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Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 4:03 PM To: cghelo; jillsimpsonSubject: thank you message Dear Forrest and Jill Simpson, Before anything else, I would like to give both
of you my simple thanks and gratitude for remembering us this holiday season, and I would like to tell both of you how much
I appreciate your support for us here in Iraq. There's not a whole lot of you back home who would take their time, devotion
and to even make an effort to express their full support. I wish to God that there would be a lot more of you, so we can be
more inspired to continue protecting our freedom, and to keep you all safe. My buddy, Forrest, since you have questions
for me, I will try to answer them for you as much as i can. My name is SGT Bondoc. I am stationed in IBNSina Hospital.
Baghdad, Iraq. My job here is to assist doctors during surgical procedures in the operating room. My main responsibilties
are to pass instruments to surgeons while performing their procedures, and ensure all patients who goes through a surgical
procedure are safe from infection. I am in U.S. Army. I attached my family pictures so you can see that I also have a son
the same age as you are. His name is James. Hey Forrest, good luck with your early military career. I hope to salute you
someday. Keep up the good work and continue supporting the troops serving our country. My buddy, Peter. I have a daughter
same age as you are as well. Her name is Jessa. You take care of yourself. Thank you once again. My buddies, thanks for
the drawings. I liked them a lot. MERRY CHRITMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!! SGT Bondoc
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From: Billups, Alexsa CPT MNC-I 732ND ESS/CSC
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:28 AM
Subject: Thank you (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
UNCLASSIFIED
Greetings,
We were blessed this year with many support packages, beautiful cards
made by the children of our great country, letters
of support, etc. We
greatly appreciate all of it. The prayers most of all.
I am sending an email because I have been sending written responses to
all including the children and well there are
many--so I decided to use
both methods of communication. It's the least I can do.
Thank you to those of you who shared your family stories with me as
well.
I am fortunate, I work in an office environment as a Mental Health
professional and don't experience much of the harsh
weather, MREs, what
have you.
Our Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Sailors, contractors and coalition forces
do what they do with great pride. I
won't lie--some can't wait to get
back home to hang up their uniforms for good, be it because they are
tired of deploying
or they are under stop-loss so their plans were
originally to hang it up. Regardless they do what they need to do
while
they are here.
I can't give you any specifics but will gladly respond to any emails
received to the best of my limitations.
:)
Have a happy new year.
Sincerely,
Capt Billups
ALEXSA BILLUPS, Capt, USAF, BSC
OIC, Combat Stress Control
FOB Delta, Iraq
Task Force Delta MED
732 ESS/CSC
APO
AE 09317
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From: Shannon, Joseph C LTC MNSTC-I CAATT
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 11:09 PM
Subject: Awesome Support
Dear Jennie and the Wonderful Folks at St Augustine's Church,
I want to thank you all for your amazing generosity, thoughtfulness
and compassion for the Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen and Marines over here
especially during the Christmas Holidays. I was blessed to have had the
opportunity
to get home for the Holidays so as I was home at West Point,
where I serve as a professor in the Chemistry Department,
your awesome
boxes where stacking like salmon going upstream on my desk surely
tempting my office mates. Upon
my return we eagerly tore into them and
feasted on the goodies and making good use of the books, magazines,
toiletries,
and I believe I saw a kitchen sink somewhere in there.
I want to especially thank all the children for their efforts
- their
cards, notes, and drawings were an inspirational lift and made thankful
we live in a country where the young
people put out this kind of effort
to uplift the spirits of others. The packages are a great gift and we
are reminded
each day of your generosity through their use. In fact my
day started using body wash, shampoo, and toothpaste from
the boxes and
then some jam out of a squeezable container and it is only 0630 in the
morning. If you have addresses
I can write notes to the children that
would be awesome.
Again, want to thank you for your awesome support of the troops - YOU
MADE A DIFFERENCE for me and my teammates
here in the Coalition Army
Advisory Training Team in Baghdad.
God Bless and I will keep you in my prayers.
v/r
LTC Joe Shannon
LTC Joseph C. Shannon
Director Force Generation/Plans
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From: Robert Persaud
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 9:56 AM
Subject: HM1 Persaud
Hello and thank you for sending us care packages. I am sorry about not
writing any sooner, we have moved a lot and
I did not have your contact info with me. We are most grateful for everything you have sent.
HM1 Persaud
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From: Karen Meyer
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:52 AM
Subject: Care packages
Dear Ms McFarland and members of St.
Augustine's Church:
I am an Army nurse and am presently at Mosul, Iraq. The 345th CSH received some of your boxes.
I am with the 1st FST out of Ft. Totten,NY. That is in Queens. We are attached to the 345th.
The boxes are wonderful.
It is great to receive them. I found your letter in one of the boxes and wanted to let you know that you and your church members
are doing a wonderful job.
Would you also let your church know that we have received some of the many boxes you have been
sending out.
Thank you,
Major Karen Meyer
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Good afternoon Tom and Jennie!
I apologize profusely for the late note here, but it has been that insane lately (read
for months now!) We have been working many 18-20 hour work days, and I have let this note slip in between the cracks.
Many
thanks for your care packages!
I have ensured their distribution to the injured soldiers at the 345th CSH.
The wounded
and the hospital staff were very grateful for your act of kindness, as am I.
We changed supported commands in December,
and the 25th Infantry Division took over from the 1st Armor Division.
Hope you and the children are well!
I am sure
you all had a great holiday!
Semper fidelis,
Ray
Raymond L. Burkart
Project Manager C Sites
KBR Inc.
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Hello Mrs. Mcfarland,
Thank you so much for your generous care packages. They really help out
with soldier moral during the holiday season. Every box you sent was shared throughout our team. It made it feel a little
more like Christmas when we have boxes to open. I'm on a 10 man NPTT ( National Police Transition Team).
Our team name is Sacagawea. This name fit our mission perfectly. Sacagawea was a culture adviser and linguist
for Louis and Clark. We work side by side with the Iraqi National police as Combat Adviser's. We don't kick in
doors or go on Raids. Our job is to watch the Iraqi National Police in action then give them feedback on what
we observed. Anyway thanks again and Happy Holidays to you and your family. I attached our Team Photos.
v/r
SSG
Stokes
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From: Mark Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 12:11 PM
Subject: What a Blessing you are....
Care Package
Drive
Dear Jennie,
I want to thank you for and your personnel for your serving and giving
hearts towards our soldiers.
As a South African citizen I call them my family and our soldiers after working
closely with the Coalition forces for 4 years and 6 months in Iraq and now serving a year with the US Armed forces in Afghanistan.
I work as a DOD contractor performing “Critical Mission Support Services” for the US Military side
by side with the soldiers and in my time has seen bad things that one never forgets. But I have also seen good things and
that motivates me, gives me strength and faith to carry on daily.
I’m 43 years old and 90% of the soldiers
I have contact with are less than 20 years old, still so young.
I look at my soldiers in the units I work
with and watch their faces when they receive care packages for churches all over America and some also receive mail from home,
families and friends and what a difference it makes to a young soldiers to know there are people back home praying, caring,
appreciating and respecting them for what they do.
Everyone always shares their care packages with others and
I sometimes share with them and it blesses me to be able to share and be part of these guys for the time that they will be
here because tomorrow they will move out again and the next unit will come in again.
But then there are many
that never receive anything and they are also part of our unit and that is very sad...
I pray that
God will bless you and your personnel for your open hearts, for your giving and serving attitudes and financially that you
will not stop this great work you are doing for these young soldiers, giving them hope and faith to stay strong. Complete
their tours of duty and return home safely.
The world today can surely do with more people like you and your
personnel – God Bless
Yours faithfully serving together,
Mark
Mark Bolhuis De L’ Espee (eng.c)
Project
Manager / Business Development
Critical Mission Support Services
=============================================================
From: Michael Franson Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 4:54 AM
Subject: Thank You!
I have just received
about 9 packages from your care package drive and just wanted to send a thank you from myself and the rest of my Battery.
I have included a picture of our Battery from Christmas time for you to put some faces to the Soldiers you have helped. Take
care
Sincerely
1LT Franson
From: Greg Stepankiw
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 11:27 AM
Subject: SSG Stepankiw, Gregory
Dear
Jennie,
Thank you so much for all the support you have shown to our platoon!! I have divided up all the
packages that you have sent to me throughout my platoon so all of my soldiers could have something special for the holidays.
You have no idea how much we all appreciate your efforts!!! You have definitely put smiles on the faces of my soldiers,
that is hard to do sometimes. When they all saw me show up with around 30 packages, their faces lit up like the brightest
Christmas tree I have ever seen, just like I once did waking up Christmas morning to see the presents under the tree and that
Santa had come to my home. They are all, as I write this to you, coming over to my room and showing me all the fun things
that you have sent them, just like a bunch of little 4 years old children. It is a riot. They are all quite happy, thanks
to you!!
I hope that you and your family have the most wonderful Christmas ever, I know that we will! Send
all of my thanks to the children and adults that put this whole thing together. It was such a wonderful gesture on your
part to think of us while we are all away from our families at this time of year. You have made each and every soldier
that I have feel a little more at ease with the holiday season this year. You have brought a piece of home into their
lives and i am sure stories will come of when they were younger, and we will each share our life stories from the Christmas'
that have past. I thank you agiain for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time in our lives.
I
have attached some pictures so you can share with the children our faces!!! So they can see who they have all written
to, and it will make it a little more real for them I am sure......ENJOY!!
Thank you again,
SSG
Stepankiw, Gregory
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From: Motto, Patrick J USA CPT USA TF Outfront S-3 FSO HHT
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 11:12
AM
Subject: Care Packages (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Dear
Jennie McFarland and St. Augustine’s
I wanted to send my sincere thanks and appreciation for the packages that you
have sent to me here in Afghanistan. Being away from family and friends during this Holiday Season is tough but receiving
packages from caring individuals such as yourselves give Soldiers in harm’s way a taste of home. I have shared
all the packages with the Soldiers I work with and they have brought much happiness and joy. Thankfully we are coming
home soon but will miss being with our loved ones for the holidays by a few days. Again thank you for the showing myself
and my fellow Soldiers love and support. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Task Force Out Front at
Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
CPT Patrick Motto
2-17 Cav, TF Out Front
SQDN FSO
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
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From: Gongora, Patrick Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 3:20 AM
Subject: Greetings from Iraq!
I
was at Camp Slayer the other day and SSG Barton Fendelman shared 2 of his carepackages with me and my Soldiers. On behalf
of Delta Company, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) I Thank You.
God Bless the Troops...
Patrick Gongora
“Jawbreaker7”
1SG, CA
D/404 CA BN (A)
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From: Steven Fitzgerald
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 12:13 PM
Subject: Thank you
Dear
Mrs. McFarland,
I received the care package today and it was obvious to me that you had received advice by soemone
who has deployed over here as to what to include in the package. Just about everything in the package will be useful. More
importantly then that though, it is another example of how quality people like you and your organization go out of your way
to remind all of us over here that we are not forgotten.
I thank you for remembering me and I thank you for
your service to our country.
God Bless the FDNY
God Bless the U.S. Military
Sincerely,
Steven
P. Fitzgerald
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Dear Jennie,
Thank you for the box filled with care, goodies, cards, and some useful things,
too. I was glad to get it and able to share it with many other soldiers here at the Corps Headquarters where I work.
I appreciate the encouragement and the prayers. My family is at West Point, just up the Hudson from where you are.
I left there in August to come over here.
For all the Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors with whom you've
shared the goodness of your hearts and the love of your Savior, thank you. May God bless you as you've blessed us.
LTC
Greg Graves
Al Faw Palace
Baghdad, Iraq
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Greetings
I would like to thank you for the wonderful
box of goodies and your strong support for the men and women of the military. Please, thank those who donated supplies and
spent countless hours making this project work. Can you also thank those kids who sent those nice letters. As a past member
of Local 2507, I would also like to thanks those EMS folks for their support here in Iraq and NYC. They perform an outstanding
job every day in the big city for very little pay. I should know my wife works at BN.14.
Thank you and Holidays
John Vannata
SSGT NYANG
Sgt. 110 Precinct
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From: Clapper, Gilbert A MAJ 86TH CSH
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 3:49 PM
Subject: Package to soldiers
from NY
Jennie and St Augustine,
I want to thank you very much for the package of goodies. This is a wonderful
endeavor. It was especially nice considering Christmas is so close. The card from Chris and the letter from Natalie
McGovern of Daniel Webster Magnet School that went with it were wonderful touches as well. I won't be home for Christmas,
but will hopefully be enjoying the NY winter soon after. We appreciate all the great things you are doing to help us
and the thoughts and prayers sent from afar.
Thanks,
Gil Clapper
MAJ, 86th CSH
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From: Campbell, Carla CPT, 2nd MTR MITT CO ADV, S-VOIP 573-2127
Sent: Monday, December 15,
2008 2:43 PM
Subject: Thank you (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Jennie,
I wanted to say a heartfelt thank
you from the soldiers here at Al-Kindi and other deployed soldiers. We deeply appreciate your continued support and for keeping
us in your thoughts/prayers. It is not easy being away from family, especially this time of the year, but with support groups
made up of people like yourself, you remind us what we are fighting for. And that we are loved and supported by these back
home in the US.
We want to wish you, your family and all the members of St. Augustine's
Church a joyful holiday season and a bright
wonderful new year. Once again thank you, for all your hard work and dedication to us.
CPT Campbell
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From: Um, Paris D LTC 1848th Med Det Commander
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 7:19 AM
Subject: Care Package/
St. Augustine's Church
Ms. McFarland,
My soldiers have received several of your care packages and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and
your organization. As a military spouse I am sure you understand the difficulties of being away from home, especially
this time of the year. It brings so my warmth to my heart when the soldiers are excited to open your packages and wondering
what total strangers have sent them. I have said this in so many occasions, we live in the best Country in the whole
wide world, USA. I
don't think you folks understand how special you are taking time out of your busy schedule to
send us letters and packages.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you folks for taking your time to send us these items. It makes us
feel so much better knowing there are so many people like your group that truly care about the soldiers who are deployed.
Again, thank you and God Bless You and God Bless America!
V/R
"In the Fight"
LTC Paris D. Um
1848th Med
Commander
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Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 1:13 PM
Subject: CARE PACKAGE RECEIVED - THANK YOU
Dear Jennie,
I have received your care package - Thank You!
I ate and used my fair share of the items enclosed but I will tell you that I did share about 1/2 the box with
the other Marines. It's just what we do and I felt like I didn't need to eat all the candy myself. I also commend
you and your organization on the sensible selection of products you provided- we can definitely use or enjoy everything you
sent- well done!
Thanks Again for your support.
Semper Fidelis,
LtCol Robert W. Egenolf
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
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