I get by with a little help from my friends...

The past 48 hours have been a whirlwind.  I have a friend and fellow troop supporter from a "western" US state.  She and I have been sending a lot of support to Battle Company 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) "The Rock".  She prefers to stay out of the spot light so I won't mention her name here.  Sooner or later I'm sure I will with hopes that she won't kill me.  Anyway, we discovered via several channels that Abel, Chosen, Destined and Fussion Companies just weren't getting so much love. I probably should mention here that she is the "brains" of our partnership.  OK, she's the beauty, too.  She can find ANYTHING on the internet.  She had gotten me involved with support of the 10th Mtn men who were in Kunar and were relieved by 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) "The Rock" in May of this year.  Admittedly I had no idea that region of Afghanistan was so remote, foreboding and unforgiving - just down right miserable to a human being.

Well, I got another one of my "brilliant" ideas and called ConcreteBob of http://dcprotestwarrior.blogspot.com/  and http://concretebob.vox.com about needing to get some support to the ENTIRE 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) "The Rock" currently deployed to Kunar Province in Afghanistan.  Winter is fast approaching and they need warm weather items.  Uh oh!  ConcreteBob was on board before I finished my entire pitch.  One long and detailed email later and it was "game on."  Realizing that he couldn't/shouldn't do this all by himself I "sanitized" the email by removing specific names and addresses of the men in Afghanistan and sent the sucker flying through cyber space to a few of my friends, too.  OK granted some aren't close friends but...for once I took advantage of my address book and added a few names I wouldn't normally add to an email.

The email gave information about conditions in the Korengal and Pech Valleys and just sorta mentioned that we needed, oh, 2000 pairs of winter wool hiking socks, 800 fleece gaiters or neck scarves (earth tone colors), 800 sticks of lip balm, CASES of both hand warmers and of baby wipes, etc.

ZING!  My inbox started popping not too long after he and I sent the email.  Then my cell phone started ringing (my number was on the email).  The emails and calls were coming in from Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Virginia...you get the picture.  One lady emailed me that she had found a spot www.lipbalmexpress.com where she could order the lip balm with white tubes, red caps and blue lettering.  She is getting them printed with "We love and support you.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  May God bless and keep you safe."   That brought much happiness to my heart and a mist over my eyeballs. For those who know me I PROMISE to use discretion on the message.  REALLY I DO!  Anyway, she has also ordered cases of baby wipes to be drop shipped to me.  God Bless Her!

A gentleman from Florida called me.  He had gotten the email from someone who got it from someone who got it from someone....you get the picture.  He called to verify that this was factual and not some hoax.  He asked for an address and was as nice as he could be when I told him I would have to give him mine - that I couldn't/wouldn't give someone I don't know the address of any deployed person.  He, too, is shipping to me.

Mid afternoon as I was pushing my cart through Costco (thanks to that smart and beautiful friend out west who told me about the good deals they have) between hiking socks (they have a GREAT deal on Kirkland wool blend hiking socks - 4 pack $9.99) and hand warmers (40 pair for $14.99) my cell phone rang.  It was ConcreteBob calling to tell me he had some great news about a potential donation by a company but....he couldn't give me any details.  Now how cruel was that I ask you?  Not cruel in that he has made contact with some people who seemingly can and will make a substantial contribution.  Cruel in that he's torturing me because he can't give details yet. ARGH!!!

By the end of the day I had pledges of 1200 cards drawn and /or written by school children, 40 fleece blankets, several cases of baby wipes (four I think), at least 112+ pairs of the wool blend hiking socks and 400 pairs of hand warmers.  I've also received emails and phone calls to tell me I will be receiving gaiters/neck scarves, lip balm and money to assist with postage.  AND...I had that phone call from ConcreteBob tucked away, too.  It's been a stellar day for the Warriors of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) "The Rock" and they don't even know it - YET! 

Now about that photo at the beginning of the blog.  No...that's not a mountain goat clinging to the rocks under that tree.  That's one of our finest, our bravest.  He and his buddy (taking photo) were at an observation post.  They man those observation posts for DAYS at a time.  Hike to them.  Sit there looking for the bad guys.  Hike back to the firebase when their relief hikes out to them.  The photo was taken this past summer.  Just imagine what it will be like on that observation post during the winter.  I can't. 

ConcreteBob has a post up with some history of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) "The Rock" over at http://concretebob.vox.com and I didn't even know he was posting that.  Karma I tell you!

If you didn't get "the email" from ConcreteBob or me and are interested in making a donation of any sort and any size - even one pair of socks or one packet of hand warmers - please email me.  tankerbabelc@gmail.com.

P. S. to ConcreteBob - I now know the difference between cowboy, cavalry and calvary.  Thanks for the edumacation but I tell you it was that bad signal in Costco!!!