from soldiers during 2007-2008 Christmas / New Years season
December email from Iraq
"We just got all of your care packages yesterday. Wow, that's alot of stuff. We donated all the remaining care packages to the MWR (morale + welfare + recreation) facility, so that other soldiers can take what they need ... They should make short work of them. Your organization is really great. We're lucky to have people like you, at home supporting us. It's only about 19 more weeks to go of deployment."
December email from Afghanistan
"I'm in Kabul, Afghanistan now. It's been fun and scary and exciting and sad this year. I met some great people in training and we've become good friends. Unfortunately, I lost two of my new friends in June and July. I still miss them. They were good men. I've been on a couple of missions to villages giving humanitarian aid. But most of my trips outside the wire now deal with supplies."
December email from Afghanistan
"Though I usually enjoy spending Christmas with my family in Ohio, my Christmas was still Merry this year in lovely Afghanistan. I spent the 23rd - 25th flying with my Brigade Command and visiting 10 different Fire Bases and Command Posts. During the travels, I gave out many goodie bags, which seemed to brighten at least some Paratroopers' Holiday. Christmas Eve, my roommate and I stuffed 60 of the larger stockings y'all sent with hats, gloves, and hand warmers and delivered them to the Paratroopers pulling guard duty. Also, we attempted to carol, but that didn't go over too well :o) However, again, we did seem to brighten at least some Paratroopers' Holiday so it was fun!"
January email from Iraq
"We're currently stationed on a small Coalition out-post in southern Bahgdad and work in the vehicle maintenance division. There's not too many of us out here (about 400 total). Which is not a lot at all compared to the huge FOBS and Camps all over Iraq that have thousands of troops on them. We're pretty limited out here with the amenities and normal perks that a large base camp normally offers. We make do though. And your packages really help us do so. The christmas decorations helped to spread the spirit around, as much as christmas spirit can be spread in Iraq. We enjoyed them. The best thing I think you have sent so far are the toe and hand warmers. I have personally used them numerous times when I have to pull guard duty. ... it gets extremely cold up their, especially when your sitting in one place for 4 hours at a time. So they work out great. Keep em coming if you can. We really appreciate everything and keep up the good work. My unit has about 6-7 more months over here, and then we're back home at Fort Stewart in Georgia. We all cant wait. But for the mean time your packages make it a little easier over here."
Email rec'd Oct/07
"Wow, you guys are awesome! I am the most popular guy in my platoon when they found out that I got us some sponsors to send them out stuff.
We just got back from a long convoy today. I'm tired but happy to be back. Once again. Thankyouthankyouthankyou for all the support and goodies. We all appreciate them.
Letter to Airborne Angel Cadets from Governor of Oklahoma on April 18, 2007
Emails rec'd June, 2007
The Soldiers of the 18th well supported by friends and families, and also from people that they have never met. Early in the deployment, the Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas “adopted” 3rd Platoon (PLT). Every month this wonderful group sends 5-10 boxes of snacks, toiletries, and toys and games to the guys. This act of kindness reminds our Soldiers that they are supported. The Family Readiness Group Committee would like to that the Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas for the support of our 3rd PLT.
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3rd Platoon (PLT) has worked, what has seemed like endless hours over the last two weeks to help support the fight in Baghdad. Everyone is doing a great job considering the extreme heat and lack of sleep.
Thank you to Nancy Carter and the Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas. This wonderful group sends 3rd PLT packages every month – like clock work. The items that they send always go a long way to lift morale and provide a much needed distraction from our everyday routines. Please do not think that this takes away from the packages from our loved ones. In a time where there is all the media coverage of our efforts and presence in Iraq seems to be negative, it is wonderful to be shown such a high level of gratitude and appreciation from strangers.
Please keep all our Soldiers in your thoughts and prayers as we get through another week of this deployment. 1LT Bill Schmidt
Email rec'd Feb/ 2007
I am PFC Jon Michael Campbell
(2nd from left on top row). I have had the pleasure of being the recipient of many of your packages, and me and my platoon thank you all so much. We appreciate everything. It brings a smile to all of our faces when we hear "Campbell, go to the CP and pick up your packages, again!" Many of the things you have sent us have helped tremendeously, especially the food, as we can't get a lot of it from our Post Exchange here on base.
So that you know that you are helping more than just soldiers, anything we don't need or can't use, gets taken to the Chaplains, who give it to the locals who live around our base and go longer without lots of things that we take for granted. Not only are you helping us, you are helping the local people, which essentially makes our job easier, especially when interacting with them. Again, thank you very much for everything! If there is anything i can do for you at all, feel free to ask. When i return home I would love to meet all of you and thank you in person. If you ever need help fundraising or getting donations, feel free to ask. I would love to help you after all you have done for us!
God bless, Jon M. Campbell
Email rec'd on 1/26/07
"The company has been extremely busy lately conducting
many missions here in Baghdad. Of course, everyone is
doing an excellent job. The missions have us all
tired, but we keep knocking them out knowing that it
is just one day closer to going home. Right now, our
mission set is extremely flexible. Our excellent
leadership and state of the art equipment make us a
highly demanded asset throughout the area. Granted,
this drives us all crazy most of the time, but
everyone continues to impress me with their dedication
and perseverance.
Please keep sending them letters and packages, as we are
ensuring they are receiving their mail.
Email rec'd on 11/6/06
"I feel like Santa distributing the packages. I received them in spurts, so the first batch I gave to a couple Soldiers and to our interpreters. I discreetly dumped second batch out on a table and left. I came back 20 minutes later and everything was gone. Thank you so much. The packages are really appreciated. There is nothing like spending a tough day outside the wire and coming back to packages from home. It's a real morale booster."
Email rec'd on 10/4/06
"I am the 3rd platoon Point of contact and wife to the platoon leader. First, I want to thank you for supporting our troops, especially those who are near and dear to me. We, as military have truly become a family, and we want to welcome you to that family also.
Again, I want to thank you for your thoughts for our
soldiers. Seeing first hand, I know some of the soldiers have nothing but
the Army. Your packages and letters are what keep them going, especially
those who have no family. Thank you for reminding us that we are all one
large family and we all need to support one another to make it through."
Email rec'd on 9/29/06
"Thank you so much for the packages you and and the Airborne Cadets sent my platoon. I received them yesterday. I wasn't around when they were delivered, so all my guys had surrounded the pile and were extremely happy when I arrived and told them that the goodies weren't for me, but were for the whole platoon. I've only given out two packages so far. I'm going to distribute them in spurts, but I must say that I left the packages on a table, went to a meeting, came back 30 minutes later and the guys swarmed on them like ants....there wasn't anything left. Just to let you know about my platoon, we have 26 Soldiers (all male). Our job here in Iraq is to sweep for the roadside bombs in the street. So far, we have had a lot of success doing so. When we're not on the FOB we're usually at the eating, at the gym, eating, or sleeping. The sleeping arrangements aren't too bad...we do sleep on mattresses in what are called "containerized housing units," and we do have access to showers every day to keep us from getting too stinky. Mosul, Iraq is quite the place. There is a lot of history here. In the middle of the city are the ruins of Ninevah, where Jona of the Old Testament preached. The city and people have suffered a lot since the 1980's, but hopefully in the near future peace can come here and they can prosper here like they once did."
Msg and photo from Bagram Afghanistan, September 2006
"Some pictures taken today after our flight ... including some of the boys enjoying your salsa, jalapenos, and dip. We were so burned out on mess hall food, this was our dinner."
From Staff Sargeant in Bagram Afghanistan rec'd in Fall, 2006
"I just wanted to write and say thank you for the care packages. They are greatly appreciated. As you can imagine the routine here gets pretty old, so packages like you send are great as they offer a break in the tedium. It's like a birthday for everyone... Thank you again for your support and patriotism."
Portion of email rec'd August, 2006 from American soldier in Mideast:
"sorry i haven't written sooner. we've been extra busy lately. i'm not exactly sure when we'll be going home, but it should be in the october/november time frame. we've gotten all your packages. thank you guys SO much for all that you do for us. we wish we had the chance to thank you all individually, but if you could pass this on, that'd be great. thanks again. i'll write more when i get the chance. as always, take care, and keep doing what you're doing. even if we haven't had the chance to tell you, you're making a BIG difference."
From 10th CAB Chaplain Ass't, Bagram, Afghanistan written July 31, 2006
"On behalf of the Task Force Chaplain's Office, I would like to say thank you for your generous donations. They will be distributed to the soldiers of our task force. Thank you for the wonderful and kind support of our soldiers here at Bagram Afghanistan"
See Certificate of Appreciation from C Troop 7th Squadron 6th Cavalry Regiment
Airborne Angel Cadets Home Page - A nonprofit charity supporting American soldiers and troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas posts.