Mail Call From Afghanistan!

Words For Warriors has been supporting Sgt. Jeffery Tumey through his deployment in Afghanistan. He has received a number of letters, as he is one of the few who specifically requested letters from students. A memo went out to teachers with a little about Sgt. Tumey's background. Mr. Tripplet's 1st grade class and Mrs. Bricker's 3rd grade class responded to Sgt. Tumey's call for mail. He is currently answering their letters, meanwhile I received a box of thanks.

Sgt. Tumey is the second from the banner, on the left, in the back row.

Sgt. Tumey is the NCOIC of an Engineer Team.

Obviously Sgt. Tumey has discovered the way to my heart.... BOOKS!

Sgt. Tumey included this touching thank you letter.

Kristina,

      Hey! Thank you for all you have done for myself and the Soldiers' here. I know you keep very busy with a lot of stuff including your family life. I am sure that you have a pretty hectic schedule daily. I am also thankful that I have found a pretty cool friend like you. It's hard to trust hardly anyone in my situation so seeing and talking to a friendly person helps me back to reality. This packaged box was the only box that was small enough for this picture and letter. To give you more of an adventure into my vivid imagination sometimes, I sent these two books just to give an idea of century that I place my mind into when not battleing. I have read these already and I loved them. I am not saying YOU MUST READ THEM, you know what, yes I am, YOU MUST READ THEM, there I said it twice! Lol But for real, your thoughtfulness and appreciation is unmeasurable to anyone I have ever known.

Thank you Kristina, you will forever be in my heart, and the Soldiers that you make an impression on.

Sincerely,

SGT Tumey, Jeffery aka: Sapper 

Letters like this one reinforces the importance of supporting the military. I am proud of Sgt Tumey, the men and women he serves with, and his family that misses him dearly while he is gone. Thank you Sgt. I look forward to welcoming you home soon. I will also have book reports soon on these two must read books!

*Sgt Tumey gave prior permission to use his real name, his team picture, and to post his letter.

A Marine's Gratitude

This morning I got the following letter from SSgt. W. a Marine currently serving in Afghanistan. I wanted to share.

Ms. Divine, 

I just wanted to say thank you for your package that was received today.

Knowing that we are loved and supported is half the battle and reminds
us what we are fighting for. 
I personally love going through pictures that kids have sent in.  It
reminds me of my own children. 
Unfortunately I don't have a whole lot of wall space to display them
proudly.  But I am going to put them on display in a binder or on a clip
board.  Thank you for your kind words. 

Have a Merry Christmas and A happy New Year. 

Semper Fidelis, 

SSgt W

SSgt W's letter illustrates how important it is for Americans of all ages to support our troops anyway we can. It means the world to them, to know WE care and they are NOT FORGOTTEN. I encourage you to make an extra Christmas card this year and send it downrange, or send it to me and I'll make sure it gets into the hands of a service member. It only takes a moment, and it means more than you'll ever know.

Remember.... Their Sacrifice. Our Freedom.

The Best Christmas Present This Year...

The best Christmas present this year was a phone call from Afghanistan on Christmas Day from a Marine. This Marine told me how the artificial tree I'd sent brought Christmas to Afghanistan. The wrapped presents under the tree were a bonus. This particular Marine received 3 wrapped Nerf guns, among other random items. He told me how he gave the Nerf guns to his friends. After one friend unwrapped it he was so excited shouting, "I ALWAYS WANTED A NERF GUN WHEN I WAS A KID. THIS IS THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVAH!" The Marine shared other stories with me involving the Nerf guns and his friends, promising me pictures when he gets back to the States.

This morning I got an email from the Marine. In true Marine style it was short, only containing one sentence. It said, "Thanks again for everything you sent it definitely helped make Christmas and I really appreciate it!"

You and your friends are most welcome Marine. Thank you for all the sacrifices you make for US.

SEMPER FI

Thanks From A Marine

I just wanted to share this letter I got from Corporal Stevenson who was lucky enough to get the Valentines Day pop-up cards from Mrs. Ovitz's third grade class.  If you don't remember these fabulous cards you may see my previous post here.

Hello Kristina, my name is CPL Stevenson, (I just go promoted not to long ago so my email still says LCPL) I am in the United States Marine Corps and have been in for roughly 3 years now. I just wanted to take the time to thank you for the time you have took to start you "words for warriors" program. It is greatly appreciated. About my self, I am 21 years old and am currently deployed in southern Helmand province in Afghanistan, I too am from California, I am from Fresno which is in central California. But I am stationed out of camp lejeune NC. Your letters are VERY much appreciated, "A MARINE IS ONLY AS STRONG AS HIS SUPPORT FROM HOME" and to tell you the truth, sometimes we do feel forgotten and unappreciated, but people like you are the ones that we are here fighting for. And I thank you for what your doing. We have forwarded your letters to all the marines in my direct unit, and thought we do not have much time to write, I took it upon myself to let you know that we appreciate it... so once again, thank you very much, feel free to email me anytime.. thank you!!!!


CPL STEVENSON
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


I would like to extend a big CONGRATULATIONS to Corporal Stevenson on his promotion.  I have no doubt it was well earned.


*I would just like to note that I have reposted Corporal Stevenson's letter exactly as he wrote it.  I have not added or taken anything from it and all emphasis is his. 

Students Making A Difference

I would just like to stress the hard work the students are putting into their letters, poems, and artwork is paying off.  I mailed 14 packages of student work in the Month of January and have received 7 responses so far.  Considering the conditions and grueling work hours of these men, getting a response from half is far more than I could have ever expected.  The amazing thing is some of the packages are only just arriving, and some haven't arrived at all, so we may get responses from more soldiers in the future.

Every one of these soldiers who has responded has made it a point to let me know that receiving the packages full of student work not only brought smiles to their faces, but pride in their hearts.  I think one Marine said it best when he said, "A MARINE IS ONLY AS STRONG AS HIS SUPPORT FROM HOME."  He then went on to say that he had felt forgotten, so the letters he received where a great comfort and moral booster.  The letters are currently being passed to everyone in his unit.  I am finding out that these men share everything so passing the letters around so everyone in the unit can read them is standard operational procedure.

The letters I have received have brought great satisfaction to me, because they show we are being successful.  The students, teachers, and I are proving to our Warriors we do care.  They have not been forgotten about, and they are important to us.  I believe that is making all the difference.

Thanks From An Airman

Kristin Devine, Mrs. Rachel Vincent and the students of Susanville, Ca. and surrounding areas.  I have read each of your letters and passed them on to my Airmen.  During the Holidays we have received numerous packages and gifts from around the states.  However, the letters from the students are treasured most because of the messages sent and support relayed in each letter.  From the football, basketball, soccer players to the ones with artistic skills and musical dreams; all of us here in Afghanistan would like to thank you for your support.  Your letters and drawings are hung proudly in our office.  I wish I could write back to all of the letters I received from students like you.  Please know that your support and letter helped an Airmen in some way.  Either it got them through a tough day or brought the memories of home just a bit closer to them.  We are all here for the same reason.  To help the people of Afghanistan and protect our way of life back home.  In my mind, I do what I do for you and my family.  I have two boys, 10 yrs and 16 yrs old that I would do anything for and that feeling is extended to everyone back in the states.

The words and thoughts of the young people are what most of us remember when we return home.  So I thank you again for taking your time to start a great program.

Thank you and take care.

SMSgt Timothy W. Fearney

Thanks from a Marine to the Vietnam Veterans

An old Navy shipmate of "Old Guy's" had this message forwarded to him , who sent it to me to show pride in the fact that todays Warriors will NEVER EVER be treated like he and his friends were after coming home from Vietnam.  That we have learned from our mistakes on how we treat our Warriors  That the support we are sending downrange to our Warriors is valuable in more ways than we can imagine. 

Thank You to all Vietnam Vets from a Marine in Iraq. A guy gets time to think over here and I was thinking about all the support we get from home. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. We get care packages at times faster than we can use them. There are boxes and boxes of toiletries and snacks lining the center of every tent; the generosity has been amazing. So, I was pondering the question: “Why do we have so much support?” In my opinion, it all came down to one thing: Vietnam Veterans. I think we learned a lesson, as a nation, that no matter what, you have to support the troops who are on the line, who are risking everything. We treated them so poorly back then. When they returned was even worse. The stories are nightmarish of what our returning warriors were subjected to.  It is a national scar, a blemish on our country, an embarrassment to all of us. After Vietnam, it had time to sink in The guilt in our collective consciousness grew. It shamed us. However, we learned from our mistake. Somewhere during the late 1970’s and on into the 80’s, we realized that we can’t treat our warriors that way. So… starting during the Gulf War, when the first real opportunity arose to stand up and support the troops, we did. We did it to support our friends and family going off to war. But we also did it to right the wrongs from the Vietnam era. We treat our troops of today like the heroes they were, and are, acknowledge and celebrate their sacrifice, and rejoice at their homecoming…. Instead of spitting on them. And that support continues today for those of us in Iraq. Our country knows that it must support us and it does. The lesson was learned in Vietnam and we are all better because of it. Everyone who has gone before is a hero. They are celebrated in my heart. I think admirably of all those who have gone before me. From those who fought to establish this country in the late 1770’s to those I serve with here in Iraq. They have all sacrificed to ensure our freedom. But when I get back home, I’m going to make it a personal mission to specifically thank every Vietnam Vet I encounter for THEIR sacrifice. Because if nothing else good came from that terrible war, on thing did. It was the lesson learned on how we treat our warriors. We as a country learned from our mistake and now we treat our warriors as heroes, as we should have all along. I am the beneficiary of their sacrifice. Not only for the freedom they, like veterans from other wars, ensured, but for how well our country now treats my fellow Marines and I. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis,

Major Brian P. Bresnahan

United States Marine Corps 

Words From A Warrior

SPC Brandt is one of the soldiers who read and responded to the Veteran's Day letters.  She is also someone I am proud to call a friend.   I just wanted to say again how grateful I (and everyone else here) am for the letters and pictures from the kids back in the states. It was wonderful to hear about all of you and I really appreciate the time you spent to send us mail. I hope you guys are all doing well, and you are heroes to all of us. Respectfully, SPC Brandt