Hello! Anybody out there?

HELLO!  Anybody out there?

Are you hiding in caves like the Taliban?  Waiting to ambush our brave Warriors who are fighting every day on your behalf?

Oh, I know you are there.  You’re out there at the mall, in front of your TVs, playing video games, bellied up to the bar with the buddies, enjoying the comfort of your homes, hugging your families, sharing real cooked meals together, etc.  And you most certainly have the right and should do all of those things.

HOWEVER…could you just spare a few minutes in your day to write a service person?  Could you forgo a beer or two, a new outfit, a new video game, a round of golf, dinner out one night in order to send a package of necessary items to someone deployed in an area where the living conditions are less than sparse and the enemy (the Taliban) continues to attack your “home” and kill those who are serving with you?

Think I’m being dramatic…think again.

I recently returned from a 10 day business trip.  In my stack of mail was a manila envelop from a platoon I support in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan.  They are with the 173^rd Airborne based in Vicenza, Italy.  When I opened the envelope several letters and a couple of cards from members of the platoon along with a disposable camera came tumbling out.  They sent me the camera so I could have photos of them.  Each of the cards and letters was touching and very emotional for me.  I'd like to share two of the letters with all of you.

Dear XXXXXXX,

First of all thank you.  We appreciate the fact that people are grateful for what we do.  Many people thank us for serving but its people like you guys that give us our reasons to keep on keeping on.  Understand that we are fighting hard for everyone back home.  I speak for my peers when I say thank you for taking precious time out of your daily lives to write and pray for us.  Our prayers go out to you a well and we ask God to protect you and make you well.  Many of us have lost friends and loved ones to this war but we know that God had a plan for them.  We come from many different lifestyles and different places.  But we love each other like we've grown up together.  Saying that even when the times get tough and we're yelling and screaming at one another we know that we're still a family and that God will keep us together.  Thank you for everything and we appreciate your support.  God Bless you.  I really am gracious of your guys support of the troops.  Is there anything we can do for you?  We will continue to fight hard for our country.  All we ask is that you keep us in your prayers and thoughts.

SPC S

AND....

Thanks for supporting the troops.  You are the real heroes to us.  Keep keeping us happy.

SGT B

I'm sharing these two letters simply because of the fact that SPC S asked if there was anything they can do for us and SGT B referred to us as heroes (of course we aren’t – not even close).  As if they aren't doing enough they want to know if they can do more.  These men who are surrounded by the enemy, who haven’t had a decent night’s sleep, shower or cooked meal in weeks continue to think about US – to put US first.  It is an honor to be able to provide any level of support to men such as these.

It is beyond my comprehension how ANY American cannot find 15 minutes out of a day to write a letter to these men.  They wrote to me about their families, about losing their comrades, some wrote about their hopes and dreams.  ALL wrote about what an honor it is to serve this nation.  Don't we as citizens, as civilians have a DUTY to serve this nation as well?  To support those who put their lives on the line every day?  I used to sit back and be angry inside that more of my own family and friends make the choice to NOT do anything to directly support our deployed personnel.  Now I don't care if I offend them or not.  Our men and women in uniform NEED us and DESERVE our support.  Turn off the TV, get out of the mall, forget one round of golf - do SOMETHING to show our Warriors that we ARE here for them and for their families. 

You don't need a lot of money to write letters.  You just need to take the time and have the heart.  Not one of us can begin to imagine sitting on a rocky point on a mountain in Afghanistan at 8,000 to 10,000 feet for hours looking across the border in to Pakistan and wondering where the Taliban are hiding...if they are sneaking up behind you...how many of them are looking at you attempting to figure out the best way to kill you...doing this for 5-7 days at a time in sweltering heat and brutal cold before being relieved to go back down the mountain in a several hour hike just to get to a mud hut that is infested with insects and where you can bathe in a bucket of water from a mountain stream, wash your clothes in another bucket with a scrub board, eat ANOTHER MRE, hope that in 4-6 weeks you can get to the KOP for a hot meal and a shower before heading back out to the firebase or observation point to do it all over again.

The men in the Korengal and Pech Valleys in Afghanistan have been subjected to record numbers of fire fights in the past few weeks.  It has been so bad that they had to stop air dropping in supplies and mail because it was unsafe for them to hike the 40 minutes to the drop zone and the 40 minutes back.

Where are the American citizens???  How can one not want to support these man EVERY day?

Generally I would close by saying "Sorry for being on my soapbox" but not this time.  I hope every person who is reading this and who has not found a way to support one or more of our deployed military will look deep in to their hearts and souls...perhaps even have a sleepless night (as so many of these men do) and pick up a pen and write to them.  If you have a few extra dollars I have a LONG list of items they need and want.  Winter is rapidly approaching.  It will be good because the fighting will decrease dramatically if history repeats itself as it has over the past few years there.  It will be bad in that their living conditions will be more than harsh.  We are trying to get them supplied with items they NEED in order to make the winter more bearable.  And for those who might ask the question, "why doesn't the Army provide...." I have no answer and, quite honestly, I don't care.  If they are asking for it they should have it.  Hand warmers, foot warmers, fleece blankets, hot chocolate mix, coffee (ground), winter socks, camping pots and pans, non perishable snack foods (the Army provides bottled water and MREs to those out at the firebases and observation points - that's it).

To those who are writing letters and/or sending care packages keep up your great work.  Keep those letters going.  The letters are GOLD to those men.

If you are interested in writing to or supporting the men in Afghanistan go to www.anysoldier.com.  Under the “Where to Send” tab look up the entries for:

Michael Z Chioke

Salvatore Giunta

SPC Cayleb Lee

1LT Elliott Neil

Michael D Nestell

SGT Eric O Ortegren

SGT Roberto Sandifer

Or any of the other men and women on the site regardless of where they are deployed.

You may notice two things when looking up the entries for these men; 1) some were deployed to the same area a couple of years ago and 2) some may have notices that they haven’t been heard from in 60 days with a warning not to send to those men.  They ARE there.  They just do not have access to the internet in order to update their profiles.  PLEASE send letters and packages to all of them.  As they comment – they share with everyone in their platoons.

Any questions – please feel free to email me at:

Tankerbabelc@gmail.com